Experience Nature and Culture in Plover Cove Country Park

Acclaimed Hong Kong-based fine art photographer and architect Tugo Cheng travels the world capturing the natural and cultural diversity of landscapes. While his work has earned Cheng widespread international recognition—including several nominations for National Geographic Photographer of the Year—the talented Hong Kong native welcomes opportunities to showcase off-the-beaten path natural areas of his hometown.

“Hong Kong is different from anywhere else in the world in terms of proximity to nature and hiking trails,” says Cheng, who frequently hikes both internationally and in Hong Kong. “I’ve hiked in the United Kingdom, Greece, and other countries where you have to travel one or two hours from the city center to the trails. In Hong Kong, there are places to hike right out your back door. The distance between nature and urban here is one of the closest in the world.”

Recently, National Geographic launched Cheng on a two-for-one adventure in Hong Kong’s Plover Cove Country Park. The pristine natural area shelters a centuries-old Hakka village, offering visitors the rare opportunity to experience both nature and culture in one easy hike. Through his photographs and insights, Cheng shares what makes Plover Cove Country Park a top spot for travelers who want to explore the wild side of Hong Kong.

“There are a lot of Hong Kong trails leading primarily through forest settings, but in Plover Cove, you have the forest, high mountains, and a traditional village. It is a mix of different things—a balance between nature and culture—which quite aptly represents Hong Kong.
 

Cheng encourages would-be hikers to learn more about Hakka culture before hiking in Plover Cove Country Park. Taking time to better understand the Hakka—widely thought to be largely northern Han Chinese who progressively migrated south beginning in 400 AD—will make the experience even more memorable and meaningful.

To explore Plover Cove Country Park on a half-day trip, Cheng recommends following the main, lower elevation route, which takes three-to-four hours and covers about four-and-a-half miles. Ideal for families and people seeking a relatively level path, the moderate hike begins at the Bride’s Pool Nature Trail and ends at the ferry stop at Lai Chi Wo, the Hakka village.

Prepare to capture a gallery of Instagrammable nature-scapes along the way, beginning with Bride’s Pool and Mirror Pool waterfalls. Easily accessible from the trail, the crystal-clear cascades and their pools are two of the many rushing and rolling water features passed or crossed on the hike.

“The villages are set right in the middle of a forest,” says Cheng. “What strikes me most about this part of the hike is the harmony between humans and nature, which reflects life in Hong Kong. Wherever you are in Hong Kong, nature is always close by.”

Cheng says he is particularly drawn to the traditional architecture and design of Lai Chi Wo. “The fact that you can see a traditional Hakka village makes this hike unique,” he explains. “The village is kind of a preserve representing the older settlements of early Hong Kong, and yet, you will see people living and visiting there.”

One of the most extraordinary cultural treasures visitors discover at Lai Chi Wo is outside the village walls. Nestled behind the village is a lush feng shui woodland, thought to be one of the oldest remaining forested areas of its kind in Hong Kong. Found mainly on the slopes behind rural, Southern China villages, feng shui woods were preserved by early settlers who believed the vegetation would bring good fortune and offer protection. The Lai Chi Wo woodland features increasingly rare examples of Hong Kong’s native low-elevation, broad-leaved forests.

“From the ferry, you can see interesting geological formations, lots of coastline, and the sea,” he adds. “So, by taking one easy Plover Cove hike—which is more of a walk since the lower trails are pretty level—[and the ferry,] you will experience several different aspects of Hong Kong: forest, waterfalls, rural villages, Hakka culture, and the sea.”