An Easy Stroll at the Checkerboard Hill
Checkerboard Hill is an easy stroll in Kowloon with wonderful city views. Like the stairs at Mei Ho House in Sham Shui Po, the Checkerboard Hill presents the skyline of Kowloon without requiring a strenuous climb. Perhaps it offers something more than the walk at Mei Ho House, for there is a large park at the hill, and another park also in its vicinity. It is perfect for a family picnic with young children.
Photos: Panoramic views of Kowloon’s skyline at the Checkerboard Hill.
The Checkerboard Hill’s Historic Role
The Checkerboard Hill used to have other names such as Kowloon Tsai Hill, Lok Fu Hill and Radar Hill. It is now commonly known as Checkerboard Hill because of the painted checkerboard patterns on two faces of this hill.
The bright red-and-white pattern used to serve an important purpose. Due to its being in the vicinity of the former Kai Tak Airport, these checkerboard patterns, along with the navigation lights and the radio navigation equipment installed there, signaled to the pilots flying into Kai Tak airport to turn and be directed to the landing path onto the runway.
The Kai Tak Airport has retired from its historic role in 1997, when the Hong Kong International Airport began operation in Chek Lap Kok. Since then, the checkerboard paint on the hill was covered with gray paint. Yet the red and white patterns reappeared recently. The beautiful pattern is a living reminder of this hill’s important role in an era bygone. For the Kai Tak Airport was known to be one of the most challenging maneuvers in the world for pilots.
Photo: Families gather at the Lok Fu Service Reservoir Rest Garden for a sunny day out.
This hill is a very popular spot for family outings. On this sunny day we saw people laying out tents and picnic baskets in the Lok Fu Service Reservoir Rest Garden there. The view on the north shows the clear profile of the Lion’s Head at Lion Rock.
On the other hand, the viewing point on Checkerboard Hill itself was also full of visitors. In fact, it was so busy that we had to form a line to get across the narrow paths there.
We exited Checkerboard Hill on its southern face (there are some stairs going down and you will see them when you are there). On this path, you will come across the Kowloon Tsai Park, which itself is also worthy of a visit. We found the Bauhinia Garden to be very beautiful.
Photos: The Bauhinia Garden (Photos left); View of Checkerboard Hill from the Bauhinia Garden (Photo right).
The Way to Checkerboard Hill
We parked at the Lok Fu UNY and headed up the hill via Fu On Street. The gentle incline will lead you up to an altitude of 98 meters within 15 to 20 minutes.
Watch out for this Y-shape diversion when you reach the top. Although the Lok Fu Service Reservoir Rest Garden lies adjacent to the Checkboard Hill, there is no through way between the two.
If you turn left here, you will arrive at the Lok Fu Service Reservoir Rest Garden. My suggestion is to visit the garden first, soak in some sunlight, and then head over back to the Y shape diversion and take the path to the Checkerboard Hill.
If you would like to view the skyline at Checkerboard Hill, you will take the path on the right. On this photograph above, you will arrive at the small, rather obscure set of stairs as soon as you turn right. The stairs lies on the far right end of this photo. Do beware that this path to Checkerboard Hill presents some danger points on narrow pathways from which you can fall.
Photos: the way to Checkerboard Hill after turning right on the Y diversion. Please be watchful with children on this path.
On this day, we exited Checkboard Hill by the stairs on its southern face. We walked to Kowloon City for a meal before heading home.
How to Get There
By private car, the closest parking lot is the Lok Fu UNY.
By public transportation, take the MTR to the Lok Fu Station. Then walk to Fu On Street to begin the walk.
Sources
To Checkerboard Hill: Easy Half Hour Trail to See Views of Kowloon Tsai and a Former Site for Kai Tak Airport, WeekendHK.com, April 21, 2022.