Hong Kong’s Best Running Trails: 15 routes for all levels

Photo courtesy of @janet.cheung.life

A favourite amongst runners, this trail overlooks Central and Wan Chai, from a lovely shaded and flat road. A majority is shaded by the canopy overhead, with eight fitness stations (and two toilets) along the way. Ordinarily, you could you the Hong Kong Park Sports Centre at the base of the Peak Tram for their free lockers, water and showers (though you will need your HKID for this) as this is very close to the start, which awaits you at the top of the stairs! If you are looking for a slope to do some sprint training on, you'll find one at Kennedy Road, just one of the (many) access points, which offers a rather steep incline, but will most likely need to be walked by most.

Distance: 4 kilometres

Photo Courtesy of @sleepy_amy

The circular run of Harlech Road and Lugard Road Loop takes you around Victoria Peak and offers wonderful 360 views of Hong Kong. It is a popular tourist spot on the weekends, so probably best to steer clear if you are trying to avoid the masses. Click here for the route.

If you are looking for something a little longer, there are few options to extend your run. Once you have completed the circular run, Hatton Road (at the intersection of Harlech Road and Lugard Road) adds an additional one and a half kilometres and finishes up by the University of Hong Kong. It also offers a nice change, going downhill through an old military site, Pinewood Battery.

For a shaded, flat trail, the Pok Fu Lam Reservoir Road offers a pleasant trail to a reservoir and is also suitable as a family walk. It adds an additional 1.77 km.

From the intersection of Harlech Road and Lugard Road, take Hong Kong Trail Section 1, past Queen Mary Hospital for something a little more rugged. This time heading East along the path and going around the northern edge of the Reservoir, and back to The Peak Tower, for an additional 4 kilometres.

Distance: 3.5 kilometres (Circle Run only)

Photo courtesy of @baping727

This route is a great place to start trail running and see what it’s like. Start from Wan Chai Gap Playground and run the loop around Aberdeen Upper Reservoir and back to the start. Click here for more details.

Distance: 4.5 km

Photo credit: @baping727 (via Instagram)

This route also takes you through Aberdeen Country Park, and is around 70/30 trail to concrete - a little more undulating but very enjoyable. The trail starts on Nam Fung Road just up from South Island School and ends Aberdeen. Find out more here.

Distance: 6.5 km

Photo courtesy of @danieltheowl

This route takes you through Tai Tam Country Park, starting from Wan Chai Gap Playground, along Blacks Link, Hong Kong Trail Section 4 and Tsz Lo Lan Shan Path, to finish up in Repulse Bay. With the many options of refreshments and sustenance at The Pulse, the showers and changing rooms at the neighbouring beach is a perfect way to freshen up in time for a treat. Find out more about the route here.

Distance: 8.25 kilometres

Photo courtesy of @tinnafoxlee

This trail in Lantau offers some good distance and hills covered. A great route for people getting into trail running or looking to mix it up, covering a mix of trail and road. Start from Mui Wo and run along Lantau Trail section 12, finishing in Nam Shan. Click here to find out more

Distance: 9.4 km

A tough route, as you literally cross Hong Kong from South to North. Starting at Chung Hom Kok beach in Stanley, over The Twins and Violet Hill, then toward and finishing in Quarry bay. Find out more here.

Distance: 14.5 km

Photo courtesy of @mo_hkg

And Last, but definitely not least, this is the route you want to really get away from it all. Amazing views, vast landscapes and tough hills to conquer that will leave you saying “Hell Yeah!”

There are toilets and drink vending machine available at the start (Kei Ling Ha), as well as toilets at Gilwell - But nothing else, so make sure you have when you need!
Follow the Maclehose Trail, until you hit the small noodle shop at the finish in Shatin Pass. Click here to find out more.

Distance: 16.7 km

Photo courtesy of @daniel_postcard

Starting off at either Mount Butler Road, or Wong Nai Chung Road, this short but rather idyllic shaded path, offers varied terrain and levels to keep your run interesting. If you are looking to go the distance, you could always come out at Tai Tam Reservoir Road (near Wong Nai Chung Reservoir Park) and crossover to continue your run along Tsz Lo Lan Shan Path, which also ends up in Repulse Bay, for an additional two and a half kilometres.

Distance: 2 kilometres for Wong Nai Chung Tree Walk only, 4.5 kilometres to Repulse Bay

Photo courtesy of @bennett_hch

The full length of this run spans from Sun Yat Sen Memorial Park in Sheung Wan to Golden Bauhinia Square in Wan Chai, along the famed Hong Kong harbour and skyline. However, if you wish to keep it short, Sun Yat Sen to the Central Ferry Piers, and back is a nice and easy run whilst you take in the views! Click here for the route.

Distance: 2.9 kilometres | 3.90 kilometres (to Bauhinia Square)

Photo courtesy of @ottofoto_

Just beside the Kwun Tong bypass is Kwun Tong Promenade, offering a lovely kilometre stretch of park, which runs adjacent to the Kai Tak Terminal. The run is flat and rather scenic, with plenty of green, and beautiful lights at night, making for a perfect way of getting a glimpse at the city lights.

Distance: 4 kilometres

The Ma On Shan promenade is a wonderful spot for runners and cyclists alike, taking you along the Tolo Harbour, with wonderful views of Pat Sin Leng, and even the Guan Yin statue, over the water. There are occasional kiosks scattered along the way, in addition to Science Park, in case you are in need of refreshments.

Distance: 3.2 kilometres

Photo courtesy of @singyanerictsui

This is a rather short and flat run along the waterfront park, from Quarry Bay to Sai Wan Ho, offering views of Eastern Kowloon. It takes you through the dog park, and passed the Alexander Grantham Exhibition Gallery in the Park, making for a nice quick history lesson too!

Distance: 2.4 kilometres

Photo courtesy of @livin_da_vida_lola

The south side of the island is the place to be if you like running and great views. Seaview Promenade’s concrete and brick pathway takes you along the lovely coastal promenade between Repulse Bay and Deep Water Bay Beach and offers a nice four-and-a-half-kilometre jog (given you run back). Check out the route for a lovely coastal run or family walk.

If you are looking for something a little longer, David Tanner recommends combining the above with another sea view run to South Bay Beach, for the ultimate coastal experience, starting from Repulse Bay. This run tallies you up to 6.7 kilometres with outdoor showers and a café waiting for you at South Bay Beach. Check out the route here.

Distance: 2.25 kilometres | 6.7 kilometres

Photo courtesy of @queso_de_borja

Another iconic run along the harbour, takes you past some of the famed tourist spots in Tsim Sha Tsui along the promenade, starting at the Clock Tower in Tsim Sha Tsui, past the Science Museum, the Avenue of Stars, including Bruce Lee’s statue, and ending at Fisherman’s Wharf in Hung Hom.

Distance: 4 kilometres