Cycling in Hong Kong during coronavirus: discover stunning sights and rural villages in the New Territories on bike route to Tai Mei Tuk
- For a great cycling route in the New Territories that will take you into the countryside, start from Tai Po Waterfront Park
- This relaxing ride will take you through rural fishing villages and across the main dam of Plover Cove Reservoir, which is surrounded by rolling green hills
With some Hong Kong government sports centres still closed, one of the best ways of getting some exercise for the whole family is to get on a bicycle, and ride away those coronavirus blues.
Hong Kong hardly abounds with urban routes for relaxing cycling, but there is a fine one in the northeast New Territories, from Tai Po Market to Tai Mei Tuk.
There are several cycle hire shops along the route, and you could even hire and start south of Tai Po Market, such as in Sha Tin or Tai Wai – then follow the Shing Mun River and the western shore of Tolo Harbour, past the Science Park. For something more scenic, however, the best spot to begin the journey is Tai Po Waterfront Park.
This is the largest park managed by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, and features expansive gardens, shrubberies and flower beds, paths shaded by banyans and other trees. Have a look around, before heading to one of the cycle hire kiosks by the waterfront, just below the spiral lookout tower.
There is a cycle track by these kiosks, and you can set off eastward along the waterfront. It is a pleasant ride through the park. But while the cycle track looks all set to continue round the coast, it comes to an abrupt end at the eastern boundary of the park. So, you will need to find another way towards Tai Mei Tuk – which means first heading to Ting Kok Road, a kilometre (0.6 miles) to the north.
