Located just a short distance from the Mui Wo Ferry Pier, three incredible attractions await:

1. Silvermine Waterfall,
2. Silvermine Cave, and
3. Pearl Falls (sometimes referred to as Pearl Waterfall).

Nothing like a waterfall to cool you off in the summer months

The walk to these attractions is remarkably short and easy, making it an ideal outing for visitors of all ages. With easy access to the waterfalls, this popular hike attracts many visitors during the summer months. But of course, the best time to experience the Silvermine Waterfalls and Pearl Falls is after the rains, when their beauty is at its peak.

So, let’s explore how to visit these amazing attractions in Mui Wo on Lantau Island.

About the Silvermine Waterfall and Pearl Falls Walk

Silvermine Waterfall, Silvermine Cave, Pearl Falls Trail Map

The 2.9 km walk from Mui Wo Ferry Pier is straightforward, following a paved road for most of the journey – except for the final 50 meters, which requires a short detour onto an unmarked dirt trail. The path is generally flat, making it relatively easy to navigate.

However, if you plan to reach the top of Pearl Falls and its swimming pool, be prepared to scramble up the side of the waterfall.

To reach the best pools to swim at Pearl Falls require you to climb up

The three attractions – Silvermine Waterfall, Silvermine Cave, and Pearl Falls – are clustered together along the Hong Kong Olympic Trail, a 5.6 km route that connects Tung Chung to Mui Wo. This trail was named in honour of Hong Kong hosting the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games equestrian events.

Things to carry

1. Swimsuit and towels (in case you plan to swim)
2. Inspect or bug repellent
3. Sun protection (most of the trail is not shaded)
4. As the trail is mostly paved, you don’t necessarily need hiking shoes. But if you plan to climb up Pearl Falls, shoes with traction are recommended.

Now, let’s dive into our comprehensive guide to visiting these three attractions!

Starting Point

The starting point for this walk is the Mui Wo Ferry Pier.

If you’re arriving by ferry from Central, the timetable is available on the Sun Ferry website. And if you’re arriving from Tung Chung MTR, catch bus number 3M to arrive at the ferry pier.

Ferry Pier to Mui Wo Rural Committee Road

Once you arrive at Mui Wo Ferry Pier, exit and turn right. Walk along the pedestrian path that runs along the cycling track. Between here and the waterfall there are a couple of points of interest that we’ll touch upon in this section.

Walk along the Silvermine Bay promenade towards Silvermine Beach. Once you reach the bridge that connects the road to Silvermine Beach, continue walking straight, on the left side of the stream (River Silver). Fun fact about the bridge: The bridge is called the Five-cent Bridge as people passing it back in the day had to pay 5 cents. In Cantonese, it translates to Tau Ling Bridge.

Walk past Riverwalk apartments till you reach the bridge on the other side. Turn right, and then left onto Ngau Shu Street.

At the end of the Mui Wo Playground on Ngau Shu Street, turn right into the car park. Walk into the village and turn left onto the Mui Wo Rural Committee Road.

To Pak Ngan Heung

This road is part of the 5.6 km trail linking Pak Mong Village to Mui Wo. It was renamed Hong Kong Olympic Trail in honour of Hong Kong hosting the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games equestrian events.

The trail was renamed to Hong Kong Olympic Trail in 2008

Keep in mind that there is no shade along this road. So, come prepared if you plan on walking to the waterfall on a sunny day. Although the walk is fairly straightforward, you can follow the signs to the Silvermine Cave to avoid getting lost.

After about 10 minutes, you’ll arrive at a small bridge that connects to Pak Ngan Heung, which literally means “white silver village”. The colourful houses in the village are lined up on the left, with a large open space in front.

Pak Ngan Heung, Mui Wo

Man Mo Temple, Mui Wo

At the end of Pak Ngan Heung village is the Mui Wo Man Mo Temple. The temple was originally set up to settle disputes among villagers mining for silver, under the witness of God. Nowadays, it is the centre of attention during the Mui Wo Man Mo Temple Festival that takes place on May 13 of the lunar calendar.

Man Mo Temple, Mui Wo

Just after the temple is an old gate, which is the entrance to Pak Ngan Heung on the other side. And next to the gate is a beautiful private villa that belongs to Yeung Rui Shan, owner of the “Yee Wo Lung Rice” company. Apparently this property at one point covered (or still covers) 7.3 hectares.

Gate to Pak Ngan Heung

Silvermine Waterfall Garden

After the villa, stay on the left side of the trail. By now you should hear the sound of the stream flowing beside you. And in another 100 metres, you will arrive at the Silvermine Waterfall Garden.

Silvermine Bay Waterfall Garden

This mini garden, with a few picnic tables, a toilet, and of course the waterfall is quite a picturesque sight.

Waterfall, shallow rock pools, and the garden

Silvermine Waterfall

The Silvermine Waterfall comprises two parallel falls that can be reached by carefully climbing over the rocks.

