MacLehose Trail camping surge brings litter, BBQ fires, and wild boar risk to Sai Kung beaches

The MacLehose Trail exploded in popularity on Xiaohongshu, drawing mainland camping groups to Long Ke Wan and other Sai Kung sites, but weekend visits reveal widespread littering, illegal fires, tree climbing, and food scraps attracting wild boars.

The reporter accompanied YouTuber Desmond to Long Ke Wan via East Dam. 

Crowds included guided two- or three-day camping tours with large backpacks, tents, and poles.

Agriculture, Fisheries, and Conservation Department (AFCD) signs urged, “Take out your trash.”

At Long Ke Wan beach there were tents everywhere, smokers, families queuing to climb trees for photos, multiple burn marks, BBQ grills, and charcoal left behind. 

Scattered plastic fragments, food wrappers, and overflowing bins spilled onto the sand despite other collection points.

Desmond warned food scraps lure wild boars at night, risking dangerous encounters if startled.

Guangzhou visitor Liang said Sal Tin Wan was packed with mainland campers chasing sunrise views. She saw litter but also local volunteers cleaning. 

She stressed “take your own garbage away” is a basic civility and praised Hong Kong’s cleaner, whiter beaches over Guangzhou.

A Shenzhen regular camper visits weekly, lauding fewer crowds and softer sand.

According to the AFCD data, 2025 countryside park litter enforcement cases rose 3.4 times to 44 island-wide. Sai Kung East and West parks jumped 4.5 times to 22 cases. The MacLehose Sections 1-2, in addition to the Ham Tin Wan, Long Ke Wan, and Sai Wan campsites, fall within these parks.

The AFCD reminded that open fires are allowed only at designated campsites but must prevent vegetation damage; violations under the Forests and Countryside Ordinance carry up to a HK$25,000 fine and 1 year in prison.