Some 140 million years ago, a giant volcano dominated the Hong Kong landscape until its spectacular collapse. The resultant ash clouds that rolled across the land helped form the giant sea stacks, caves and basalt columns to the north-east, spilling off the coast of Sai Kung to create the magnificent Hong Kong UNESCO Global Geopark.
Today, the geopark spans eight locations and is best seen from the water, its steep-sided cliffs and spectacular arches dwarfing the boats and kayaks that bob below. There are a fair few impressive hikes, too, with the trek across Sharp Island to the rise of Hak Shen Tang yielding sweeping views across the island, while Green Tourism trips on both land and sea explore the area’s rich geo-diversity in the company of knowledgeable guides.
The geopark is just a taste of some of Hong Kong’s coastal wonders, though, with plenty of deserted shores offering some beautiful walks. From the sands of Silver Mine Bay on Lamma Island, where watchtowers and old mining villages still stand, to the rock carvings that went undiscovered on Shek O’s Hung Shing Ye beach until the 1970s, Hong Kong’s coast hides some remarkable sights.