Killer Views at Hong Kong's Suicide Cliff

By Winnie Jin, March 16, 2018

Daytripper is a regular column that aims to help people get the most out of their PRD experience by proposing fun excursions that can be made in a single day to explore the local culture and nature of the region.

Tired of hiking the crowded, paved roads on Shenzhen’s mountain paths? Take a day trip to Hong Kong for a quick but rewarding trek to the infamous ‘Suicide Cliff’ in Kowloon.

The cliff’s high vantage point and seriously steep drop make for breathtaking views of the city.

Over the years, savvy Hong Kongers have discovered a handful of different trails leading to the cliff, all with varying difficulty levels.

We chose an ‘easy’ path, which was conveniently marked by a ‘danger’ sign warning us of the serious and fatal accidents that have occurred on the trail. In spite of this, the trail has only increased in popularity, with dozens of hikers trekking to Suicide Cliff each day.

While the risk is relatively low, it’s important to note the weather and hike with care.

We ascended the steep wooden stairs embedded in the dirt trail, working up a sweat quickly and feeling grateful for the crisp Hong Kong breeze. Our struggle was short-lived – in just under an hour, we’d reached the summit of Kowloon Peak, where we discovered a helipad and a gorgeous landscape.

From there, it was a short walk down to Suicide Cliff. In the late afternoon, other hikers had already convened there, relaxing on the rocks and enjoying the sweeping Hong Kong skyline. After a quick snack and our obligatory photo shoot, we headed down another easy trail along the ridge of the mountain.

While the descent was no doubt scenic, it was also treacherous, and several of us found ourselves with butts covered in dirt after a few unfortunate slips.

Mercifully, within an hour, the trail spat us out in one piece in the driveway of someone’s mountain mansion. We followed the driveway down to the main road, where we prepared to reward ourselves with some food. Hong Kong had been good to us that day, offering a solid workout, Instagram-worthy selfies and, most importantly, an unforgettable experience. The perfect temporary escape from the relentless bustle of Pearl River Delta.