The Hong Kong Spirit at the Lion Rock

The Lion Rock is a very popular trail in Hong Kong, but I have never had the opportunity to walk it. On this wonderful winter day I joined a group hike and had a wonderful time seeing 360 views in this somewhat midway point of Hong Kong.

The aerial views were certainly excellent, but the Lion Rock also stands for the Lion Rock Spirit, an important cultural reference that has long represented a shared spirit of community and hope for the people of Hong Kong.

The climbing up this trail is relatively easy, as the paths are either paved or well trodded. Just keep on going on this trail and you will see signs at the crossroads indicating the way to the Lion Rock. It is very straight forward. I highly recommend that you also see the Lion Head, where you will be able to climb up (engaging all fours) the famous rocky outcrop that makes the Lion Head. After climbing the Lion Head, you will descend toward the Wang Tau Hom direction, or Tin Ma Court if you use hiking apps or Google Map.

The Lion Rock acquired its name because the Lion Head resembles the stately appearance of a lion. In terms of geography, it is also very significant because it is the mountain range that wedges between Kowloon and the New Territories.

Before vehicular access was opened by the two other Shatin tunnels, Tates Cairn and Eagle’s Nest, the Lion Rock Tunnel was the only speedy access between Kowloon and Shatin. For a very long time, the people living in the New Territories used the Lion Rock tunnel daily in their commute to the urban areas. Culturally speaking, the Lion Rock stands as the epitome of the Hong Kong spirit. For as long as I can remember, Hong Kong people have had this phrase “beneath the Lion Rock,” referring to a shared aspiration to strive for a good life by hard work, honesty, integrity, perseverance, innovation and social harmony. The phrase comes from a very well-known song by Roman Tam of the same name, speaking amply to the sentiments of Hong Kong life during the 1970s and 1980s.

#hongkongheritage #hiking #hikingtrails #hongkonghistory #lionrock #lionrockspirit #hongkongspirit #lionhead



#naturalwonders#china

Post by Helen Yu (Chestnut Journal) | Mar 8, 2025