From Sheung Shui to Fanling – Easy Hike at Wah Shan

There are not too many options for proper hiking in Sheung Shui. I have covered Tai Shek Mo previously, and today I made it to the Wah Shan hike from Sheung Shui to Fanling.

Be prepared to roll on the rolling ridges that fasten themselves upon the northern backyard of Hong Kong from Sheung Shui to Fanling. You will be hiking the tops of six mounts on this trail with aerial views of both the northern New Territories and the skyline of Shenzhen afar. In this two-hour hike you will have a very pleasant and easy walk up and down paved slopes only. There are literally no stairs to climb.

Wah Shan

This path is also known as the Wah Shan Military Path. On this hike you will pass by the San Wai Firing Range (more below) and the San Wai Camp and San Wai Barracks. These are military facilities that continue to operate by the People’s Liberation Army in Hong Kong.

On this hike through Wah Shan, you will come across six mounts in the range of between 100 to 165 meter in altitude. From the Sheung Shui entrance to the trail at Fu Tei Au, you will first go through Cheung Po Tau, then Cham Shan, Wah Shan, High Hill, Ma Tau Leng, and Tsung Shan.

The two-hour hike will span across these six mountains, as such the Wah Shan Hike is also known locally as the “Hong Kong version of the Great Wall.”

In terms of views, you will see wide open aerial views of Sheung Shui, Fanling and Shenzhen on this trail.

The section between Cheung Po Tau and Wah Shan are quite picturesque. I particularly enjoyed the tall fir tree woods on the way.

There was not much view between the Wah Shan and the High Hill segment of the trail. However, closer to Tsung Shan, in the last leg of the journey, you will see a swathe of miscanthus on the way.

In terms of difficulty, the segment between Cheung Po Tau and Wah Shan had some difficult slopes up and down. Once you climb over High Hill, the walk is very easy.

Perhaps because of its former nature as a military path (apparently, cars still go on this path nowadays), there are many resting facilities along the way. I stopped quite a few times to rest and still made it back to Ping Che in Fanling in two hours.

Go Either Way

This path is suitable for starting in Sheung Shui or in Ping Che, Fanling. My recommendation is to start from Sheung Shui. Some of the slopes that require climbing are exceedingly difficult when walking downhill. If you depart from Fanling, you will come across difficult downward slopes. And indeed, if you do go the direction from Fanling to Sheung Shui, I suggest that you bring a hiking cane with you to assist with those downward slopes.

Photo above: Some slopes are quite tough on this trail.

The hiking path is relatively straightforward. You simply stay on the paved way and do not veer off course, especially close to the San Wai / Tai Ling Firing Range (see below). Finally, if you end in Fanling, consider visiting the Murals of Ping Yeung New Village. Ping Che is also a popular spot for viewing miscanthus during the fall season. Suffice to say, that there is a section of miscanthus on the Wah Shan hiking path itself.

If you go from Fanling to Sheung Shui and end up in Fu Tei Au, consider visiting Fu Tei Au Tsuen Village for some sightseeing as well.

Caution on the San Wai / Tai Ling Firing Range

On this path you will come across the San Wai / Tai Ling Firing Range. The proper advice is to never go during the days that firing practices take place. However, the firing range is on the ground level – quite a distance from the mountainous path that you will be hiking. An honest assessment is that you will not be harmed if you stay on the hiking trail.

That said, you must not go down the way of the firing range when there is firing practice. At Wah Shan, where you can overlook the whole firing range, there are pathways that will lead you there. When red flags are raised, do not go down that pathway. Actually, do not go down that way at all. Stay on course for the hiking.

During firing practice, red flags will be raised in the area. You will also hear the firing when you get close to Wah Shan. It is up to you whether to go on hiking. Most hikers do not turn back, but some do, and I did, on my first hike on Wah Shan. Perhaps a good indicator is to hike on Sundays, when there are usually no firing practices.

With due and reasonable care, the thing to do is to look up the firing practice schedule before you hike this path. The brief schedule for March 2025 is accessible on the Hong Kong Government website.

How to Get There

From the Sheung Shui MTR station, take Bus Route 73K from the Bus Terminus below Landmark North. Get off at the Fu Tei Au bus stop. The entrance to the Wah Shan hiking trail is across the street from the bus stop.

Photos: Left photo shows the Fu Tei Au bus stop. Middle photo shows that you head back a little on Man Kam Road toward the Sheug Shui direction, then cross the street at the traffic light, you will be right at the entrance of the trail. Right photo shows the entrance to the trail.

The distance between the Sheung Shui MTR station and the hiking trail is walkable, but perhaps allow for 40-45 minutes.

Photo above: After beginning for about five minutes of the walk, you will come across this intersection. Take the path to your left to go on to the mountain hike.

Finally, be mindful that if you arrive in Sheung Shui during the morning school hours, some 73K buses will stop only at the Fung Kai Secondary School stop and not go forward to Man Kam Road. If you happen to catch such a bus and get dropped off at the Fung Kai Secondary School stop, simply walk about 10 minutes further to arrive at the entrance to the hiking trail, which is across the street from the Fu Tei Au bus stop (the direction of Man Kam To).

Once you finish the hike at Ping Che, Fanling, you will see this intersection. Go on the path on your right.

Photos above: Left photo shows that you have finished this hiking trail. Middle photo shows your location when you exit the trail. Right photo shows you what lies immediately before you at the end of the trail, and please take the path to the right for heading back to Ping Che, Fanling.

Keep on walking, and this path will take you to Ping Che Road.

Then cross the street and wave for the next green top mini bus Route 52K to take you back to the Fanling MTR Station.