Kowloon Peak and Suicide Cliff Hike: Guide & Itinerary

Located on the northeast side of Kowloon, Kowloon Peak (Fei Ngo Shan) is 602m tall and is the tallest peak in Kowloon. The “soaring goose mountain” (direct translation) is part of Ma On Shan Country Park and features one of Hong Kong’s most dangerous cliffs: Suicide Cliff.

The infamous Suicide Cliff got its name from the treacherous, steep climb. There were past incidents where hikers were seriously injured.

But you don’t have to climb the steep cliff to experience Suicide Cliff and Kowloon Peak. In fact, there are several ways to get to the summit of Kowloon Peak and see panoramic views from Suicide Cliff.

In this guide, I put together a detailed itinerary for taking the safe and scenic route to Kowloon Peak and Suicide Cliff in Hong Kong. If you are an experienced hiker and want to see the most dramatic cliff and the best views from Kowloon, then keep reading.

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Kowloon Peak hike & Suicide Cliff Information

Before you hike the Kowloon Peak trail, take a look at my Hong Kong solo travel guide and get an overview of HK first.

Here are a few additional tips for the Kowloon Peak and Suicide Cliff hike:

• The best time to hike the Kowloon Peak and Suicide Cliff is late autumn, winter and early spring. It is possible to hike during summer, but most of the trail is not covered so it can get pretty hot.
• There are 2 ways to get to the Suicide Cliff: the short vertical trail up the cliff and a long set of stairs around the cliff. I detailed the long, less-intimidating way, but I will also mention the shorter trail.
• Wear sturdy hiking shoes, as part of the trail is quite challenging. Follow my minimalist hiking gear list for packing tips.
• Bring snacks and water for a few hours. There isn’t anywhere along the trail where you can get food or drinks.
• Get an Octopus Card, a rechargeable smartcard for taking public transportation and use it to take public transportation to and from Kowloon Peak.

How to hike Kowloon Peak and Suicide Cliff

There are several ways to get to Kowloon Peak and Suicide Cliff. I chose a hiking trail that traverses several mountain ranges and offers magnificent views.

The point-to-point trail starts at City One MTR Station, where it crosses the Ma On Shan Country Park via MacLehose Trail Section 4. Then the trail passes Gilwell Campsite and continues on Elephant Hill, where the undulating trail ends at the top of Kowloon Peak.

From the summit, Suicide Cliff is a short hike down a steep rocky cliff. And to get back to the city safely, the hike requires a bit of backtracking to the summit, then taking the flight of stairs down to Fei Ngo Shan Road.

• Difficulty: intermediate to advance (long hike, undulating hills, treacherous climb)
• Duration: 4 hours
• Distance: 9km
• What to bring: hiking shoes, sun protection (hat, sunglasses, sunscreen), water, snacks, smartphone (for taking photos and navigation), gloves

Click on “more options” in the top left corner of Google Maps, and the map will open in your browser or in the app on your smartphone. And I included the elevation profile for this hike, too.

Kowloon Peak Trail: How to Get There

The easiest and best way to get to the start of the Kowloon Peak trail is by taking the subway, then a Minibus.

First, take the subway to City One MTR Station, then take Exit D. Cross the street, walk a few minutes east on Chap Wai Kon Street, and find the bus stop. Then hop on Minibus 65A (10 minutes; $6.6HKD use Octopus card) and alight at Wong Nai Tau Bus Terminus.

Or you can walk 25 minutes from the MTR Station to the start of the trail. There is not much to see along the way, and the road is an incline. If possible, take public transportation so you can save your energy for the actual hike.

Once you are at the bus terminus, there is a set of stairs to the right. Walk up the stairs and follow the signs. When you see the sign for West Buffalo Hill, take the path on the left.

Kowloon Peak and Suicide Cliff Hike: Itinerary from North to South

Walk towards West Buffalo Hill in Ma On Shan Country Park

Continue walking along the paved path, and you’ll arrive at the map. The map shows various hiking trails throughout Ma On Shan Country Park.

While this path will eventually lead you to Kowloon Peak and Suicide Cliff, this is also the starting point for hiking West Buffalo Hill, another challenging hike with panoramic views of all the mountains in the area.

The trail condition is fairly good during the first part of the hike. The trail is either a dirt path or a stone stairway. Nothing too difficult.

As you hike up the mountain, you will see views of Shatin.

And there is a sign on the side of the path that says, “road closed.” Well, keep going.

Merge with MacLehose Trail Section 4

After 30 minutes, you will arrive at a junction with several paths. It doesn’t look like much of a junction, and there aren’t any signs.

All you need to do is keep walking straight and descend the hill.

Soon after, there are signs for MacLehose Trail. Follow the signs and hike until you reach Gilwell Campsite.

Pass through Gilwell Campsite

Once you are on the main road in Gilwell Campsite, walk south on the main road until the road splits into two. Take the path on the right. This is Fei Ngo Shan Road.

Arrive at Kowloon Peak Viewing Point

When you arrive at the top of Fei Ngo San Road, there is a pagoda and the Kowloon Peak Viewing Point.

