Hiking in Hong Kong was a product of vision, policy, and culture, built on the understanding that in a dense and crowded city, nature is not a luxury but a necessity.

The modern story begins in the 1970s, when then Governor Sir Murray MacLehose, who was an avid hiker himself, and Edward Hewitt Nichols, Director of Agriculture and Fisheries, collaborated to establish the Country Parks Ordinance of 1976. They both recognised that Hong Kong’s rapid urban growth was leaving little room for public breathing space, and were adamant on the need to protect and raise awareness on the importance of nature conservation. Famously once noted, Maclehose claimed “everyone can enjoy nature, but only some can enjoy golf courses and yachts,”. 

The Country Parks Ordinance of 1976 protects watersheds, forests, and uplands, while building the necessary infrastructure, such as paths, signage, picnic areas, campsites that would make the countryside accessible to everyone. Within four years, the Agriculture and Fisheries Department designated 21 country parks covering 40% of the land in Hong Kong. 

From this groundwork grew the long-distance trails that today define Hong Kong’s hiking culture: 

MacLehose Trail - established in 1979, is a 100-kilometre east–west spine across the New Territories, linking eight country parks and climbing Tai Mo Shan, the highest peak. 

Lantau Trail established in 1984 is a 70-kilometre circuit around Lantau Island’s rugged ridges and cultural landmarks, divided into twelve well-marked stages. 

The Hong Kong Trail came next in 1985, a 50-kilometre route weaving through the island’s green belts and iconic viewpoints like Dragon’s Back, allowing urban residents to step onto a mountain within minutes. 

The Wilson Trail arrived in the late 1980s and 1990s, running north–south for 78 kilometres and linking fragmented parks.