Packed hiking hot spot draws hellish groans

Marco Lam

The past week has seen tourists flock to Po Pin Chau, a trending hiking and photography hot spot, with many tourists lamenting the chaotic situation as a "one-way trip to hell."

The new Po Pin Chau Viewing Platform in Sai Kung, a scenic viewpoint along the MacLehose Trail, offers stunning views of its iconic hexagonal volcanic columns and has quickly become a popular destination for tourists.

The hot spot has gained popularity on social media platforms such as Xiaohongshu, leading to a surge in visitors.

Po Pin Chau is located within the Hong Kong Unesco Global Geopark near the High Island Reservoir. Visitors typically hike from the MacLehose Trail to the East Dam of the reservoir before reaching Po Pin Chau.

Po Pin Chau was overcrowded last weekend, and many mainlanders took to Xiaohongshu to vent their grievances.

Pictures online showed hikers tightly packed along the trails. Meanwhile, due to the overwhelming numbers, public transportation struggled to cope with the demand.

Some people complained that taxi drivers were charging ridiculous fees of up to HK$700 to take them to the nearest bus stop, which is only a few kilometers away. Others said there were hundreds of tourists at the minibus stop waiting to catch a ride back to Sai Kung town center, with people still queuing after sunset.