Hiking challenge honours natural gem

As the sun rises over Victoria Harbour, the city starts its day with people filling Lugard Road – jogging, walking dogs or strolling with friends.

Treasure hunt: To join the "Unlocking Hong Kong Trail" hiking challenge, hikers scan a QR code at designated checkpoints and answer a fun fact question to unlock an e-badge. Image source: www.news.gov.hk

An elderly woman who visits the Hong Kong Trail occasionally, remarked that it was a pleasant trail that was even suitable for dog walking.

“Hong Kong is a real treasure. In just 10 to 30 minutes by car, you can reach many hiking trails. So we really should cherish what we have.”

Singaporean film director Jack Neo recently led over 100 visitors to the trail for some morning exercise. He said the group was in high spirits and amazed by the landscape.

“The scenery in Singapore is very different from here – this is a mountain. We just looked down and suddenly realised how stunning the view is.”

Safe hiking: Agriculture, Fisheries & Conservation Department Country Parks Ranger Services Officer (Education) Francis Tsang advises hikers to plan based on fitness and experience, hike in groups, and follow Leave No Trace principles. Image source: www.news.gov.hk

With stops planned in Guangzhou and Shenzhen during their five-day trip, Mr Neo said he hopes to return to Hong Kong in the future to explore its countryside further.

Natural gem

Lugard Road is just the beginning of a greater natural treasure – the Hong Kong Trail.

Spanning about 50km, the trail begins at the western end of Hong Kong Island, winding eastward. It is the most hiker-friendly of the four long-distance trails managed by the Agriculture, Fisheries & Conservation Department. Starting at Victoria Peak, it crosses the island’s hills and ends at Tai Long Wan.

The trail is divided into eight sections, with Lugard Road forming part of Section 1.

Eric Lam, Country Parks Ranger Services Officer (Hong Kong) at the department, grew up hiking the trail with his father and has since covered every section.

He said the trail offers a rich variety of scenic spots – ranging from the Peak and Pok Fu Lam Reservoir to Jardine’s Lookout, Mount Butler, the Tai Tam Group of Reservoirs and Dragon’s Back – offering a real mix of vistas.

Stunning vistas: Agriculture, Fisheries & Conservation Department Country Parks Ranger Services Officer (Hong Kong) Eric Lam says that all eight sections of the Hong Kong Trail offer diverse scenery, with rich historical and cultural perspectives. Image source: www.news.gov.hk

In addition to its diverse landscapes, the trail also boasts rich habitats.

“Woodlands, streams and reservoirs support a wide range of wildlife, including species with high conservation value – like the Hong Kong Camellia and Primrose, both first discovered on the island,” Mr Lam added.

Witnessing history

The Hong Kong Trail is also packed with historical and cultural elements.

Hikers can encounter significant sites along the route, including Hong Kong’s first reservoir – Pok Fu Lam Reservoir, completed in 1863 – and several declared monuments related to the city’s early waterworks system.

Wartime relics such as Second World War-era air raid shelters and pillboxes, alongside early 1900s markers like the Kwan Tai Lo Milestone and the Tai Tam Obelisk, are also visible along the trail.

Historical glimpse: Remnants of the former Taikoo company town, including the now-demolished world’s first company town cable car system, are still visible at Tai Fung Au. Image source: www.news.gov.hk

In April 1985, the Hong Kong Trail was officially inaugurated at Tai Fung Au, which also marks the start of Section 6. Many hikers still pause to take photographs at the memorial plaque.

Tai Fung Au has been there from the very beginning, even remnants of the former Taikoo company town – including the now-demolished Taikoo Sanitarium and the world’s first passenger cable car. The remaining stone, brick and concrete foundations have faded into the landscape, standing as silent witnesses to the passage of time.

Hiking challenge

To encourage the public to explore the Hong Kong Trail, the department launched the "Unlocking Hong Kong Trail" hiking challenge, setting up eight checkpoints – one for each trail section. Each checkpoint features an e-badge inspired by the section’s landmarks and biodiversity, allowing hikers to check in and take part in a “treasure hunt”.

