Ha Fa Shan

Ha Fa Shan Hike Guide: A Quick Hike Up to One of Hong Kong's Best City Views

By 
Kamal Mirwani
Published 
May 14, 2025
Type: Mountain Views
Type: Historical/Cultural
Type: City Views
Difficulty: Medium
District: New Territories

Contents

Essential Red Incense Burner Hill Hike Details

  • District: New Territories
  • Duration: 1 hour round trip (with no breaks)
  • Distance: 2.5ish km round trip
  • Highest Elevation: 315 meters
  • Difficulty: 2.5/5
  • Facilities: None. Stock up on water and use the toilet beforehand

Why Hike Ha Fa Shan?

Slightly rugged terrain
Slightly rugged terrain
An interesting summit
An interesting summit
Frequent flights overhead
Frequent flights overhead
Amazing city views
Amazing city views
Tai Mo Shan Route Twisk View
How to hike Tai Mo Shan
How to Hike to Tai Mo Shan Via the Ng Tung Chai Waterfalls
You really come to Ha Fa Shan for this comprehensive view though
You really come to Ha Fa Shan for this comprehensive view though
You'll see Tai Mo Shan on the left
You'll see Tai Mo Shan on the left
All the way to Tsing Yi, and even Lantau on the right, though most of Lantau is not visible in this image
All the way to Tsing Yi, and even Lantau on the right, though most of Lantau is not visible in this image

*You can combine this route with the Yuen Tsuen Ancient Trail if it is too easy.

Ha Fa Shan (下花山) is a peak in Tsuen Wan that boasts one of the best city views in all of Hong Kong. While the buildings and landscapes are different to that of other famous mountains like Victoria Peak, this view over Tsuen Wan, Tai Mo Shan, Tsing Yi, Lantaun Island and even Hong Kong Island and Kowloon is just epic!

The trail to the top initially starts with a lot of stairs before switching to dirt terrain for the second half of the climb.

However, the climb is only about half an hour to the summit and then the same time back, if not less. That means, this hike can be completed in around an hour, which is really an incredible testament to just how close the concrete jungle is to the real jungle in Hong Kong.

This is a great hike for beginners and intermediate hikers. Just be warned that the dirt trail can get slippery if it rains, so approach this hike with caution in wet conditions.

Google Route Map

Ha Fa Shan GPX File (start and finish are the same point

*Click the box icon in the top right of the map below to load the blue route directly into your own Google Maps. You can then see your location relative to the trail in real time!

How to Get to the Ha Fa Shan Hike Start Point

Take Exit A at Tsuen Wan MTR Station
Take Exit A at Tsuen Wan MTR Station
Head right, towards Exit A4
Head right, towards Exit A4
Exit A4 is only a few steps away
Exit A4 is only a few steps away
Go down the red stairs
Go down the red stairs
You'll want to take the 39M bus towards Allway Gardens
You'll want to take the 39M bus towards Allway Gardens
You can also take Green Minibus number 84 to Allway Gardens
Don't take Green Minibus number 84. It's going in the opposite direction to Allway Gardens from where the 39M is
Take the bus to the Tsuen Wan Adventist Hospital stop. It's the second-last stop
Take the bus to the Tsuen Wan Adventist Hospital stop. It's the second-last stop
Both buses will stop right here. The start of the trail is a few meters ahead of the bus stop
Both buses will stop right here. The start of the trail is a few meters ahead of the bus stop
Walk forward a few meters from the bus stop and you'll see a green railing and stairs. There will be a Yuen Tsuen Ancient Trail sign as well
Walk forward a few meters from the bus stop and you'll see a green railing and stairs. There will be a Yuen Tsuen Ancient Trail sign as well

Take the MTR to Tsuen Wan Station and leave through Exit A. Make your way to Exit A4, specifically, and head down to the bus stop.

Just a few steps forward from the bottom of the stairs is the 39M bus stop. You can take this bus towards Allway Gardens. Don't take the green number 84 minibus from this stop as the bus is going in the opposite direction to Allway Gardens.

You'll want to get off at the Tsuen Wan Adventist Hospital (荃灣港安醫院) stop. The minibus won't show what stop you're at, so you can show the Chinese address to the driver so they know when to let you off.

