The Yuk Kwai Shan Hike (Or Mount Johnston Hike) is a short hike over Ap Lei Chau leading down to Ap Lei Pai. I took my 4 1/2 year thinking it’d be a piece of piss but turned out the Yuk Kwai Shan Hike is not really suitable for 4 1/2 year olds. He’s been up Dragons Back and we were overtaking all these prima donna’s in their compression gear and hiking polls but the Yuk Kwai Shan Hike was a bit more difficult. The trail head is a bit difficult to find, you’ve got to go around the playground and hop over some rails that don’t really look like they lead to anywhere. We had a few problems finding it and finally asked a lady who seemed a bit worried I was taking my 4 1/2 year old up. Thought was just a bit of the old local panic about nothing but not so!
Pretty much from the start of the Yuk Kwai Shan Hike trail you have ropes to help you up, it’s pretty steep but nothing over the top. The hike up would be about 10-15 minutes if you were by yourself (and fit), but we took about 30 minutes to get up Mount Johnston, had to hold on to the rope while holding my sons hand. Not that ideal but nothing too dangerous. It’s not as if you can die or cause any kind of serious injury if you do happen to ass over. Once up the top there’s some good views over Aberdeen in all directions towards Ocean Park, over Bel-Air, and out towards Lamma Island.
Heading down towards Ap Lei Pai, the island connecting Ap Lei Chau, the first bit is relatively tame but when you reach about half way down there is a rather steep bit that has ropes which everybody uses. I had second thoughts and decided going back up would be quite a challenge so we had a bit to eat and abandoned it. Ap Lei Pai looks quite good to walk over, nothing spectacular but a nice hike for those who aren’t that fit and there aren’t that many people over there because the Yuk Kwai Shan Hike is really not something you can brag about so a lot of people give it a miss.
All up the Yuk Kwai Shan Hike took us about an hour and half. Again, if you were by yourself you could whip over here in a flash and nothing to worry about. If you child is used to walking and climbing you can give it a shot, otherwise the Yuk Kwai Shan Hike is not really that suitable for younger hikers!
You can check out Yuk Kwai Shan Hike on Google Maps Here
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