Mr. and Mrs. Chu live in Ma On Shan, and while the country park is right near their home, they hesitated to visit. As they are both wheelchair users, hiking has never been easy or relaxing.
“If it weren’t for our daughter and son-in-law, we would never have thought of visiting a country park or trail,” Mr. Chu sighed. Once, their daughter and son-in-law brought them to the Ma On Shan Family Walk. Spanning about half a kilometer, this 30-minute route is popular with families and beginners looking to enjoy the scenic views of Sha Tin, Ma On Shan, and Tai Po. However, with mostly stairs, the trail is inaccessible for wheelchairs. Left with no choice, the couple had to leave their manual wheelchairs behind, switching to crutches and relying entirely on the steadying hands of their family along the way. “It took us seven or eight times longer than other hikers, and it was truly exhausting,” Mr. Chu recalled of their previous hiking attempt.
It is often said that Hong Kong’s urban areas and countryside lie side by side. Yet, for wheelchair users, the elderly, and others with mobility challenges, a significant gap in accessibility still remains. From public transport accessibility and on-site conditions—whether routes are muddy, grassy, sloped, or stepped—to the availability of accessible facilities like restrooms, just thinking about these challenges is enough to stop them from going to the countryside.
Earlier this year, Mr. and Mrs. Chu joined the Accessible Trails Outdoor Workshops organized by Parks and Trails. They took part in guided ecological tours of Hong Kong Wetland Park and Long Valley, as well as a forest bathing session at Tai Tam Reservoir—all three routes were new to the couple. Accessible by public transport, these outdoor destinations are relatively flat and safe, making them suitable for both manual and motorized wheelchair users.
Becoming One with Nature
The first-ever forest bathing experience at Tai Tam Reservoir was a truly unforgettable highlight for the Chus. Also known as forest therapy, the practice encourages participants to slow down and engage their five senses (sight, hearing, smell, touch, and taste) to immerse themselves fully in nature.
“We followed the tour guide and waved to the leaves, plants, and birds, feeling at one with nature,” Mrs. Chu recalled with excitement. “Hearing the water flowing, smelling the greenery, and hugging the trees—it’s just wonderful.”
“If you hadn’t organized these tours, we would never have thought of going to the countryside,” Mrs. Chu said. “We just didn’t know these accessible destinations existed. But having visited, we now realize there are indeed trails suitable for us.”
After joining these outdoor tours, they have regained their confidence in exploring nature. They now actively follow information on accessible trails, looking forward to revisiting Tai Tam Reservoir with family and friends or exploring other natural wonders in Hong Kong during the hiking season.
Since 2018, Parks and Trails has been designing accessible hiking trails. Through on-site evaluations with wheelchair users, we collect data on trail conditions and the accessibility of facilities, aiming to break down information barriers and achieve true inclusion in nature.
Supported by Operation Santa Claus, we curated a series of Accessible Trails Workshops in 2025/26. The program included tutorials on route planning, the TrailWatch mobile app and local ecological features, alongside outdoor workshops to Hong Kong Wetland Park, Long Valley Nature Park and Tai Tam Reservoir, engaging a total of 53 wheelchair users and 197 elderly participants.
Furthermore, we have published the Accessible Trails Guidebook, covering 20 accessible routes with all-in-one information on transportation, trail conditions, and supporting facilities. We hope the guidebook will help people of all abilities find a suitable path and enjoy Hong Kong’s countryside together.