*If you end up at Allway Gardens, it's barely a 5-min walk to the start of the trail. So no big deal if you get off at the last stop. Just head back the way you came until you see the green railings, stairs, and Yuen Tsuen Ancient Trail sign.

Quick Ha Fa Shan Route Summary

Screenshot 2025-05-14 094927
  1. Take the 39M or the 84 Green Minibus to Tsuen Wan Adventist Hospital from Exit A4 of Tsuen Wan MTR Station
  2. Walk forward from the bus stop to the green railing, stairs and Yuen Tsuen Ancient Trail sign. Begin climbing
  3. You will pass signs for Ha Fa Shan and the Yuen Tsuen Ancient Trail. Keep following them and continue climbing upwards
  4. About 15 mins later, there will be a fork in the trail. Follow the brown Yuen Tsuen Ancient Trail sign to the right so that you keep climbing. Ignore the flat path
  5. Keep following the trail until you see a small brown pavilion on your left
  6. Just ahead of the pavilion, you will see an unmarked dirt trail heading upward on your right. The trail is beside a knee-height concrete wall thing
  7. Begin climbing up the rough path. Keep an eye out for a little detour on the right with some great views
  8. Ribbons mark the way as you keep heading upwards. There isn't really a "correct" way up. Just pick the paths that are the clearest and easiest to follow
  9. You will see a flagpost mounted on a rock when you're at the summit
  10. Explore the summit of Ha Fa Shan and suss out the best views. Return back the way you came when you're done

Follow the Yuen Tsuen Trail for 20 Mins

Walk forward a few meters from the bus stop and you'll see a green railing and stairs. There will be a Yuen Tsuen Ancient Trail sign as well
Walk forward a few meters from the bus stop and you'll see a green railing and stairs. There will be a Yuen Tsuen Ancient Trail sign as well
It's a pretty steep climb almost immediately. The stairs will show you no mercy!
It's a pretty steep climb almost immediately. The stairs will show you no mercy!
There's an INCREDIBLE tree that you can stop to admire. Not because you're out of breath from the stairs or anything...
There's an INCREDIBLE tree that you can stop to admire. Not because you're out of breath from the stairs or anything...
Follow the stairs as they take you around the epic tree
Follow the stairs as they take you around the epic tree
Just past the tree, keep climbing. Don't go right
Just past the tree, keep climbing. Don't go right
At this little detour, go right (follow the green railings)
At this little detour, go right (follow the green railings)
Keep climbing as the trail opens up
Keep climbing as the trail opens up
You'll get your first city views at this point
You'll get your first city views at this point
And then the stairs keep going
And then the stairs keep going
Cross the concrete road (you'll know it when you see it) and head up even more stairs
Cross the concrete road (you'll know it when you see it) and head up even more stairs
You'll see a Ha Fa Shan sign just past the stairs you climbed
You'll see a Ha Fa Shan sign just past the stairs you climbed
The stairs end here and are replaced with a sloping, concrete road
The stairs end here and are replaced with a sloping, concrete road
There's another little teaser of what awaits at the top of Ha Fa Shan
There's another little teaser of what awaits at the top of Ha Fa Shan
Just past the viewpoint is a brown Yuen Tsuen Ancient Trail sign. Follow it to the right
Just past the viewpoint is a brown Yuen Tsuen Ancient Trail sign. Follow it to the right
The trail really is quite gorgeous here
The trail really is quite gorgeous here
When you see this pavilion on your left, pay attention. The Ha Fa Shan fork is just ahead
When you see this pavilion on your left, pay attention. The Ha Fa Shan fork is just ahead
This bloke was applying 2025 tech to the Yuen Tsuen Ancient Trail!
This bloke was applying 2025 tech to the Yuen Tsuen Ancient Trail!
The fork to Ha Fa Shan is right by this jutting-out bit of concrete
The fork to Ha Fa Shan is right by this jutting-out bit of concrete
Here's a better view
Here's a better view

It takes about 20 minutes at a decent pace to get to the Ha Fa Shan fork. Since this hike is part of the Yuen Tsuen Ancient Trail, you'll see signs for that trail as well as Ha Fa Shan as you climb.

