Wu Kau Tang to Lai Chi Wo Loop via Double Haven Country Trail

The 13+ kilometer Lai Chi Wo hike offers stunning views and takes you through the UNESCO-recognized Hakka village of Lai Chi Wo, which has been sympathetically restored over its 300-year history.

The Lai Chi Wo hike is mostly flat, with a short uphill section at the end, making it ideal for beginners. However, be cautious in summer, as the unshaded areas can make the hike tiring.

Experience tranquil forests, coastal mangroves, shimmering beaches, open grassland, historic villages, and views of Shenzhen, China.

For an escape from the city's skyscrapers, this hike offers historic villages and stunning scenery that will transport you back in time.

To get to the Lai Chi Wo hike start point, take the MTR to Tai Po Market station and then hop on any of the two following buses:

20R Green Minibus

Leave Tai Po Market Station at Exit A3 and turn left following the blue 'Public Light Buses' sign. The 20R bus will be immediately to your left at the minibus station.

After getting off at the Wu Kau Tang ( 烏蛟騰) Bus Terminus, follow the 'Double Haven Country Trail' marker and descend the green-railing slope.

After going past the walled house, you'll see a sign pointing you towards 'Kau Tam Tso'. Follow the sign and walk past a beautiful stream with cool fish in it, a large chunk of green grassland with maple trees in it, and even some abandoned village homes.

The next trail is intersected often by Miu Sam Stream, which means more stepping stones as you continue toward the wetlands and coast. Each time the stream crosses the trail, the scenery just seems to get even more beautiful.

The terrain will also take on a sort of pinkish-red hue partway through. This is a natural coloration caused by the presence of siltstone, which is a type of sedimentary rock that was compressed over a hundred million years ago.

You'll soon see the Sam A Chung stone marker that indicates where the village once was.

Follow the stone 'Sam A Tsuen' sign before getting even more amazing mangrove scenery.

You'll go across perhaps the most spectacular stream crossing a little while later before reemerging at the coast.

This is one of the most spectacular and scenic sections of the entire hike. You'll be walking right beside the coast, so close that you can touch the water.

Follow the concrete path and go in the direction of the brown sign pointing to 'Lai Chi Wo' at the crossroads.

A few minutes later, you'll see another split in the road. Go in the direction of the next Lai Chi Wo sign (past the phone booth) or go left if you want to check out the village. Return to the trail after the village if you decide to explore or stock up on supplies.

Continue to follow the trail signage to Lai Chi Wo. 

Upon arriving at Lai Chi Wo, the first thing you'll likely notice is the wall that surrounds the village. It's been sympathetically restored and hasn't been turned into something gaudy and for show. Indeed, one of the things I appreciated most about Lai Chi Wo is that you can still feel the village's age when you wander around its streets and houses.

After exploring Lai Chi Wo, exit the village and take the stairs behind the public toilet. You'll enjoy views of lesser-refurbished buildings and the village wall, which once protected against bandits.

Continue past the 'Lai Chi Wo Special Area' sign, and soon spot another sign directing you toward Wu Kau Tang. The trail steepens, marking the only significant uphill section, which continues to climb for quite a while.

At the top, follow the Wu Kau Tang Country Trail to Chi Sum Road. The trail then descends along stone steps and a pathway before reaching back toward the village houses, where you can catch a bus back to the city.

Overall, the hike is quite easy going and well-marked. The route is shaded, and we didn’t have any trouble getting away from the sun when it became hot. The good part is that along the way, we were able to replenish our supplies at the village restaurants that provided water and food.

We recommend that beginners do the route from Wu Kau Tang to Lai Chi Wo as the trail instead of the whole loop, as the section from Lai Chi Wo back to Wu Kau Tang might be quite challenging for some, as the trail gradually heads uphill and can expect multiple climbs.

Remember to bring at least 2 liters of water and snacks, and wear appropriate hiking gear and shoes.