Ng Tung Chai vs Brides Pool: Which Hong Kong Waterfall Hike Should You Do?
Photo by Jouney Era
You've decided you want to hike to a waterfall in Hong Kong. The question is which one.
Ng Tung Chai vs Brides Pool is the decision most hikers in Hong Kong eventually face. Both are in the New Territories. Both involve subtropical forest, streams and tiered falls. Both are genuinely worth doing. But they are quite different trails, and the right choice depends on who you are going with and what you want from the day.
Here is an honest comparison.
Ng Tung Chai vs Brides Pool: The Key Differences at a Glance
| Ng Tung Chai | Brides Pool | |
|---|---|---|
| Distance | ~7km return | ~4km return |
| Duration | 3 to 4 hours | 1.5 to 2.5 hours |
| Difficulty | Moderate to Hard | Easy to Moderate |
| Falls | Four distinct falls | One main fall + cascades |
| Access | Bus 64K from Tai Po Market MTR | Bus 75K from Tai Po Market MTR |
| Family-friendly | Partly (lower section only) | Yes (full trail) |
Ng Tung Chai: The Harder, More Dramatic Option
Ng Tung Chai is the bigger trail. Seven kilometres, three to four hours, rated moderate to hard. It sits in the foothills of Tai Mo Shan and climbs steadily through subtropical forest to four distinct waterfalls: Bottom Fall, Middle Fall, Main Fall and Scatter Fall. Along with Brides Pool, it is among the 26 trails in the Iconic Hikes Hong Kong book — included because the sequence of falls and the forest setting make it one of the most complete trail experiences available by public transport from Kowloon.
The Main Fall is the centrepiece — a drop of approximately 30 metres [VERIFY: Main Fall height against IHHK Hikes Information file], the tallest in Hong Kong by most accounts. In wet season, after sustained rain, it fills out to a wide curtain of water that you hear from the trail well before you arrive at the pool below it.
Photo by Drone & DSLR
Ng Tung Chai is better for:
- Hikers who want a genuine physical challenge
- Groups without young children or older walkers with limited mobility
- Visits immediately after heavy rain (when the falls are at full volume)
- Those who want to combine with Tai Mo Shan on a longer day
Read the complete Ng Tung Chai trail guide for transport details, the four falls in order, and what to bring.
Brides Pool: The Easier, More Accessible Option
Photo by Hong Kong
Brides Pool sits in Plover Cove Country Park in the northeastern New Territories. The trail follows a stream through dense subtropical forest — you walk alongside running water for much of the route — to a set of tiered cascades and the main pool at Brides Pool itself.
The trail is shorter (approximately 4km return) and significantly easier than Ng Tung Chai. Most of the path is well-surfaced and flat enough for varied age groups. The forest cover is generous, which makes it more comfortable in summer heat than more exposed hikes.
Brides Pool is better for:
- Families with young children or older walkers
- First-time waterfall hikers in Hong Kong
- Half-day visits without a full-day commitment
- A visit outside peak wet season (the trail remains pleasant even in drier months)
Read the complete Brides Pool trail guide for the full transport guide from Tai Po Market MTR, what to expect on the trail, and the best time to go.
What About Silvermine Waterfalls?
Photo by Wikimedia Commons
If neither Ng Tung Chai nor Brides Pool suits your group — because the New Territories feel too far, or you want to combine a hike with a ferry trip — consider Silvermine Waterfalls on Lantau Island. It is the flattest and most accessible waterfall walk in Hong Kong: 2.9km from Mui Wo Ferry Pier, mostly on a paved road, with the added history of a working silver mine at the end. A different kind of day entirely.
For an overview of all three options alongside each other, read Hong Kong's Best Waterfall Hikes: Best Visited After Rain.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better: Ng Tung Chai or Brides Pool?
Neither is objectively better. Ng Tung Chai has more falls, greater drama, and a harder trail. Brides Pool is more accessible, more family-friendly, and easier to complete. If you are fit and want to work for your view, choose Ng Tung Chai. If you are going with mixed fitness levels or want a relaxed half-day, choose Brides Pool.
Can you do both Ng Tung Chai and Brides Pool in the same day?
Not easily. Both are in the New Territories but in different areas (Ng Tung Chai near Tai Mo Shan, Brides Pool in Plover Cove). Getting between them takes over an hour by public transport. Most people choose one per visit.
Are these waterfall hikes open in summer?
Yes, and summer is when the waterfalls are at their fullest. Be aware of typhoon signal warnings — if a Number 3 or above signal is raised, do not attempt either trail. For summer hiking advice, read Summer Hiking in Hong Kong: How to Beat the Heat.
Which Hong Kong waterfall hike is best after heavy rain?
Ng Tung Chai is more dramatic after heavy rain, because the four distinct falls all increase in volume simultaneously. Brides Pool also improves significantly after rain but the difference is less pronounced. Go to Ng Tung Chai if you specifically want the post-rain experience at its most dramatic.
Both Ng Tung Chai and Brides Pool are among the 26 trails documented in the Iconic Hikes Hong Kong book, the coffee table book and poster series that gives Hong Kong's trail landscape the recognition it has always deserved. Trail art prints available in A1, A2 and A3.
More from UpKow
- Hong Kong's Best Waterfall Hikes: Best Visited After Rain
- Ng Tung Chai Waterfalls: The Complete Hong Kong Trail Guide
- Bride's Pool: The Hong Kong Trail Where the City Becomes a Rainforest
- Silvermine Waterfalls Hong Kong: The Lantau Trail Worth the Ferry
- Summer Hiking in Hong Kong: How to Beat the Heat