Believe it or not, orange used to be my least favourite colour. But ever since I started landscape photography, I've realised how much shades of orange, red, and yellow from the magic hours can elevate scenery and hence the photo. I learned to love the warm tones more and more after each photoshoot. Every sunrise and sunset look different, making every picture unique despite being taken at similar spots.
Moreover, I could continue with other things in my life after a sunrise session or before a sunset session instead of having it eat up a whole chunk of my time. There definitely are days when I go on hikes after school for sunsets and to avoid the heat as well. Even if you're not a photographer, sunrises and sunsets can be such a fabulous way to start or end your day and make such great memories. Thus, no matter where I go, I always love finding the perfect spots to appreciate sunrises and sunsets.
S U N R I S E
Lantau Peak
Even though Tai Mo Shan is the tallest peak in Hong Kong, you can't really reach the summit of it as it's some sort of government property. Therefore, the highest point you can actually go to in Hong Kong is Lantau Peak, one of my fondest hikes in Hong Kong. Unlike Tai Mo Shan, Lantau Peak, being on Lantau Island, features less urban scenery but the different textures of the nearby mountains and the sea instead.
To reach Lantau Peak, you can either start hiking from Pak Kung Au or Ngong Ping. Bus 11, 23, and 3M all pass by Pak Kung Au, and you can ask for sectional fare if you take 3M. The hike from Pak Kung Au takes longer but is also more manageable as it climbs more gradually. A lot of my favourite hiking trails pass by Lantau Peak. I literally cannot recall how many times I've been up there for both sunrises and sunsets. I usually start from Pak Kung Au and exit the path at Ngong Ping, which can be reached by Bus 23.
The track consists of never-ending huge stone steps, which isn't that hard as the path is pretty well-paved and clear. Especially when hiking in the dark before dawn, you couldn't see what's in front of you that well, making it less hopeless. It is also one of the rare moments where you can actually see a starry sky in Hong Kong. It takes around 1.5 to 2 hours to get from Pak Tam Au to the top. The path to Ngong Ping is much steeper and might give people who are afraid of heights or people with knee problems some trouble. Also, note that the last bus of bus 23 departs Ngong Ping before sunset during summer; please check before going.
Along the way, you can spot the airport and the entire Tung Chung. After the long climb, you would be treated by a panoramic view, making both sunrise and sunset can be seen here. On one side, you can see the path that you've just hiked and Sunset Peak. On the other side, you can see the majestic Dog Teeth Ridge, Ngong Ping village with the Big Buddha, and the HZM Bridge.
If you come here during autumn and winter, you will be surrounded by fields of silver grass like I was when I came here for the sunrise. I came here for the second time during the summer, and I was blessed with a sea of clouds at the top. The experience of ascending on foot into the mist of clouds made this the most heavenly hike I've ever been to, especially when the sun's rays hit the clouds.
Tai Mo Shan
Tai Mo Shan is the highest peak in Hong Kong, with an elevation of 957 meters. It is one of the most popular spots for sunrises in Hong Kong, especially during the sea of clouds season, during which you can find avid photographers lining the entire road. There is also a rumour that Tai Mo Shan is only kind towards first-time visitors, gifting them with the most fascinating sunrise they've ever seen, getting them hooked, and then giving them cloudy, misty, unsatisfying sunrises afterwards. Even though a successful sunrise isn't guaranteed up there, it can be so captivating if the sky is cleared up enough that photographers just keep coming back all the time.
Tai Mo Shan is actually one of the more accessible spots on the list, as you can drive or take the minibus up most of the mountain. Parking can be hard to find, especially during the sea-of-cloud season, but the walk from the parking lot only takes around 20 minutes. During winter, you can actually get a decent amount of sleep before heading up.
Near the top, you can see most of the city together with the hairpins that you've just walked up. The contours of the mountains nearby being lit up by the rising sun also look really lovely. The first time I came here was just a random morning after the exam, and I was treated to a colourful sunrise with clear skies that I could see miles away. The second and third times I was up there were both during the sea-of-clouds season. It was too foggy to see anything, but I did have a great time meeting up with plenty of fellow photographers up there.
Sai Kung
Sai Kung is no doubt the most gorgeous paradise in Hong Kong. There literally are no other competitors that can come close to Hong Kong UNESCO Global Geopark in Sai Kung when it comes to natural scenery in Hong Kong. Since Sai Kung faces east, there are plenty of spots where you can see the sunrise against the diversified rock formations in the Geopark. However, the Geopark isn't that accessible; almost all of the prettiest locations require hiking, which is a good thing to protect it from over-tourism. But it is also the reason why I've only watched the sunrise in Sai Kung once.