Under the waterfalls are shallow rock pools that are suitable for a quick dip. Although there are signs to discourage swimming (for safety reasons), I believe it’s not against the law to swim in these pools.

The area next to the falls gets crowded, especially on weekends. But if you’re looking for a bit of peace, go downstream. There are plenty of rocks to sit and relax on, and fewer people. The area downstream is also cooler as it’s shaded.

And here’s a quick video of Silvermine Waterfalls.

Silvermine Waterfall to Silvermine Cave

After admiring the beauty of Silvermine Waterfall, it’s time to head up to the Silvermine Cave.

To head to the cave, return to the Hong Kong Olympic Trail and walk uphill. The Silvermine Cave is a short but steep walk to the area directly above the waterfall.

The pavilion next to Silvermine Cave

Silvermine Cave

The cave was actively mined for silver back in 1910. Although the mining stopped due to the low silver content, it’s how this area got its name!

Today, the cave has been sealed, but you can still visit it and walk towards the entrance.

The Silvermine Cave has been permanently sealed, but you can still enter this section

Be careful if you plan to enter the cave as there may be birds that come flying towards you.

Silvermine Cave To Pearl Falls

It’s time to head to the final attraction on this exploration of Mui Wo – Pearl Falls.

From the Silvermine Cave, make your way up the slope and turn left at the top. Follow the narrow paved path as it winds its way along until you reach a fork in the road. At this point, stay to the right and follow the path as it crosses over the Silver River.

On the other side of the river, continue along the path as it passes through some village homes with farms. Once you’ve passed these homes, the Hong Kong Olympic Trail will lead you down a scenic path lined with trees and bushes on either side.

Locate the unmarked trail

As the path leaves the village behind, it curves left and begins a slight uphill ascent. At this point, keep an eye out for an unmarked trail veering off to the left into the woods, next to a street light post – you might spot a marker ribbon dangling from a branch.

Just as the path leaves the village and starts climbing, look for an unmarked trail next to a street lamp post

Enter this unmarked trail and follow it as it curves to the right ahead (there was a fallen tree on this path when we visited). Continue walking until the trail reaches its end and makes a sharp turn to the left, where you’ll cross over an open drainage channel.

As you walk along this drain, you should start to hear the distant roar of the waterfall. Keep going until you need to navigate around a few pipes – just after that, you’ll emerge at the stunning Pearl Falls!

Pearl Falls

The first thing that struck me about Pearl Falls is that it makes Silvermine Waterfall look like a trickle. I exaggerate, but this multi-layer waterfall covers about 80 metres (I could be wrong) on the side of the hill. Also, unlike the previous waterfall, this area doesn’t have a garden, a seating area, or is even maintained by the authorities. It’s truly a hidden gem!

It wasn’t until that I saw the view of the falls from my drone did I notice a few exceptional features about Pearl Falls. The water flowing down the hill resembles a wide pearl necklace, which likely inspired the name “Pearl Falls”.

Doesn’t it remind you of a pearl necklace?

As I explored the area, I discovered at least five pools where you can swim or wade around. There are also multiple cascades and mini-waterfalls that work together to create the breathtaking Pearl Falls.

To reach the largest pool requires a scramble up the side of the waterfall, but the reward is a stunning pool, next to an incredibly picturesque waterfall! The side isn’t too steep, but be careful as you make your way up. Stay away from the wet rocks.

The size and beauty of Pearl Falls left me mesmerized, and I couldn’t believe that I hadn’t been here yet!

Pearl Falls has to be one of the most impressive waterfalls in Hong Kong

Exercise caution at Pearl Falls

Pearl Falls can be a treacherous spot. While we were there at Pearl Falls, we must have seen at least 5 people slip and hurt themselves (including us). Luckily, no serious injuries. Just bruised bums.

Pearl Falls, Mui Wo

As you explore Pearl Falls, it’s essential to exercise caution when crossing the stream and especially when attempting to climb up to the pools above. Wearing shoes with good grip can make a big difference. If you plan to swim in the upper pools, consider wearing hiking sandals or shoes for added traction.

Lantau Island’s Best Waterfalls

We hope you found our guide to Silvermine Waterfall, Silvermine Cave, and Pearl Falls helpful in planning your adventure. It’s amazing that these attractions are so close together and easily accessible.

What a natural wonder in Mui Wo’s back garden – Pearl Falls

If you’d like to explore more of Silvermine Bay and Mui Wo, be sure to check out our comprehensive guide. Additionally, if you enjoy discovering or hiking to waterfalls, you might want to consider visiting Ng Tung Chai Waterfalls near Tai Mo Shan. For a complete list of Hong Kong’s waterfalls, head to our hikes’ explorer page.

As always, we invite you to share this guide on your favourite social media platform. If you used our guide to visit these waterfalls, please leave us a comment below and let us know about your experience!