A wonderful world: Hong Kong National Geopark tour

Fishermen spearfishing off Ap Chau island

A lot of people (including myself and most local Hong Kongers) often forget that about 70% of Hong Kong is made up of unspoilt mountains and countryside while over 7 million of its population are crammed into high-rises in urban areas. Thanks to the ex-British government, many areas (esp. the New Territories) are designated for nature conservation. These are usually country parks and hiking trails where locals and visitors can enjoy the city's nature and wild life. If we look at the rapid rate of China's development and how the current Hong Kong government is handling the city, Hong Kongers should be grateful that the British left Hong Kong something so valuable that is beneficial for many generations to come.

I have wanted to visit the National Geopark for a while, last week I came across a boat tour which reignited my interest to visit the region. The tour explores the Northeastern part of Hong Kong near the Chinese border, passing past Double Haven marine park, stopping at Lai Chi Wo (Hakka village) and Ap Chau (an island off Hong Kong).

The entire boat trip lasted about 5 hours including 2 hours of sightseeing on land. The weather was sunny and warm with some breeze which was perfect for this tour! I love the scenery esp. around the Double Haven marine park and I find it hard to believe that there are still so many deserted beaches in Hong Kong!

Visiting the Hakka village was an interesting experience, but rows of abandoned and neglected houses reminded us of the urbanisation progress that took place in the past decades. Interestingly, many of the old trees outside of the village walls have stood the test of time and survived the Colonial period, Japanese invasion and the return of Hong Kong to China... perhaps they are the true protectors of the village.

In Ap Chau (means Duck Island in Chinese), there is a famous sea arch called 'duck eye' and from there, we could clearly see Shenzhen across the border. It was odd to see the industrial development over there and the natural environment being conserved on our side. And right in front of us, there were 2 fishermen still fishing in the very traditional way... by spear! It was fascinating to watch and a huge contrast against the industrial backdrop. At that moment, I felt particularly worried for the future of the mainland Chinese across the border.

This boat trip was an eye-opening experience for me. Apart from the scenery, it was also interesting to learn about the heritage and geological aspect of the region and I would strongly recommend it to all visitors and locals.