Agriculture, Fisheries & Conservation Department Country Parks Ranger Services Officer (Education) Francis Tsang explained that participants should register on the event website, then hike to the eight checkpoints. Once there, they scan a QR code and answer a fun fact question to unlock an e-badge.

Thriving biodiversity: The Hong Kong Trail nurtures a wide range of wildlife, including the Hong Kong Camellia. Image source: www.news.gov.hk

“Once they have unlocked all eight checkpoints within the event period – by February 28  – they can redeem a set of souvenirs on a first-come, first-served basis while stocks last,” Ms Tsang noted.

Since the challenge was launched in November 2025, over 7,400 people had signed up, with around 1,800 successfully unlocking all checkpoints as of the end of last year.

She advised participants to plan based on fitness and experience, hike in groups, and follow Leave No Trace principles.

Earlier, the department launched a series of activities encouraging public involvement in trail upkeep, including restoring erosion-prone sections to ensure hikers can safely and comfortably enjoy nature.

"Four Peaks" Tourism
Last year, the Government introduced the “Four Peaks” tourism initiative, covering Tai Mo Shan, Lantau Peak, Sai Kung Hoi and Victoria Peak, which overlaps with Section 1 of the Hong Kong Trail.

The department is phasing in the initiative, upgrading trails and facilities near High West, and working with nearby stakeholders to design themed green tourism routes linking the Peak Tram, landmarks and specialty cuisines.

Rewarding walk: By unlocking all eight checkpoints along the Hong Kong Trail by February 28, participants can redeem a set of souvenirs on a first-come, first-served basis while stocks last. Image source: www.news.gov.hk

The tourism routes, along with facility upgrades and green tourism products are expected to be in place by late 2026.

Known as "Mr. Trail Walker," KK Sir has conquered countless mountain trails and claimed multiple championships, including the Oxfam Trailwalker. In 2010, he founded the TTR Trailwalker Teaching Room Charity Foundation, Hong Kong's first charity dedicated to nurturing talent in trail running and road running, with the hope of channelling his skills into education.

KK Sir, Photo by Bastille Post

TTR Foundation offers trail running classes at various levels, allowing participants from age six and above to progressively learn hiking and trail running skills, including many children. When asked why he adopts the element of "mountains" for education, KK Sir smiled and said: "Mountains are excellent teachers. Regardless of one's background, they teach focus, respect, and perseverance. This is precisely the message that TTR Foundation wants to convey to its students through every step and every stretch of road."

TTR Foundation offers trail running classes at various levels. Photo source: FB@TTR Foundation

At TTR Foundation, children and volunteers often wear bright smiles. However, KK Sir admits that not every child comes voluntarily. Some are arranged by their parents, some are referred by their schools, and some are sent by parents who struggle to manage their children and simply "give it a try."

Regardless of the initial reasons, KK Sir feels that children today bear a heavy burden of pressure, yet few are willing to stop and listen to their inner voices. He hopes that every child who enters the foundation can be "seen" and "affirmed."

KK Sir hopes that every child who enters the foundation can be "seen" and "affirmed." Photo by Bastille Post

When KK Sir mentions each child, he unconsciously recalls their nicknames, as if each child's appearance, personality, and story are deeply imprinted in his mind. One child, nicknamed "Big Guy," initially said, "I can't do it" and always kept his head down. Once, KK Sir asked him to try being a leader, and he hesitated, clenching and unclenching his fists. With KK Sir's encouragement, he finally said "okay." Despite his soft voice, KK Sir immediately praised him loudly: "That's how you should be! From now on, speak up!"

Unexpectedly, a few years later, "Big Guy" not only became the fastest runner in the foundation's youth team, but even his parents noticed that he was no longer the child who constantly said, "I can't do it."

TTR Foundation teaches children more than just hiking skills or running speed; it also instils discipline, character, and life skills. Photo source: FB@TTR Foundation

TTR Foundation teaches children more than just hiking skills or running speed; it also instils discipline, character, and life skills.

Zeon Cing, Photo by Bastille Post

Zeon Cing, now 25, is one of the foundation's volunteer instructors. Like many children, he was initially forced to join. He said he preferred playing video games: "On Saturdays and Sundays, I just wanted to stay home and didn't want to go out." Later, encouraged by family and friends, he joined the hiking activities with a try‑it‑out attitude.

