Rock climbing is catching on in Hong Kong
Rock climbing is catching on as Hong Kong's rugged terrain entices more visitors and locals to rise to the challenge, says Elizabeth Choi
On any given Saturday, hundreds of people will mill around Central in search of the perfect brunch spot. But for the avid outdoor climber, Central's largest boulders offer a far different type of pursuit.
The top of Central Crags scrapes the sky at 316 metres, providing the type of view even the most luxurious rooftop bar would struggle to emulate. Once up there, every iconic building that has graced a Hong Kong postcard is in sight. But the greatest reward of the view is knowing you didn't get to see it by using a lift.
"Although it's unlikely to ever become a mainstream climbing destination, Hong Kong offers probably the second best climbing destination in Asia, after Krabi. Few places can match Hong Kong in terms of the sheer diversity of good quality climbs available a short distance from each other," writes Stuart Millis, author of Hong Kong Bouldering.
These days, however, it seems more and more are becoming privy to Millis' observations on Hong Kong's enticing topography.
The first instances of climbing in Hong Kong can be traced back to 1956 when the British Army was based at Kai Tak airport. "They saw Lion's Rock [in Kowloon] and they wanted to climb it," says Conway Leung, who has been climbing since 1977 and is president of China Hong Kong Mountaineering and Climbing Union (CHKMCU).