There are not many places to get lost on this uphill section. Just be sure not to miss the unmarked path on your right after the pavilion. If you miss it, you'll skip Ha Fa Shan entirely, and begin the Yuen Tsuen Ancient Trail, instead.

The 10-min Climb to Ha Fa Shan's Summit

The climb up to Ha Fa Shan's summit begins along a shaded, rugged, uphill path
The climb up to Ha Fa Shan's summit begins along a shaded, rugged, uphill path
Only a minute into your climb, you'll see a small detour on your right
Only a minute into your climb, you'll see a small detour on your right
This is a better view of the detour. It's worth checking out in my opinion becaise of the view
This is a better view of the detour. It's worth checking out in my opinion because of the view
You'll have a really stellar unobstructed view out over Tsuen Wan
You'll have a really stellar unobstructed view out over Tsuen Wan
Continue heading upward along the main trail when you're done admiring the view
Continue heading upward along the main trail when you're done admiring the view
There are ribbons to guide you
There are ribbons to guide you
That rocky area is your final destination
That rocky area is your final destination
If you can see ribbons, you're going the right way
If you can see ribbons, you're going the right way
Sometimes, there are multiple paths. Just take the one that looks the safest. They all go to roughly the same place
Sometimes, there are multiple paths. Just take the one that looks the safest. They all go to roughly the same place
I went left, but again, pick whichever path suits you
I went left, but again, pick whichever path suits you
Near the summit, you'll walk around the edge of some trees
Near the summit, you'll walk around the edge of some trees
And you'll see the summit with its signature flagpost right in front of you
And you'll see the summit with its signature flagpost right in front of you

This section of climbing feels more like a fun hiking adventure than all the stairs and concrete of the previous section. You'll essentially follow dirt paths all the way to the summit.

There isn't really a "correct" path as long as you keep going upwards. You'll know you've arrived at the summit of Ha Fa Shan when you see the large flagpost in front of you.

Ha Fa Shan Summit Views

There's a nice grassy area at the summit which is perfect for camping
There's a nice grassy area at the summit which is perfect for camping
Climb up here for a great view
Climb up here for a great view
The view from Ha Fa Shan is really gorgeous!
The view from Ha Fa Shan is really gorgeous!
You can see Tai Mo Shan on the left
You can see Tai Mo Shan on the left
And Tsuen Wan, Tsing Yi, Hong Kong Island, Kowloon and even Lantau on the right
And Tsuen Wan, Tsing Yi, Hong Kong Island, Kowloon and even Lantau on the right
The Tsing Ma Bridge and Lantau Peak are visible in the distance
The Tsing Ma Bridge and Lantau Peak are visible in the distance
Lower down from the flagpost are a different set of rocks that offer another wonderful viewpoint
Lower down from the flagpost are a different set of rocks that offer another wonderful viewpoint
Lantau Peak view
How to hike Lantau Peak
Lantau Peak: How to Hike Hong Kong's Second Tallest Mountain
You get to see the city from a little closer
You get to see the city from a little closer
It's incredible to see all the way out to Hong Kong Island from the New Territories from this vantage point
It's incredible to see all the way out to Hong Kong Island from the New Territories from this vantage point
You can also see the Tsing Ma Bridge leading to Lantau Island
You can also see the Tsing Ma Bridge leading to Lantau Island

It's so worth the 30ish-minute climb to Ha Fa Shan's summit to check out these incredible views. There are several spots that offer awesome vantage points at the summit and near it, so spend a little time exploring.

If you hike on a clear day, you'll be able to see Tai Mo Shan (Hong Kong's tallest mountain), Tsuen Wan, Tsing Yi, Kowloon, Hong Kong Island, and even Lantau to the right!

Getting Back

Retrace your steps back down to the bus stop. You can take the 39M bus or the 84 Green Minibus back to Tsuen Wan MTR Station.

You might need to walk up to Allway Garden to catch the bus back to Tsuen Wan. Allway Gardens is just a few mins away from the start of the trail. It's located here.