Tsing Yi Sam Chi Heung (青衣三支香), also known as Tsing Yi Peak (青衣山), is located on the south side of Tsing Yi Island, in the New Territories of Hong Kong. The hiking trail goes through the three peaks and has an elevation gain of 333m.
“Sam Chi Heung” means three joss sticks in Cantonese. The mountain got its name from the silhouette of the three peaks which has the same profile as the three joss sticks used in religious rituals when praying for blessings.
This Tsing Yi hiking trail is easy as it is mostly made of paved paths and stairs. But you decide to descend down the Tsing Yi Peak on the southeast side of the island, the trail gets much more difficult. But along the way, you can see different rock formations and panoramic views of Tsing Yi, Kowloon and Hong Kong Island.
In this post, I’ll show you exactly how to hike Tsing Yi Sam Chi Heung from north to south. Moreover, I will show you how you can hike this trail and Tsing Yi Nature Trails on the same day.
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What you need to know before hiking the Tsing Yi Peak Trail
Before hiking up to the three peaks of Tsing Yi Island, take a look at my Hong Kong solo travel guide and get an overview of HK first.
Here are a few additional tips for hiking the Tsing Yi trail:
- The best time for hiking the Tsing Yi Peak is late autumn, winter and early spring. Most of the trail is shaded, but the descent at the end is completely exposed. It is best not to hike during the height of summer.
- Bring enough water for a few hours of hiking.
- Get an Octopus Card, a rechargeable smartcard for taking public transportation and use it for taking a bus and minibus to and from the trail. It costs $100HKD, but you can use $50 stored value and get your $50HKD refundable deposit when you leave HK.
- Download “Hiking Trail HK” app on your smartphone since Google Maps does not show any trails in the southern part of Tsing Yi Island. If you want to see exactly where you are hiking, download this app. But if you follow my itinerary, you will have all the info you need.
- Hike both Tsing Yi Nature Trails and Tsing Yi Peak hiking trail on the same day. It is possible to complete both trails in 5 hours.
How to hike Tsing Yi Peak (Tsing Yi Sam Chi Heung)
From Tsing Yi Road West, start hiking at the west entrance of the Sai Shan Country Trail (細山步行徑) and hike until you see a signpost for the start of the Tsing Yi Peak Trail. Turn right (south) and follow the paved path throughout all three peaks.
For beginners, hike until the end of the trail after the third peak and backtrack the entire way back to Tsing Yi Road West.
For intermediate hikers, there is a dirt path that descends on the southeast side of Tsing Yi Island. Along the way, there are several rocks and viewpoints. But make sure you wear proper footwear and have a pair of hiking gloves.
Take a look at the map and elevation profile below. Google Maps does not have the trail details but here is a screenshot of the map from the Hiking Trail HK app of the entire hiking trail.
- Difficulty: easy (intermediate when descending on the southeast side)
- Duration: 3 hours
- Distance: 3.5km
- What to bring: hiking shoes, sun protection (hat, sunglasses, sunscreen), water, snacks, smartphone (for taking photos and navigation), gloves for climbing down
How to get to the start of Tsing Yi Sam Chi Heung Hike
If you are only hiking Tsing Yi Peak, take the MTR to Tsing Yi Station first. Then take Exit A1 and walk towards Maritime Square 2. Tsing Yi Station Bus Terminus can be accessed through the shopping mall. Look for the bus stop for bus 68E or 279X and take either bus to Ching Wan Court on Tsing Yi Road West.
The west entrance of Sai Shan Country Trail is next to the bus stop.
- Bus 68E and 279X: from Tsing Yi Station Bus Terminus to Ching Wan Court
- Time: 6 minutes (every 10-30 minutes)
- Cost: $11.7HKD (68E) and $15.8HKD (279X) (use Octopus card)
- Check: KMB website for bus 68E and 279X for more information
And if you are hiking both Tsing Yi Nature Trails and Tsing Yi Peak on the same day, all you have to do is cross Tsing Yi Road West at the end of Tsing Yi Nature Trail, walk 2 minutes north, and find Sai Shan Country Trail entrance on the right.
