Sham Chung Pier
Follow the cement path down to Sham Chung Pier, where you can catch the ferry twice a day to Ma Liu Shui and Wong Shek. As you walk along, you’ll see how the local fauna have reclaimed the paddy fields that provided the villagers of days past. The fields are now home to uncommon animals like the Hong Kong paradise fish and the brown fish owl. Sham Chung was also the site of controversy as there were plans to build a golf course and recreation centre in the area, though those plans have been put aside due to heaps of pushback from old villagers, avid hikers, and current inhabitants in the area.
As you continue on from the pier, this section of the hike follows the rocky coast of Three Fathoms Cove. Here, you’ll spot lush mangroves, and on your right, you can look out to Plover Cove Reservoir in the distance, as well as the formidable Ma On Shan rising above the water up ahead. This section of the hike takes about an hour until you reach Yung Shue O village, a quiet village with fish farms in the bay and—if you’re lucky—refreshments at the dai pai dong next to a popular war games site. Turn right beside the public toilet and follow the catchwater for a flat walk up to the final steep ascent on Sai Sha Road.