I've wanted to visit Siu Po Pin for a very long time to have a glimpse at waves crashing onto the giant hexagonal columns. Robert had OT that night, so we didn't set off until after 01:00. We drove to Sai Kung, and luckily, metered parking spaces were available. A permit was needed to drive into the country park, so we hopped onto a taxi and got off at Pak Lap Village. The walk to Pak Lap Wan Beach, from where we got off, took around 20 minutes.
It was a cloudy evening, but I still managed to capture the Milky Way in Hong Kong for the first time using my new 20mm f/1.8 lens. Since it was a holiday that day, there were already 20 tents of people camping on the beach when we arrived. We cooked some midnight snacks with our camping cook set while we gazed at the starry sky.
To go from Pak Lap Wan to Siu Po Pin, you can either do easy 30-minute coasteering along the coast or a short hike. We opted for coasteering as we couldn't precisely spot the path in the dark for the trek. The tide was so low that day that we didn't even have to get our feet wet at all—seeing Siu Po Pin slowly being revealed before our eyes was worth not getting sleep at all that night.
As the sun rises above the horizon, different parts of the hexagonal columns lit up. Climbing up the Inverted Wrist Cliff (倒腕崖), the view opened up, and we could spot Mok Min Cave from here. I was pretty tired already that day, so we didn't head down to the cave. After sunrise, we headed back to Pak Lap Wan Beach via the hill route and droned a bit there before leaving. It had one of the most transparent water and the finest sand I've seen in Hong Kong. You can never go wrong with the marvellous scenery in Sai Kung.
Shek O
For the previous three locations on the list, it either wasn't that safe for me to head there alone, or I'd need someone to drive me there (cos I don't have a driver's license or a car). One of the perks of living in Hong Kong would definitely be the convenience of the public transportation system that would allow me to go watch the sunrise somewhere far away on my own. Since buses and minibuses are available, Shek O is undoubtedly a more popular beach in Hong Kong.
It was winter when I went there, and sunrises in Hong Kong were still at around 07:00. I set off from home at around 05:00, taking a cross-tunnel bus to Shau Kei Wan and then switched to the first bus of bus 9 towards Shek O at 06:00. I arrived at the rocky beach just in time for twilight. I had just purchased my filter system back then. I was super thrilled to try them out and shoot the moving water against the sunrise. I still had time for breakfast after shooting and before having my Zoom tutorial on the beach at 08:30.
S U N S E T
Kai Kung Leng
Like Lantau Peak, Kai Kung Leng also offers a world-class view of endless mountains. Kai Kung Leng consists of several peaks, forming a beautiful ridge extending from Sheung Shui to Yuen Long. With no tall trees obstructing your view, you can enjoy the various patterns, textures, and shades of light and shadow formed by the mountains on the entire trail. Such a cool place to practice landscape photography.
As it is not an official trail, the condition of the track would be more rugged than Lantau Peak. Starting the hike from Sheung Shui would have a larger incline initially, and the trail sure was slippery. If you start at Fung Kat Heung at Yuen Long, you will first start at some staircases. Since we’re walking on the ridge of a range of peaks, constantly climbing up and sliding back down would be expected, and this makes the hike quite tiring. Kai Kung Leng has also endured hill fires and lots of damage from off-road motorcycling these past few years. Remember to stay on the main track while you’re there to reduce further damage.
I think that the best views can be seen at the tallest peak, Tai Lo Tin. You can clearly see Shen Zhen and the entire Fairview Park from there on a good day. The sunsets I saw from there were also spectacular due to the unobstructed panoramic views. Ending the hike at Yuen Long also lets you soak in the sunset while you leave.
Watch my vlog documenting a sunset I saw on Kai Kung Leng.
Sunset Peak
Every November, Sunset Peak attracts huge crowds of visitors, experienced hikers and casual tourists alike, as the fields of silver grass grow all over the mountain. Apart from the Instagrammable silver grass, this mountain next to Lantau Peak also has unique little stone houses scattered around. Told you Lantau Island has a lot to offer.
Same as Lantau Peak, the hike to Sunset Peak also starts at Pak Kung Au. Instead of going west, this time, go east onto Lantau Trail Sec. 2. The climb up to Sunset Peak is mainly huge stone steps similar to Lantau Peak, which can be quite exhausting but not too difficult to navigate. Don't forget to turn around and take a look at the impressive Lantau Peak behind you. As its name implies, the peak is a fabulous place to view the sunset and enjoy the dazzling sunset glow shining down to the Lantau Mountain Camp.
After reaching the top, continuing on the trail would bring you down to the Lantau Mountain Camp, twenty-one small stone houses unique to one another. After passing through the maze of houses, there are signs pointing you to Wong Lung Hang Natural Trail, which will bring you back to Tung Chung after descending on never-ending stairs once again.