Hike up Sai Shan Country Trail
At the west entrance of Sai Shan Country Trail, the path ascends up the hill. But it is quite easy to walk up the mountain – the entire Sai Shan Country Trail is either a paved path or stairs. All you have to do is follow the trail.
Turn right (south) at the signpost at the cemetery
The trail will eventually lead you to a hillside cemetery near the north peak. At the top of the staircase, there is a signpost pointing in the direction of Tsing Yi Sam Chi Heung. Turn right here which means you are walking south.
While you’re walking towards the pavilion near the first peak, turn around and see the view. You can see the peaceful cemetery in the foreground and Kowloon and the mountain range of Tai Mo Shan in the background.
Sam Chi Heung North Peak
From this point forward, all you have to do is hike south on the paved path that links all three peaks. The entire path through the peaks is either a stone-paved path or a series of stairways.
After the first pavilion, you’ll reach the trigonometrical station at Sam Chi Heung North Peak at 261m.
At the top, you can also see the east side of Tsing Yi Island including the buildings of Tsing Yi Town, Tsing Yi South Bridge over Rambler Channel and the cranes and containers at Kwai Tsing Container Terminal 9
Sam Chi Heung Middle Peak
Continue following the trail which will take you down and back up. Then you’ll reach Sam Chi Heung Middle Peak at 310m.
I didn’t see a trigonometrical station at the second peak. I thought I missed it but I did a bit more research and watched a few more youtube videos, there doesn’t seem to be a trig station at all!
But there is a rock with words inscribed on it that says “Sam Chi Heung Middle Peak” in Chinese. This is the first of many stones with inscriptions on the Tsing Yi hike.
From the middle peak, you can also see views of Tsing Yi West. And in the distance, you can see the east and south sides of Lantau Island.
Sam Chi Heung South Peak
Follow the flight of stairs down and back up again. Yes, there are a lot of steps between the middle and south peaks!
But in no time, you will reach the top of Sam Chi Heung South Peak. At 333m, it is the highest peak on Tsing Yi Island,
Views at the last peak are quite similar to what you’ve seen already. But the best view is just ahead. Follow the paved path beyond the south peak.
Beyond Tsing Yi South Peak
Continue hiking on the paved path walking towards the south. The view of the area opens up and is one of the best views I’ve seen in Hong Kong.
The trail descent slightly, and here is where you can see the Stonecutters Bridge, southeast Tsing Yi Island, including Kwai Tsing Container Terminal 9, Victoria Harbour and Hong Kong Island in the distance. Take your time here and enjoy the view – this is the best view on the Tsing Yi Peak trail.
The path splits when you see another rock with an inscription. To the left, it will lead you to a viewpoint. And to the right, the path will descend the mountain.
And FYI, the Chinese writing says, “as soon as the spring flowers fall, the road will be rough”. And the stone is right – the path beyond the sign is pretty tough. There’s a bit of loose gravel on the dirt path and some bushwhacking too.
Turn left to Sam Chi Heung South Peak Stone
Even if you decide to backtrack at the end of the trail to return to the original starting point, you must check out this area and see the panoramic views on the east side of Tsing Yi Island.
At the end of the paved path, turn left to the viewpoint. This area has several stone platforms, and one of them has an inscription that says 三支香南蜂石, which means “Sam Chi Heung South Peak Stone.”
And this is the closest viewpoint to the east side of Tsing Yi Island, where you can get a much closer look at Tsing Yi South Bridge, Rambler Channel, Kwai Tsing Container Terminal 9 and the Stonecutters Bridge.
Return to the paved path and turn right to continue the descent down Tsing Yi Peak
If you are a beginner, return to the paved path and backtrack the entire way to Tsing Yi West Road and take the bus back to Tsing Yi MTR Station.
But if you are an experienced hiker, return to the paved path and turn right. This is an interesting route as you will see several important rocks on the south side of Tsing Yi Island.
