Visible from virtually every corner of Sai Kung peninsula, Nam She Tsim (蚺蛇尖) is a mountain located in the northeastern corner of Sai Kung East Country Park. Also known as Sharp Peak, the aptly-named hill is not especially tall (at 469m it is only half the height of Lantau Peak) but is most famous for its well-defined pointy summit. The first time I saw that peak, about three years ago when I first started hiking in Hong Kong, I knew that one day I would be headed for the top. Anyone who’s ever been on the trails in Sai Kung will know that feeling – it’s an intimidating looking mountain. Sharp Peak is counted as one of Hong Kong’s three most treacherous summits, the other two being High Junk Peak (釣魚翁)and Castle Peak (青山).

There are several ways to the top, the most popular and safest being a network of official trails on the southern side of the mountain. A much more interesting option is an unofficial path up the northern face, which has a steep gradient and should only be attempted by experienced hikers in good weather conditions. Official maps do not mark this trail, but the route is well-established and documented for those who want to attempt it. Naturally, this is the one we’re interested in!

The northern ridge approach requires a bit of planning to get to the remote trailhead, but can easily be done as a day hike. With relatively cool and fine weather, and calm winds (very important), this past weekend was the perfect time to conquer Sharp Peak.

Approaching via Nam She Wan

Our journey begins in Sai Kung town where we take the bus to Wong Shek pier. Here we catch a ferry to Ko Lau Wan on the northern tip of the peninsula, and begin a southward hike toward Nam She Wan bay. Some portions of the trail are overgrown but in general the path follows a set of sewage and utility pipes to the small beach at the base of the mountain.

As you approach Nam She Wan, Sharp Peak looms larger and larger, and the steep northern face is intimidating indeed. There were a few campers on the beach but otherwise we had the trail to ourselves this day. On the sands we take a break, have a snack, and prepare ourselves mentally for the climb to come.

Up the Northern Ridge

The real work begins at the trailhead located at the far end of the beach. An opening in the bushes marked with ribbons marks the entrance to the north ridge path (just look for the wild pineapple tree beside it). The route passes through some heavy woods which then thins out to typical mountain bush. All the while, you’re climbing a ridge over several mountain humps that give increasingly spectacular views of the ocean and surrounding hills. We took frequent breaks and admired the scenery. The path is clearly marked by ribbons so there is little chance of getting lost; in many sections, clambering up with your hands are required.

The last 100 meters to the top are the steepest; here the peak is rocky and overgrown with vegetation, so at times it feels you are actually tree-climbing your way up. But once you reach the summit – what a feeling of accomplishment! We were surprised to see quite a crowd (hikers taking the south side trails) and a party-like atmosphere.

To Tai Wan and Ham Tin

After a well-deserved break at the peak, we started our way down the mountain along the south eastern trails towards Tai Wan beach. Much of the route was on dirt trails with loose gravel but thankfully nowhere near as steep as the northern side. The views of Tai Long Wan bay and its famous beaches were breathtaking.

We took our time navigating the undulating hills and reached the pristine sands of Tai Wan beach just as the sun was beginning to set. Continuing along the length of the beach, we crossed over to adjacent Ham Tim where we relaxed at a beach store with an ice cold beverage and a bowl of instant ramen (after a hike like this, the noodles here are the best you’ve ever had). A time to marvel and reflect on what we had just accomplished; there was still some walking to do before the day was done, but the hard work was behind us. With today’s hike, we’ve finally completed the trinity of Hong Kong’s sharpest peaks.

We finish our adventure by hiking another 3km of the MacLehose Trail (Stage 2) from Ham Tin to Chek Keng, where we catch a kaito boat to Wong Shek pier and bus it back to Sai Kung town.

All in all, a day well spent.

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Route and Location Map