Hiking in Hong Kong
Tap Mun (Grass Island)
Distance: 7.5 km
Time: 2 hours 20 minutes
Ascent: 330 m
Date: October 2022
Start: Ferry Pier, Tap Mun
End: Ferry Pier, Tap Mun
Explore this place if:
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you want to escape city life for a while
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you want to see cows (and cow poo)
Avoid this place if:
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you're expecting never-ending grassy plains
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you want a sandy beach to relax on
Tap Mun, a tiny island located in the north-east region of Hong Kong, has a population of roughly 100 people and dozens of cows. While it was formally home to a bustling fishing industry (as well as hideouts for pirates and smugglers), the few residents that remain now mostly run restaurants or stores for tourists. Everyone talks about the amazing scenery and grassy meadows (a rarity in Hong Kong), and I wanted to see what all the fuss was about.
I arrived at the ferry terminal at 8 a.m., expecting to leave at 8.30 a.m (as per the timetable). We left at 8.05 a.m. I guess there were several ferries and they leave once they're full. I was the last person to board this boat and it was standing room only. This didn’t worry me though, as I gazed around at views of Hong Kong that I rarely see.
75 minutes later we arrived at Tap Mun. My aim was to make an anti-clockwise tour of the island, so I turned right and headed south. Walking through first Yung Shu Village and then New Fisherman's Village (they seemed to blend into one to me), I passed dozens of restaurants and shops, all starting to set up for the day. The stench of dried seafood was nauseating, causing me to quicken my pace to escape the horrendous odour.
Tap Mun is also known as Grass Island, so I presumed I would see grassy plains everywhere. It was nothing like that. The first patch of grass I came across was a cemetery, with only a handful of ancient graves. Otherwise it was just buildings, concrete walkways and the sea.
The path was easy to follow, with only the occasional set of stairs thrown in for variety. The shores beside me were all lined with large rocks, some of which had been utilised to make a seaside swimming pool. Across the water was the Sai Kung peninsula, with the iconic Sharp Peak clearly identifiable in the background.
Coming up the east side after rounding the southern tip, the first main sight for the day was Balanced Rock. It was easy to spot in the distance, even without knowing what it looked like beforehand. It wasn't the most interesting rock going around (just one rock sitting on another rock), but the rugged coastal scenery more than made up for this.
Along this stretch I came across a few grassy fields, but not enough to name an entire island after. It would have made more sense to call it Tree Island, Rock Island, or even Cow Poo Island. The large patties were everywhere, requiring me to carefully watch where I placed my feet at all times. By this stage I hadn't seen a single cow, but the evidence clearly told me they were around here somewhere.
Following a sign to Pebble Beach, I descended down a set of stairs that took me out to the water. At the end was a beach without a single grain of sand, and I would argue zero pebbles as well (unless I was looking at the world's largest pebbles). Like Tap Mun, I think Pebble Beach was a bit of a misnomer. Apart from a load of rubbish, the beach was completely empty.
