This popular hike starts from the Wu Kau Tang Bus Terminus and ends at the Hakka commune of Lai Chi Wo in northeastern Hong Kong.

You can climb to the top of the 416-metre hill, Tiu Tang Lung, to enjoy the spectacular view, or choose a gentle trail to the village of Sam A Tsuen that is characterised by its pink and reddish siltstone coastline, before reaching Lai Chi Wo.

Along the way, you will come across lush woodland greenery, home to many species of insects such as butterflies and lantern bugs, small farms, mangroves and glimpses of village life.

Decades of revitalisation work, which began in the early 2010s, has turned the clock back for this 400-year-old Hakka village of more than 200 houses and three ancestral halls.

Life has once again resumed, with joint efforts between villagers and non-governmental organisations bringing back farming to help educate the public about sustainability.

At weekends, shops and stalls serving traditional Hakka rice dumplings are open, alongside a cafe selling organic coffee and local produce, which has generated much buzz.

A majority of traditional villages were built near ‘fung shui’ woods, forests that provide both practical and ecological benefits to residents.

Lai Chi Wo is no exception. The lush trees to its northeast serve as a natural barrier to help moderate microclimate changes across the area and also once provided food and herbal medicine for villagers.

Its natural charm remains and it is a favourite, photo-worthy spot among visitors, as well as home to three entries in the city’s Register of Old and Valuable Trees of Hong Kong.

Restoration of the villagers’ pride in their traditions forms the core of Lai Chi Wo’s revitalisation.

Locals hold regular workshops to show visitors how everything is made, from roof tiles to natural mosquito repellents.

Classes that teach the art of making the Hakka dumpling, or cha guo, are immensely popular. The dumpling is a glutinous rice ball with either sweet fillings, such as red bean paste, or savoury ingredients, such as dried shrimp, pork and radish.

Check out the workshop schedule at the website: https://lcwhakkalife.wixsite.com/hakkalifeprogram/copy-of-accommodation-4.

Not far from downtown Sai Kung lies the 16-hectare education centre that features five exhibition halls and well-manicured outdoor green areas that include a banana grove, a Chinese herbal garden and a bamboo grove.

Permanent exhibitions explain rock formations and shell species in the region, while the Dragonfly Pond provides a thriving environment for a diverse range of aquatic plants, as well as more than 100 species of dragonflies.

The centre is open daily from 9:30am to 4:30pm except Tuesdays.

At Sai Kung Public Pier, many operators offer tours to various islands in the Sai Kung Volcanic Rock Region, but the safest bet is the one listed in the Recommended Geopark Guide.

The area is home to both inhabited and uninhabited islands. One of the most popular routes is a two-hour experience that covers Sharp Island, known for its ‘pineapple rocks’, tombolo and Elephant Trunk Cave, the bell-shaped arch at the southern tip of Jin Island, dramatic archways of Basalt Island and hexagonal rock columns of Po Lin Chau.

See more

This waterfront area, officially called Sai Kung Hoi Pong Street, has long been famous for its local seafood experience, alfresco environment and vibrant atmosphere at weekends.

Visitors walk up to the fish tanks, choose the desired fresh catch and tell the staff how they like it prepared.

Classics include steamed garoupa served with soy sauce, ginger and coriander, alongside baked lobsters served in a cheese sauce with e-fu noodles.

A la carte prices are seasonal, whereas set menus offer a decadent seafood feast at affordable prices.