The hike from Chai Wan to Big Wave Bay is not only short but also quite a lot of fun. It takes well under an hour and includes some stunning scenery. That’s only if you take the route that I’m going to recommend. So read on.

Hike To Big Wave Bay Beach
If you’re wondering – are there any easier ways to get to Big Wave Bay? Yes, there are. A Red Mini Bus or the number 9 bus from Shau Kei Wan will get you there in comfort. However, if you want to work those leg muscles, why not hike it?
One of the most popular hikes to Big Bay Bay Beach is via the Dragon’s Back Hike. But approaching the beach from the Chai Wan may be slightly more difficult, and also more secluded. Don’t get me wrong, Dragon’s Back is great. But if you’ve already done it, I highly recommend trying the route from Chai Wan. You won’t get the views that you get from the Dragon’s Back, but I think this route will make up for some of those vistas.
Chai Wan to Big Wave Bay Beach
The hike from Chai Wan to Big Wave Bay is fairly straightforward.

I partially mapped my walk from Chai Wan to Big Wave Bay
- Take the MTR to Chai Wan station and take exit A.
- Walk out of the mall towards the footbridge, and towards the Youth Centre.
- From the Youth Centre, take a right and go down the ramp.
- At the end of the ramp, take a left and walk towards Wan Tsui Road.
- Cross Wan Tsui Road and start walking up on Lin Shing Road.
- Walk straight all the way up to the Cape Collinson Crematorium.
- This is where the climb begins. Take the stairs all the way up to the road in the middle of the crematorium.
- Walk around and the bend, and at the second bend, take the next flight of stairs towards the Pottinger Peak Country Trail.
- At the end of the stairway, you’ll see a small park. Take a break, you’ve earned it.
- From the park, continue on the Pottinger Peak Country Trail.
- Within 20 metres, you’ll see a sign pointing you towards Big Wave Bay Beach. Don’t take it, unless you’re in a hurry to get there. If you want beautiful views of the south side, keep walking straight.
- Carry on this path for another 10-15 minutes until you see the sign for Big Wave Bay Beach on your right. Now turn and follow this path to the beach.
Click here to open the hike map path in Google Maps.
A quick video of the hike
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I made a short video along the hike, capturing the highlights. Big Wave Bay is one of the nicer beaches on Hong Kong island in my opinion.
Photos Of The Hike
- Looking down at Chai Wan at the start of the stairway
- The final flight of stairs to the Pottinger Peak Country Trail
- The flat Pottinger Peak Country Trail
- Turn right at the Pottinger Peak Country Trail to get onto this path
- The descent to Big Wave Bay begins. The beach emerges.
- The final stairs before the beach, provides a spectacular vista
A Short Fun Hike On HK Island
There you have it, a quick and easy hike for your weekends in Hong Kong. The only tough part is the beginning of the hike with the steep climb. But once you reach the top, the hike is like a walk in the park.
I highly recommended hiking from Chai Wan to Big Wave Bay for those who want to go to a beach and get some cardio done along the way.
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4 Comments
Hey! Am I right in assuming that one could combine this with the Dragons Back hike? (Dragons Back – Big Wave Beach – Chai Wan)
Absolutely! The trails are all connected. If you’re hike up from Chai Wan, at the top of the trail turn right for the Dragon’s Back. If you turn left, that trail would lead you to Big Wave Bay.
Hi! This hike looks fantastic 🙂 Do you think it would be possible to take a bike along, or does the hike have too many stairs?
That depends on how many stairs are too many 😉 I mean it is possible to take a bike because there aren’t a whole lot of stairs going up. But coming down, there are a lot of steps. So, if you’re comfortable coming down on a bike, it should be fine.
Or maybe do the hike without a bike first 🙂