Section 9 Allway Gardens to Sham Tseng
An Ancient Trail to a Stone Dragon
Difficulty **** | Time 3.5 hrs | Distance 8.5 km | Transport to start Bus to Allway Gardens | Hammocks Wang Pai Tung, Lido beach | Food Sham Tseng ( roasted goose) | Water feature Stream, beaches, coast, major waterfall
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Section 9 information
Section 9 is one of the most varied and rewarding sections of the Argyle Ross Trail. It includes a classic hike on the Yuen Tsuen Ancient Trail, a coastal walk in Sham Tseng and the mesmerising Stone Dragon waterfall. It is also the first time since Section 4 that the trail passes along some beautiful beaches and the chance to swim in the sea again.
The first part of Section 9 begins with a gorgeous hike along the Yuen Tsuen Ancient Trail. Start from the road just down from Allway Gardens and walk up the steep steps until you are rewarded with some impressive views. After about 45 minutes and 350 metres elevation you will reach a pagoda, an obvious resting spot. This part of the route follows the Tinworth Trail for just under two kilometres. The alpine, grassy landscape here is very different to the sub-tropical forest of the stream hikes and is reminiscent of many other upland Hong Kong hiking trails. When the path splits into two, the Tinworth continues to the right along the ancient trail while the Argyle Ross turns left downhill. Look out on your left here from some fantastic secluded hammock spots nestled within the trees, a perfect option for an overnight stay if you are thru-hiking the Argyle-Ross.
As you descend, keep checking the GPS carefully as it’s easy to stray off the trail here. As you near the bottom of the valley, the trail takes a sharp right and before too long you will arrive at the stream with two inviting pools to cool off in. Upper Shek Lung is a dark, narrow and foreboding stream. After about 40 minutes wading and clambering through the stream you will literally see light at the end of the tunnel. The stream starts to open up into the valley with sunshine everywhere and the most glorious views. You have reached the summit of Stone Dragon waterfall.
Look for the path to your left out of the stream to walk down the steep slope. A slight detour from the trail to the plunge pool at the base of the waterfall is essential, if not for a swim but to see Stone Dragon in all its magnificence; easily one of the most impressive waterfalls on the entire Argyle Ross Trail. Rejoin the trail and you will immediately ascend to an outcrop which will give you stunning 360° views of Lantau, Tsing Yi Bridge, Shek Lung’s green valley and Stone Dragon itself. Just before you come off this trail, you will have to negotiate one technical, steep descent onto the catchwater below. Take care here, it can be tricky.
The final part of Section 9 is along the coast to Sham Tseng. Once you leave Shek Lung Stream, follow the road down the hill to cross Tsing Long Highway and Castle Peak Road before arriving at Lido Beach. Lido Beach is one of Hong Kong’s finest city beaches, it is well-maintained with lots of facilities and even a raft to swim out to. It’s by far the best beach on this coastal stretch and well worth a swim. This unique urban location under the Ting Kau road bridge is somewhat surreal considering how clean the water and white the sand is.
After enjoying the beach, walk along Lido Beach and across to Casam Beach. From here look for a series of steep concrete maintenance steps which are attached to the wall; follow them until you reach a dead end to the maintenance path at Ho Mei Wan Beach. To access the sand, you’ll need to hop over the small railing and walk down through the trees. Exit the beach up some steps to Castle Peak Road before taking the right fork and follow the yellow steps down below the road bridge to the Gemini Beaches. This is the final beach of the section and the last chance you will have to swim in the sea before Section 11.
The last stretch of Section 9 is to re-follow the maintenance path again which hugs the coast for about 300 metres. The views from this path are magnificent and if you time it right, you will hopefully get a great sunset too. When you reach some trees look for a ladder on your right to climb up and rejoin Castle Peak Road for the third time in this section. If you have reached the boulders then you have gone too far. All that leaves is a short walk into Sham Tseng Tsuen and to choose a restaurant in the roast goose capital of Hong Kong, our pick being the renowned Yue Kee who charcoal-roast the birds from their own farm in Guangdong.
The first part of Section 9 begins with a gorgeous hike along the Yuen Tsuen Ancient Trail. Start from the road just down from Allway Gardens and walk up the steep steps until you are rewarded with some impressive views. After about 45 minutes and 350 metres elevation you will reach a pagoda, an obvious resting spot. This part of the route follows the Tinworth Trail for just under two kilometres. The alpine, grassy landscape here is very different to the sub-tropical forest of the stream hikes and is reminiscent of many other upland Hong Kong hiking trails. When the path splits into two, the Tinworth continues to the right along the ancient trail while the Argyle Ross turns left downhill. Look out on your left here from some fantastic secluded hammock spots nestled within the trees, a perfect option for an overnight stay if you are thru-hiking the Argyle-Ross.
As you descend, keep checking the GPS carefully as it’s easy to stray off the trail here. As you near the bottom of the valley, the trail takes a sharp right and before too long you will arrive at the stream with two inviting pools to cool off in. Upper Shek Lung is a dark, narrow and foreboding stream. After about 40 minutes wading and clambering through the stream you will literally see light at the end of the tunnel. The stream starts to open up into the valley with sunshine everywhere and the most glorious views. You have reached the summit of Stone Dragon waterfall.
Look for the path to your left out of the stream to walk down the steep slope. A slight detour from the trail to the plunge pool at the base of the waterfall is essential, if not for a swim but to see Stone Dragon in all its magnificence; easily one of the most impressive waterfalls on the entire Argyle Ross Trail. Rejoin the trail and you will immediately ascend to an outcrop which will give you stunning 360° views of Lantau, Tsing Yi Bridge, Shek Lung’s green valley and Stone Dragon itself. Just before you come off this trail, you will have to negotiate one technical, steep descent onto the catchwater below. Take care here, it can be tricky.
The final part of Section 9 is along the coast to Sham Tseng. Once you leave Shek Lung Stream, follow the road down the hill to cross Tsing Long Highway and Castle Peak Road before arriving at Lido Beach. Lido Beach is one of Hong Kong’s finest city beaches, it is well-maintained with lots of facilities and even a raft to swim out to. It’s by far the best beach on this coastal stretch and well worth a swim. This unique urban location under the Ting Kau road bridge is somewhat surreal considering how clean the water and white the sand is.
After enjoying the beach, walk along Lido Beach and across to Casam Beach. From here look for a series of steep concrete maintenance steps which are attached to the wall; follow them until you reach a dead end to the maintenance path at Ho Mei Wan Beach. To access the sand, you’ll need to hop over the small railing and walk down through the trees. Exit the beach up some steps to Castle Peak Road before taking the right fork and follow the yellow steps down below the road bridge to the Gemini Beaches. This is the final beach of the section and the last chance you will have to swim in the sea before Section 11.
The last stretch of Section 9 is to re-follow the maintenance path again which hugs the coast for about 300 metres. The views from this path are magnificent and if you time it right, you will hopefully get a great sunset too. When you reach some trees look for a ladder on your right to climb up and rejoin Castle Peak Road for the third time in this section. If you have reached the boulders then you have gone too far. All that leaves is a short walk into Sham Tseng Tsuen and to choose a restaurant in the roast goose capital of Hong Kong, our pick being the renowned Yue Kee who charcoal-roast the birds from their own farm in Guangdong.