Pat Sin Leng (also known as the Eight Immortals Hike) is named after the eight peaks in the mountain range, each named after an immortal figure in Chinese mythology. It is one of the most popular hikes in Pat Sin Leng Country Park in the Tai Po District of Hong Kong.
When you spend the day hiking across Pat Sin Leng, you start in Pat Sin Leng Country Park, trek across the mountain range of Wong Leng, then the 8 Immortal Peaks of Pat Sin Leng and descend the mountain via Pat Sin Leng Nature Trail.
In this post, I included a detailed itinerary for spending the day hiking across Pat Sin Leng from west to east. If you want to hike a fun, challenging trail, keep reading.
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Pat Sin Leng Hike Information
Before you spend the day on the Pat Sin Leng trail, take a look at my Hong Kong solo travel guide for an overview of HK.
Here are a few additional tips for hiking Pat Sin Leng:
- The best time to hike in Pat Sing Leng Country Park is late autumn, winter and early spring. The trek is difficult, and the trail is exposed almost the entire way, so I would not recommend hiking during summer.
- Wear sturdy hiking shoes, as part of the trail is quite challenging. Follow my minimalist hiking gear list for packing tips.
- Bring enough water and snacks for a few hours of hiking. There isn’t anywhere along the trail where you can get food or drinks.
- Get an Octopus Card, a rechargeable smart card for taking public transportation and use it to take the MTR to the start of Pat Sin Leng trail and take the minibus from Tai Mei Tuk.
How to hike Pat Sin Leng Hiking Trail
The best way to hike Pat Sin Leng is to start from Hok Tau Reservoir, on the west side of Pat Sin Leng Country Park. Then follow the Wilson Trail Section 9 trail and hike across the mountain ridge towards the peaks of Pat Sin Leng and finish the hike by descending Pat Sin Leng Nature Trail towards Tai Mei Tuk.
- Difficulty: Intermediate
- Duration: 5 hours
- Distance: 12km
- What to bring: hiking shoes, sun protection (hat, sunglasses, sunscreen), water, snacks, smartphone (for taking photos and navigation)
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.
Pat Sin Leng Country Park: How to Get There
The easiest and best way to get to the start of the Pat Sin Leng trail is to take the subway, then a Minibus, then walk.
First, take the subway to Fanling Station, then take Exit C. Then, find the minibus terminal across the street and take Minibus 52B.
The minibus goes to Hok Tau Village, but you want to get off on Hok Tau Road, just before the minibus turns right to Hok Tau Village. There is a bus stop on Hok Tau Road near Hok Tau Wai Pavilion. Tell the driver you want to get off at the bus stop. The bus journey takes 20 minutes and costs $7.10 (use Octopus card).
Pat Sin Leng Hiking Itinerary: from West to East
Walk to Wilson Trail Section 9 near Hok Tau Reservoir
From the bus stop, it is a 30-minute walk to the start of the Pat Sin Leng trail.
After you alight the minibus, walk east on Hok Tau Road. When you arrive at Hok Tau Reservoir, continue walking on Hok Tau Road by following the road on the left of the reservoir until you see a park on the left. Turn into the park and follow the trail to find the entrance. The entrance gate says “Hok Tau Reservoir Family Walk.”
Keep walking, and about five minutes into your hike, the path splits. Take the stairway on the left. This is Wilson Trail Section 9 and the start of Pat Sin Leng hiking trail.
Hike up Ping Fung Shan
Pat Sin Leng trail, which is also the Wilson Trail Section 9, starts with many stairs going up Ping Fung Shan, the first mountain along the mountain ridge.
At the fork of the road, take the path on the left. Then keep going up.
And it just keeps going up. There are many, many sets of stairs going up Ping Fung Shan. And the only way is up.
When you reach the top, the trail flattens out. And you will see several other trails merging. As long as you follow the main trail and the trail signs for Pat Sin Leng, then you are going the right way.
Hike across Pak Sin Leng Country Park
While you are hiking in the mountain range, take a look at the views from the north side. You can see Sha Tau Kok, Hong Kong’s northernmost rural closed village. And you can also see Starling Inlet, the small body of water next to the village.
Keep following the hiking trail as it will take you across the mountain ridge and all the way to the next peak, Wong Leng. Plus, you can see how high and steep the mountain is. If you are scared of heights, don’t look too long!
See panoramic views from Wong Leng summit
As you walk along the mountain ridge, you will reach Wong Leng, the tallest peak in Pat Sin Leng Country Park. At 639m, you can see an excellent view of Tai Po District, including Tsz Shan Monastery, and Tolo Harbour.
And further to the east, you can see the long road or dam for Plover Cove Reservoir and the town immediately north of it, which is Tai Mei Tuk, which is your final destination for this hike.
On a clear day, you can see as far as the mountain ranges in Sai Kung and Ma On Shan Country Park. There are many excellent trails there, including the epic Ma On Shan hiking trail.
Enjoy the trek across the Wong Leng mountain range
The journey to Pat Sin Leng via the Wilson Trail, Section 9, is long but rewarding. The hiking path across the Wong Leng mountain range is not difficult, but it takes some time. But the views along the way are definitely worthwhile.
Plus, you can see the entire mountain range when you look back at the trail you just completed. It is such a beautiful sight!
When you start to ascend the steep stairway, you will be approaching the west end of the Pat Sin Leng mountain range.
Beginning of the Pat Sin Leng hike
After about 3 hours of hiking, you are finally at the most western peak of Pat Sin Leng!
I know you must be thinking, “Wow! That was a long hike to the actual start of the hike!”