As soon as you are on the dirt path, there are a bit more shrubs, and the path can be quite slippery.
Hero Stone (英雄石)
After hiking a few minutes down the hill, you’ll see a large stone on the right. It has the words “英雄石” inscribed on the rock and means “hero stone” in Chinese.
I did a bit more research on Tsing Yi Island and all the rocks on the southwest side, but I didn’t get much info except that these rocks are mainly granite rocks. And based on the names of the rocks, they could be tied to a story or history?! Clearly, my Chinese isn’t that great. But nonetheless, I enjoyed seeing these rocks and the views around them.
Arhat Stone (羅漢石)
Further down, there are a few more rocks on the left. One has the words “羅漢石” inscribed on the side facing the view. I googled it, and it means “Arhat Stone“. I don’t think this is the official name but it’s at least good to know what it means in English.
Three Rocks (三舊石)
A few more minutes of the downward path, there is a group of stones, and one of them has the words “三舊石.” It literally means “three rocks” in Cantonese. I didn’t count but there seems to be more than three stones here.
Spring Flower Falling (春花落)
And finally, there is one more rock that you should look for on your way down Tsing Yi Peak. It is called 春花落 and this is the only rock that is pinned on Google Maps.
春花落 means “spring flower falling” in Cantonese. It doesn’t mean much in English but it sounds very poetic in Chinese.
Continue the descent down the southeast side of Tsing Yi Island
The path going down Tsing Yi Island is mostly a clear path. There are occasional ribbon markers along the way, or a clear dirt path indicating there is a trail ahead. Near the base of the hill, there are clearer paths with railings and concrete stairways.
But like I mentioned earlier, if you do decide to hike down this path, make sure you wear proper hiking shoes because part of the trail has loose gravel which makes the trail extra slippery. And it really helps if you have a pair of gloves for hiking.
See more views while descending the steep dirt path
Keep hiking down – the path is not too difficult. But make sure you look up once in a while. The Stonecutters Bridge looks much closer. And you can see more cargo containers at the terminal next to the Rambler Channel.
Keep hiking until you reach a trigonometric station. Not sure why this one is here because it’s not the highest point on the hill. But the good news is, beyond the post, the rest of the trail is paved.
Continue to walk down to the main road
Towards the end of the hike down Tsing Yi Island, it is a series of concrete stairways next to the aqueduct system. Follow the concrete stairway all the way down.
And there are a few signs along the way – they are laminated signs that were probably made by people who frequent the Tsing Yi trail hike.
Get back to Tsing Yi MTR Station
Turn left when you reach the road at the bottom of the stairway. This is the path under the Tsing Sha Highway. Walk north and you’ll reach Tsing Yi Road. Keep walking north until you reach the roundabout, then turn left on Ching Hong Road.
There is a stop for minibus 88F and other minibuses. 88F can take you to Maritime Square at Tsing Yi MTR Station.
- Minibus88F: from Mayfair Gardens to Tsing Yi Station
- Time: 11 minutes (10-20 minutes)
- Cost: $3.7HKD (use Octopus card)
- Check: 16Seats website for minibus 88F for more information
Are you ready to hike the three peaks of Tsing Yi Sam Chi Heung?
I love looking for interesting and lesser-known hiking trails, and I found the Tsing Yi Peak trail by literally zooming in on Google Maps of different areas of Hong Kong. And lo and behold, there is such a wonderful trail that not many people know about!
I really enjoyed this hike, and I hope you will too. Let me know in the comments, and also let me know if you did both Tsing Yi Nature Trails and Tsing Yi Peak on the same day.
And if you are looking for other easy hikes around Hong Kong, try Victoria Peak, High West, Red Incense Burner on Braemar Hill, or Mount Nicholson. These hikes are short and easy to get to.
Thank you for reading my Tsing Yi Peak hiking post
You might also like these other posts on solo travel in Hong Kong
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
- 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
- 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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