As the sun rises over Victoria Harbour, the city starts its day with people filling Lugard Road – jogging, walking dogs or strolling with friends.

An elderly woman who visits the Hong Kong Trail occasionally, remarked that it was a pleasant trail that was even suitable for dog walking.

“Hong Kong is a real treasure. In just 10 to 30 minutes by car, you can reach many hiking trails. So we really should cherish what we have.”

Singaporean film director Jack Neo recently led over 100 visitors to the trail for some morning exercise. He said the group was in high spirits and amazed by the landscape.

“The scenery in Singapore is very different from here – this is a mountain. We just looked down and suddenly realised how stunning the view is.”

With stops planned in Guangzhou and Shenzhen during their five-day trip, Mr Neo said he hopes to return to Hong Kong in the future to explore its countryside further.

Natural gem
Lugard Road is just the beginning of a greater natural treasure – the Hong Kong Trail.

Spanning about 50km, the trail begins at the western end of Hong Kong Island, winding eastward. It is the most hiker-friendly of the four long-distance trails managed by the Agriculture, Fisheries & Conservation Department. Starting at Victoria Peak, it crosses the island’s hills and ends at Tai Long Wan.

The trail is divided into eight sections, with Lugard Road forming part of Section 1.

Eric Lam, Country Parks Ranger Services Officer (Hong Kong) at the department, grew up hiking the trail with his father and has since covered every section.

He said the trail offers a rich variety of scenic spots – ranging from the Peak and Pok Fu Lam Reservoir to Jardine’s Lookout, Mount Butler, the Tai Tam Group of Reservoirs and Dragon’s Back – offering a real mix of vistas.

In addition to its diverse landscapes, the trail also boasts rich habitats.

“Woodlands, streams and reservoirs support a wide range of wildlife, including species with high conservation value – like the Hong Kong Camellia and Primrose, both first discovered on the island,” Mr Lam added.

Witnessing history
The Hong Kong Trail is also packed with historical and cultural elements.

Hikers can encounter significant sites along the route, including Hong Kong’s first reservoir – Pok Fu Lam Reservoir, completed in 1863 – and several declared monuments related to the city’s early waterworks system.

Wartime relics such as Second World War-era air raid shelters and pillboxes, alongside early 1900s markers like the Kwan Tai Lo Milestone and the Tai Tam Obelisk, are also visible along the trail.

In April 1985, the Hong Kong Trail was officially inaugurated at Tai Fung Au, which also marks the start of Section 6. Many hikers still pause to take photographs at the memorial plaque.

Tai Fung Au has been there from the very beginning, even remnants of the former Taikoo company town – including the now-demolished Taikoo Sanitarium and the world’s first passenger cable car. The remaining stone, brick and concrete foundations have faded into the landscape, standing as silent witnesses to the passage of time.

Hiking challenge
To encourage the public to explore the Hong Kong Trail, the department launched the "Unlocking Hong Kong Trail" hiking challenge, setting up eight checkpoints – one for each trail section. Each checkpoint features an e-badge inspired by the section’s landmarks and biodiversity, allowing hikers to check in and take part in a “treasure hunt”.

Agriculture, Fisheries & Conservation Department Country Parks Ranger Services Officer (Education) Francis Tsang explained that participants should register on the event website, then hike to the eight checkpoints. Once there, they scan a QR code and answer a fun fact question to unlock an e-badge.

“Once they have unlocked all eight checkpoints within the event period – by February 28  – they can redeem a set of souvenirs on a first-come, first-served basis while stocks last,” Ms Tsang noted.

Since the challenge was launched in November 2025, over 7,400 people had signed up, with around 1,800 successfully unlocking all checkpoints as of the end of last year.

She advised participants to plan based on fitness and experience, hike in groups, and follow Leave No Trace principles.

Earlier, the department launched a series of activities encouraging public involvement in trail upkeep, including restoring erosion-prone sections to ensure hikers can safely and comfortably enjoy nature.

"Four Peaks" Tourism
Last year, the Government introduced the “Four Peaks” tourism initiative, covering Tai Mo Shan, Lantau Peak, Sai Kung Hoi and Victoria Peak, which overlaps with Section 1 of the Hong Kong Trail.

The department is phasing in the initiative, upgrading trails and facilities near High West, and working with nearby stakeholders to design themed green tourism routes linking the Peak Tram, landmarks and specialty cuisines.

The tourism routes, along with facility upgrades and green tourism products are expected to be in place by late 2026.