Yes, I had the same thought. While hiking on Wilson Trail Section 9, I kept looking for the first signpost for the first peak in Pat Sin Leng. And it took much longer than I had anticipated.
However, it is all worth it! At Shun Yeung Fung, the first and highest peak of the 8 Immortal Hiking Trail, you can see several other peaks on the Pat Sin Leng mountain range and the hiking trail connecting each peak.
Pat Sin Leng hike: trail condition
The Pat Sin Leng trail is actually a set of paved or stone stairs on the ridges of the eight peaks. The trail goes up and down eight times, obviously. It is not hard, but the repetitive motion of going up and down the stairs might take a toll on your legs. So take breaks and enjoy the views.
Hike across the 8 peaks of Pak Sin Leng
As mentioned, Pat Sin Leng is named after eight supernatural entities from Chinese mythology. Which means there are eight peaks on the Pat Sin Leng mountain range. Each ranging from 489m to 590m. And at each peak, a signpost indicates the peak’s name and elevation.
In case you are interested, here are the names for each of the 8 peaks from west to east:
- Shun Yeung Fung – named after Lu Tung Bin
- Chung Li Fung – named after Han Chung Li
- Kao Lao Fung – named after Cheung Kao Lao
- Kuai Li Fung – named after Teh Kuai Li
- Tsao Kau Fung – named after Tsao Kuok Kau
- Choi Wo Fung – named after Nam Choi Wo
- Sheung Tsz Fung – named after Han Sheung Tsz
- Hsien Ku Fung – named after Ho Hsien Ku
See views from Pat Sin Leng Hiking Trail
I don’t know much about the mystical fairies of Pat Sin Leng, nor do I know anything about Chinese mythology, but I absolutely enjoyed the panoramic views on all sides of Pat Sin Feng.
At any point on the hiking path, you can see Shau Tau Kok and Shenzhen, China, to the north. And when you look south, you can see Plover Cove, Tolo Harbour and even as far as Ma On Shan.
But what I find impressive about the Pat Sin Leng trail is the panoramic views of the actual hike. When you look forward (east), you can clearly see the trail along the mountain’s ridge. And when you look back (west), you can see how far you’ve hiked and feel really accomplished on what you just did.
Truly, there are good views all around.
Descend from the last peak of the Pat Sin Leng route
At the last peak, Hsien Ku Fung, there is a triangulation station and a viewing point. Take in all the views from all sides before you descend down the mountain.
And FYI, the Wilson Trail Section 9 ends and Wilson Trail Section 10 begins at this peak.
On the east edge of the last peak, you might be able to see the Plover Cove Reservoir Hiking Trail, which is a faint line on top of the mountain ridge in Plover Cove Country Park and circles around the reservoir. If you enjoy long and challenging hikes, this is the one to conquer!
Hike down Pat Sin Leng Nature Trail to Tai Mei Tuk
When you are ready, follow the staircase and walk downhill. The downhill path is fairly easy as it is a set of wood and stone staircases. This part of the descent is Wilson Trail Section 10.
When you reach the junction, take the path on the right. This is the Pat Sin Leng Nature Trail. The linear path will take you all the way to Tai Mei Tuk, your final destination.
Spring Wind Pavilion at Pat Sin Leng Nature Trail
Near the end of the Pat Sing Leng Nature Trail, there is a resting area at the Spring Wind Pavilion. It has an excellent view of Tai Mei Tuk and an information board about the Pat Sin Leng trail.
The information board at the pavilion might be more meaningful if you are hiking Pat Sin Leng from Tai Mei Tuk (i.e., from east to west). If you only want to see the 8 peaks, you could hike up Pat Sin Leng Nature Trail, trek across the 8 peaks, then backtrack all the way. Something to consider if you are short on time.
Returning home from Tai Mei Tuk
From the end of Pat Sin Leng Nature Trail, walk 20 minutes to Tai Mei Tuk Bus Terminus and catch Minibus 20C to Tai Po Market MTR Station (the bus route’s last stop) so you can take the subway home. The bus ride takes 25 minutes and costs $8.80 (use Octopus card).
Bus 75K can also take you to Tai Po MTR Station, but the minibus is faster.
Pat Sin Leng Hiking Itinerary in reverse: from East to West
Hiking the point-to-point trail in reverse means you will ascend Pat Sin Leng Nature Trail on the east side and finish the day in Pat Sin Leng Country Park on the west side. In theory, that is possible.
However, the transportation options in Pat Sin Leng Country Park are not as good as those in Tai Mei Tuk. There is only one minibus that goes near Pat Sin Leng Country Park (you still have to walk 30 minutes to the bus stop), and you might have to wait a long time for the minibus.
So I would still recommend hiking from west to east because there are more buses and minibuses in Tai Mei Tuk at the end of your hike. If you can think of a good reason to hike in reverse, let me know in the comments below.
Are you hiking the Pat Sing Leng trail?
Even though it is not a beginner’s hiking trail, Pat Sin Len is one of the most rewarding hikes in Hong Kong. If you are spending a few days in the city and want to get off the beaten path, consider hiking Pat Sin Leng.
I hope you enjoyed reading my post on hiking the Eight Immortals Trail and that you’ll try it out yourself. If you enjoy challenging hiking trails, check out High Junk Peak, Ma On Shan, Kowloon Peak and Suicide Cliff and Plover Cove Reservoir Country Trail.
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 Pat Sin Leng 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
- Po Pin Chau: hike around hexagonal rock columns in Sai Kung
- Plover Cove Reservoir Country Trail: hike around HK’s largest reservoir
- Kowloon Peak and Suicide Cliff: See HK’s most dramatic cliff
- 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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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!