Standing at the viewing point, you can see Lion Rock and Beacon Hill on the Kowloon side. And on a clear day, you can also see Mount Davis, Victoria Peak, High West, Mount Nicholson, Violet Hill and Mount Butler on Hong Kong Island.

This might be the busiest part of the trail, as many hikers start the Kowloon Peak hike here, and many people drive up to this viewing point to see the city views.

See another viewing platform near Kowloon Peak Viewing Point

Before hiking towards the Kowloon Peak summit, visit another viewing point to see the east side of Hong Kong.

There is a short staircase to the left of the pagoda that leads to the top of the viewing platform.

When you are at the viewing point, you can see Razor Hill, Sharp Peak and Sai Kung.

Start of Elephant Hill Trail

I mentioned that there are several ways to hike the Kowloon Peak hiking trail. No matter where you start, you will have to hike across Elephant Hill, which will lead to Kowloon Peak’s summit.

The start of the Elephant Hill hike is to the left of the Kowloon Peak viewing point.

Keep hiking until the path splits. Take the path on the left.

The Elephant Hill hiking path will take you through many hills. You’ll have to walk under the transmission tower and hike up several steep hills.

For me, this is the hardest part of the entire hiking trail. Part of the uphills are a bit steep, so you might need your gloves to climb up.

See views along Elephant Hill

Even though hiking up and down Elephant Hill is challenging, the views along the hiking path make it worthwhile! You will continue to see views of Kowloon, including Lion Rock on the right-hand side. And parts of Sai Kung can be seen on the left-hand side.

As you hike towards the end of Elephant Hill, the view south of the mountain range opens up and you will start to see views of Kwun Tong and Tseung Kwan O.

Hike towards Kowloon Peak

At the end of the Elephant Hill trail, the path stops at a perpendicular junction.

Remember this intersection: if you are taking the long, safer way down Kowloon Peak, you will need to take the path on the left and go down the stairs.

But for now, take the path on the right and walk up the stairs. Continue hiking toward the top of Kowloon Peak.

Arrive at the helipad and Kowloon Peak Television and radio transmission stations

After a short flight of stairs from the perpendicular junction, there is a helipad near the top of Kowloon Peak. The Kowloon Peak Television and radio transmission stations are there as well.

Make sure to look back at Elephant Hill and see the trail you just completed.

Hike to the summit of Kowloon Peak: highest peak in Kowloon

Keep going up by following the last set of stairs to the Kowloon Peak summit.

This is the official top of Kowloon Peak, the highest peak in Kowloon! It’s official because there is a black-and-white triangulation station, and another just behind the fenced area (not sure why there are two of these, though).

Continue to follow the paved path. The path will lead you downhill towards Suicide Cliff.

Descend to the Suicide Cliff on Fei Ngo Shan

After reaching the highest point of the mountain range, it is time to descend to the most dramatic and intimidating cliff in Hong Kong: Suicide Cliff.

The Suicide Cliff hike starts from the summit of Kowloon Peak and descends slowly to the edge of the mountain.

And as you walk closer to the edge of the mountain, the south view opens up, where you can see Kwun Tong, Victoria Harbour, and the north side of HK Island.

Search for the Instagram spot on Suicide Cliff

Continue to follow the hiking trail, leading you to the famous spot where many people take Instagram photos.

And keep going down the side of the mountain even though it doesn’t seem like a trail there. The cliff is further down. Maybe about 10 minutes or so.

However, I have to repeat this again: PLEASE be careful when you descend to Suicide Cliff. There have been incidences in the past where hikers were injured and even died. So please, please, please, be careful!

For me, I only hiked down to what I thought was Suicide Peak and hiked back up. I did some research afterward; the actual Instagram Suicide Cliff spot is a bit further down from where I was. The”cliff” part is a flatter rock. I believe it is another 10-minute hike down from where I was.

Nonetheless, I was happy to reach that point where I took the photo (see below). I overcame my fear of heights, and knowing that I am clumsy, I made it pretty far! And actually, I thought the path to Suicide Cliff was easier than Elephant Hill. Again, please take extra precautions when you search for the Suicide Cliff.

Alternate path for advanced hiker: Descend down the cliff

IF you are an advanced hiker, you can descend down the rocky path, and it will eventually take you to Clear Water Bay Road. This is the fast but risky way of hiking down from the Suicide Cliff.

I wouldn’t recommend it if you are hiking solo, even though there are many hikers around. Also, hiking down is more difficult than hiking up. I would consider hiking up in reverse, but not going down.

I recommend taking the longer route and enjoying the scenery; it is safer.

Backtrack to the end of Elephant Hill trail and descend down Kowloon Peak mountain

Remember the perpendicular junction at the end of the Elephant Hill trail? Backtrack to that point and take the long flight of stairs to Fei Ngo Shan Road.

This is the longer but safer way down Kowloon Peak. If you are not an advanced hiker, take this route. It is about 30 minutes or so.

Take a bus to Choi Hung MTR Station

The descent ends at Fei Ngo Shan Road. Keep walking south.

