A fairyland on earth！Hong Kong’s version of “Moses Parting the Sea” and “Voice of the Sea” are so stunning they’ll move you to tears

▲Sai Kung is considered Hong Kong’s backyard garden, with numerous hiking routes that feel like stepping into a fairyland. (Photo/Reported by Cao Yuehua)

▲The Sai Kung District in Hong Kong has many sceneries comparable to those in Taiwan. The photo shows Hong Kong’s version of the “Voice of the Sea.” (Photo/Reported by Cao Yuehua, same below)

Reported and written by Cao Yuehua / Hong Kong

Breathtakingly beautiful！Known as the “back garden of Hong Kong,” theSai Kung Districtis truly a fairyland on earth,featuring Hong Kong’s versions of “Moses Parting the Sea” and “Voice of the Sea,” as well as a UNESCO-recognized geopark.With multiple mountain- and sea-friendly trails, it truly takes you away from the hustle and bustle of the city, and every corner is absolutely breathtaking.

▲Sai Kung offers enchanting seascapes surrounded by mountains, as if you've arrived in a hidden paradise.

Li Ge from our tour group said that one must visit Hong Kong’s Sai Kung District eight times in a lifetime to see all its beauty, yet I’ve only been twice and am already deeply enchanted. About half an hour to an hour from downtown Tsim Sha Tsui, Sai Kung is one of the top choices for outdoor adventures in Hong Kong, boasting world-class geological landscapes as well as pro-level seascapes. ETtoday News Cloud introduces two select routes here — nature lovers simply can’t miss them！

▲You can overlook Hong Kong’s version of “Moses Parting the Sea” – the tombolo – from the hiking trail leading to Xiamen Bay.

1. High Island Route

High Island is one of the geopark sites under the UNESCO Global Geopark. To get there, you need to take a boat from Sai Kung Pier. Choosing this island-hopping route will leave you in awe of the geological landscape formed by a volcanic eruption 140 million years ago. The spectacular rocks and azure coastline together create a view that looks like a painting.

▲The island also produces an unusual local specialty: quartz diorite that resembles a pineapple bun.

When you arrive on the island, you can seeHong Kong’s version of “Moses Parting the Sea” – the tombolo, a natural sandbar connecting High Island with nearby Jin Head Island, stretching 250 meters in length.It appears as a path for people to walk between the two islands during low tide. To get a full view of the sandbar, you can climb up the trail leading to Xiamen Bay nearby to reach the best vantage point. In addition, the island also featuresthe scenery of Hong Kong’s “Voice of the Sea.” You can sit at the end of the seawall, paired with the clear seawater,and capture one stunning, expansive photo after another. Aside from the sandy beach scenery along the shores of High Island, you can also see the area’s famous specialty –quartz diorite, which looks like a cluster of pineapple buns,becoming a unique local feature.

▲High Island Reservoir is hailed as a great architectural marvel.

2. Section 1 of the MacLehose Trail

For those who want to go hiking or take a long trekking route, you can choose Section 1 of the MacLehose Trail. For this section, except for taxis and local villagers,advance permission is required for access. To reach the East Dam of High Island Reservoir, you can take a taxi from the Sai Kung town center (pier) to the starting point of the East Dam. Please note that there are no direct buses to this location.。

▲The scenery along the way at the West Dam is also quite captivating.

High Island Reservoir was built in 1970 and is Hong Kong’s largest and deepest reservoir, accounting for half of the total water storage capacity. Its East Dam blends seamlessly with the surrounding mountains and seascape, and is hailed as a great architectural marvel. The breakwater beside it, made of massive anchor-shaped rocks, is especially spectacular. AndThe "Sky Mirror" in Dongba is located at the deepest part of the reservoir, requiring a three-hour hike to reach.However, local Hong Kong residents say the breathtaking reflection on the lake is well worth the effort.

▲ The hexagonal rock columns are also a popular photo spot.

In addition to the stunning mountain-and-sea scenery, this route exemplifies what it means to be a "living geography classroom," featuring a UNESCO-certified geopark filled with various types of live rock formations, especiallyglassy tuff, which displays diverse rock textures after frictional movement, even forming twisted rock columns.The otherworldlysea erosion cavesare also one of the highlights, and the much-visitedhexagonal rock columnsare another popular photo spot.