Po Pin Chau to trial reservation system from Sept 5 with 2,000 daily slots

Visitors heading to Po Pin Chau in Sai Kung will need to make advance reservations on selected weekends and public holiday periods from September 5, as authorities introduce a trial booking system to better manage crowds along the popular coastal trail.

The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department said the system will apply to the Po Pin Chau Section of the High Island Geo Trail at the East Dam of High Island Reservoir from September 5 to October 7. Reservations will be free of charge.

The arrangement will only cover the Po Pin Chau section, while visitors heading to other areas around the East Dam will not need to make a booking.

Reservations will be required between 9am and 5pm on September 5 and 6, September 12 and 13, September 19 and 20, September 25 to 27, and October 1 to 7, covering selected weekends, the Mid-Autumn Festival period and the National Day Golden Week.

Four two-hour visiting sessions will be offered each day, from 9am to 11am, 11am to 1pm, 1pm to 3pm and 3pm to 5pm. Each session will accommodate up to 500 visitors, bringing the daily quota to 2,000. Places will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.

Visits outside the designated dates, or before 9am and after 5pm on reservation days, will not require advance booking.

Bookings for September 5 and 6 opened at 11am on Monday, Aug 24. Subsequent quotas will be released at 11am on Mondays for visits around one week later, allowing hikers and tourists to plan their trips in advance.

Reservations must be made under visitors’ real names through the AFCD-designated Klook platform, including its website, mobile app or WeChat mini-program.

Each person can reserve up to five places in a single booking for themselves and accompanying visitors. An electronic voucher containing a QR code will be issued by email or made available through the relevant app.

Visitors with confirmed bookings must arrive at the entrance to the Po Pin Chau section within their reserved time slot and present the electronic voucher. Staff may also ask to see the identification document used during registration to verify their identity.

Bookings can be canceled up to 48 hours before the reserved session.

Those who arrive without an advance reservation may still book on the spot through the online system if spaces remain available for the relevant time slot. AFCD staff will be stationed at the entrance to handle admission and visitor inquiries.

The department said the trial is aimed at improving crowd management and the visitor experience while reducing excessive wear on the trail. The nearby East Dam and Biu Tsim Kok sections of the High Island Geo Trail will remain accessible without reservations.
 

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