When Fei Ngo Shan Road and Fei Ha Road intersect, there is a stone sign with the name Fei Ngo Shan engraved on it. On Google Maps, it is called “Kowoon Peak Obelisk”. Not sure if this is the official signage, but it is still interesting to see.

Then keep walking west on Fei Ngo Shan Road, and continue onto Clear Water Bay Road. Walk until you reach the bus stop on the south side of the road and opposite the Good Hope School.

The bus stop has several buses (1A, 91, 91M, 92) that can take you to Choi Hung MTR Station.

But if you still have energy, Choi Hung MTR Station is only a 15-minute walk away.

Kowloon Peak Hike and Suicide Cliff in reverse: from South to North

There are no significant advantages or disadvantages to hiking in either direction. It is a matter of preference.

When I hiked the point-to-point trail, I saw more hikers near the Kowloon Peak and Suicide Cliff than at any other part of the trail. Which makes me think most of them probably started from the south (Fei Ngo Shan Road), hiked to the cliff and the summit, then backtracked to Fei Ngo Shan Road.

So, if you only want to see Suicide Cliff and Kowloon Peak, start from the south and end in the south.

However, I really enjoyed the entire trail that I detailed in this itinerary, especially the Kowloon Peak viewing points and Elephant Hill (even though it was quite difficult). I highly recommend hiking the point-to-point trail, whether you start from the north or south.

Are you hiking to Kowloon Peak to see the famous Suicide Cliff in Hong Kong?

I’ve always wanted to hike to Kowloon Peak and photograph the Suicide Cliff, but I was intimidated by the name. Ha! Well, I’m really glad I overcame my fears and hiked this “scary” hike.

As I mentioned already, several accidents have occurred at the Suicide Cliff in the past few years. Only attempt the Kowloon Peak hike if you are an experienced hiker. I highly recommend this hike and taking the longer and safer route.

There are many easy hikes in HK, but if you enjoy challenging trails, try the Plover Cove Reservoir Country Trail, Ma On Shan Hike, High Junk Peak or Pat Sin Leng.

Ready to plan your trip to Hong Kong? Here are some of my go-to travel planning resources:
* Book your flight: find flight deals on Skyscanner 
* Book accommodation: find the best Hong Kong accommodations on Agoda or Booking
* Buy insurance: Safetywing is my go-to provider for travel insurance, as it covers many things. I will never travel without the Nomad Insurance Package because it protects me against unforeseen events. Get a quote today.
* Order a SIM card: order a SIM card in advance, collect it upon arrival, and set up your mobile phone before arriving at your destination.
* Join tours: check Klook or Get Your Guide for the best tours in Hong Kong.

Thank you for reading my Kowloon Peak hiking itinerary

I have many posts on Hong Kong and you might also like these other posts on hiking in HK:

Hong Kong Island Hikes

• Victoria Peak Hike: See Hong Kong’s beautiful skyline
• High West Hike: 3 ways to hike up High West Peak
• Dragon’s Back Hike: the most popular day hike in HK
• Violet Hill and the Twins: hike over two mountains with over 1,000+ steps
• Rhino Rock Hike: see a rocky rhinoceros head in Stanley
• Red Incense Burner Summit on Braemar Hill: best spot for sunset and night views
• Mount Nicholson Hike: see hidden rock statues in the middle of HK Island
• Cape Collinson hike: visit an old battery used during WWII on Hong Kong Island
• Mount Davis Hike: see an old military site on HK Island

Island District Hikes

• Lamma Island: hike from Sok Kwu Wan to Yung Shue Wan
• Cheung Chau Island: 1-day itinerary around Cheung Chau
• Peng Chau: 1-day itinerary 
• Tung O Ancient Trail: hike the coastal trail in Lantau North Country Park
• Lo Yan Shan Hike: hike Chi Ma Wan Country Trail in southern Lantau Island
• Fan Lau Hike: explore the southwest tip of Lantau Island
• Po Toi Island: see Hong Kong’s South Pole

New Territories Hikes

• Pineapple Mountain: the Great Canyon of Hong Kong
• High Junk Peak: one of the three sharpest peaks in HK
• Ma On Shan Hike: hike across the horse-saddle mountain to Sai Kung
• Pat Sin Leng Hike: hike over 8 peaks named after Chinese Mythological immortals
• Po Pin Chau: hike around hexagonal rock columns in Sai Kung
• Plover Cove Reservoir Country Trail: hike around HK’s largest reservoir
• Trio Beach Hike: see a secret beach and rocky headland in Sai Kung
• Tsing Yi Nature Trails: meander through the easy trails in Tsing Yi
• Tsing Yi Peak: hike the three peaks on Tsing Yi Island
• Ma Shi Chau Nature Trail: see 280 million-year-old rocks in Tai Po
• Tai Tan Country Trail: hike an easy coastal trail in Sai Kung
• Robin’s Nest Hike and Lin Ma Hang Cave: explore northern HK near the Shenzhen border
• Kai Kung Leng: hike the Rooster Ridge in Lam Tsuen Country Park

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queenie mak

Hi, my name is Queenie, and I’ve been a solo traveller for 20+ years and currently based in Hong Kong. Follow me on my adventures through Instagram and my blog!