Although Zeon Cing said he "didn't want to come," he never missed a training session. At the age of 18, under the guidance of an instructor, he and his companions completed the 100‑kilometre Oxfam Trailwalker challenge. Sharing this experience, his eyes sparkled with confidence: "I walked 100 kilometres in about twenty hours, and by the end, I was practically sleeping standing up!" It was this perseverance that led TTR Foundation to invite him back as a volunteer instructor, training younger children.

Zeon Cing admits that he initially didn't like communicating with people, but after becoming an instructor, he gradually found unexpected rewards in working with children. "I see them once a week, and they greet me proactively, sharing different things with me during hikes." Zeon Cing remarked that he always feels joy when children take the initiative to share with him, as it reminds him of his own childhood. He also discovered that coaching isn't just about giving; it's also about receiving a lot from the children.

Coaching isn't just about giving; it's also about receiving a lot from the children. Photo source: FB@TTR Foundation

Besides making him "energetic," hiking also gave Zeon Cing the courage to face uncertainty. He joked that after finishing his DSE exams, he had no idea about the future, even admitting he was "thinking of just giving up." However, after each hike, his fellow hikers would check on him, asking: "Did you eat well?", "How's your studying?", "What are your plans for the future?" These seemingly casual questions, like seeds, were planted in his heart. He drew a blank on every question at first. But when even the kids in the foundation began asking him the same things, he finally started to think hard about one question: what did he actually want to do with his life?

Now, Zeon Cing has successfully graduated from the Hong Kong Polytechnic University and become an engineer. Looking back, what changed him were perhaps those who never found him annoying and always helped him find solutions time and time again. However, he also frankly admits that the foundation is not a "magic bullet": "Coming here won't make you very rich, nor will it give you many opportunities." But he believes that it gives him the possibility of changing himself.

TTR Foundation gives Zeon Cing the possibility of changing himself. Photo source: FB@TTR Foundation

Zeon Cing's return is naturally the biggest encouragement for the foundation. But when talking about operational difficulties, KK Sir still chokes up. He admits that doing this work is "easier said than done, yet we still have to persevere," and resources and manpower are the most challenging issues. However, he believes that as long as he perseveres, he will find like‑minded companions. "Just like Tang Sanzang's journey to the West, he started alone. He didn't immediately find Sun Wukong, Zhu Bajie, and Sha Wujing; he met them gradually along the way, slowly assembling his group."

Running a charity is never easy, but TTR Foundation never hesitates to invest resources where they matter most. The foundation serves students with special learning needs, including those with hyperactivity, social anxiety, or introversion, so instructors are required to pursue continuous professional development and tailor their teaching accordingly. KK Sir emphasises that they do not like to label children as “normal” or “abnormal”; instead, they teach with heart and with love. Instructors must also learn to identify and respond to different types of children, so he encourages them to enrol in relevant courses, with the foundation offering tuition support. “The better you teach, the more you learn from your students,” he said. “When you try to understand them, you’re actually growing yourself and becoming better at what you do.”

Zeon Cing (left) and KK Sir (right), Photo by Bastille Post

KK Sir extended his heartfelt gratitude to the volunteer instructors, fellow students, and event volunteers who have stood by TTR Foundation over the years. They have given not just their time and energy, but have embodied the very spirit of trailwalking, upholding the foundation's belief that “geese in flight support one another across the skies.”

He also expressed his hope that the foundation's mission of “sustained health and good deeds” will be passed down through generations, and that one day, someone will carry it forward even better than today. “Let’s not settle for the status quo,” he said. “I hope the foundation can keep improving, so that more people around us can benefit.”

This coming October, TTR Foundation will host the "TTR Trailwalker Charity Run," featuring parent‑child, individual, and team categories to suit participants of all levels. Whether you are a first‑timer or a seasoned trail runner, you are welcome to join this event filled with laughter and sweat. If you are interested, please click the link to sign up: https://ttr.hk/2026-ttr-charity-run/