Ha Pak Nai
Most of the places I mentioned on this list are in the mountains, which is not a surprise as I hike a lot. But something about watching sunsets on a coastline just makes it so much more magical. Sitting on the coast of the northwestern New Territories in Hong Kong, the wetland of Ha Pak Nai is not only renowned for its biodiversity, it is also a spectacular place to watch sunset as the calm water of the wetland makes an exceptional canvas to reflect the colours of the sky. It can be easily reached by minibus 33 from Tin Shui Wai.
Tin Ha Shan
I haven't really heard much buzz on this location, but this is where I've encountered the most sensational dramatic sundown in my life. Tin Ha Shan is located in Clearwater Bay Country Park, often overshadowed by High Junk Peak in the same area. Po Toi O nearby is also a well-established spot for sunrises. However, the tranquillity at Tin Ha Shan is what truly captivated me.
You can either drive or take the bus to Clearwater Bay Second Beach. Starting the climb at Radio Control Glider Spot, we followed the High Junk Peak Country Trail toward Joss House Bay for around 30 minutes before going off-trail towards the small hill on our right. Another 15 minutes would bring you to the top of the hill and a trigonometrical station.
I remember the sky was already starting to glow when I arrived. At the top, the view was panoramic, with the Clear Water Bay beaches and a golf and country club behind us and an unparalleled angle of the Victoria Harbour in front of us. You can also see the landfill operating right beneath your feet and a bridge building near LOHAS Park. In my opinion, since Tin Ha Shan isn't that close to the city, a telephoto lens is probably more suitable than a typical wide-angle landscape lens.
Cape d'Aguilar
What if you want to tour various cave formations and cliffs but aren't really a huge fan of dragging an
unhealthily heavy amount of photography gear somewhere far and hauling them over mountains just for some photos? Then Cape d'Aguilar would be the perfect spot for you, and the scenery there is absolutely as exotic and charismatic as its name sounds.
To get to Cape d'Aguilar, we boarded bus 9, the same bus that goes to Shek O from Shau Kei Wan. It takes around 30 minutes to get to the stop on Cape d'Aguilar Road. From there, a 45-minute walk would bring you to the marine reserve, where the historic lighthouse, the bones of Miss Willy, the whale, and the iconic sea arch are located. The whole walk consists of an entirely concrete road, making it an excellent place for leisure outings with friends.
Even though Cape d'Aguilar doesn't precisely face west geographically, climbing up the giant sea arch gives you an open view of the sun sinking into the sea against different rock formations. Don't be too hurry to leave after dusk, as Cape d'Aguilar is also a neat place for astrophotography.
Sandy Bay Swimming Shed
I feel like there's so much talk about Sai Wan Swimming Shed that it started to feel a bit overrated to me, especially with the giant queues. It wasn't until I found out that it isn't the only swimming shed in town. Sandy Bay Swimming Shed, which is south of the one on Sai Wan, is also a marvellous place for sunsets and shooting moving water.
You can take minibus no. 58 from Kennedy Town and get off at the Duchess of Kent Children's Hospital at Sandy Bay or bus 971 and get off at Victoria Road. At the rocky beach, there is actually a simple shed for changing into swimming attire and a little pier sticking out into the ocean. It is much more spacious there, so you don't need to queue to grab a photo. But do check the tides before heading there.
Red Incense Burning Summit
It's almost a crime to come to Hong Kong without looking at the concrete jungle up close. While Lion Rock gives a panoramic view of the city, Red Incense Burner Summit provides you with an unparalleled angle of both sides of the Victoria Harbour and is more proximate to the impressive skyscrapers.
Taking the 49m minibus from Tin Hau and getting off at Braemar Hill Bus Terminus would bring you to the start of the trail at the stairs next to St. Joan of Arc Secondary School. While it could take a while to find the entrance, there are ribbons along the 20-minute climb to the top. You need to climb up some big rocks near the top. Also, it can get a bit tight up there as it is a popular spot for sunset, so I'd suggest getting there around half an hour before sunset to get a decent place.
Special Mentions: Wan Kuk Shan
These aren't really typical sunset spots, but I did have exceptional sunset experiences while hiking there. That's what's incredible about sunrises and sunsets; you don't have to go to where everyone goes just to see the sun disappear. The sky's ever-changing colours can be seen almost anywhere, depending on the weather that day.
Final tips:
For some final tips, it is probably a good idea to check the time of sunrise/sunset and the weather when planning so that you won't miss it. The weather photo function on the Hong Kong Observatory site is also super useful for me.
You can also check the sun's path, the direction of the Milky Way and more information to plan your shoots ahead on the app PhotoPills.
Check out all my photography work in Hong Kong here.
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