Many people fly in and out of Hong Kong without even realizing that the territory comprises anything more than the city itself. The mistake is an unfortunate one, for it is in the New Territories that some of the most scenic and traditionally Chinese areas of Hong Kong can be found. Comprising some 750 square kilometres of land abutting the southern part of China's Guangdong Province, the New Territories come complete with country roads, water buffalo, old villages, valleys and mountains - as well as booming New Towns which now house well over three million people.

 

It's the country areas that hold most appeal, and there is a whole series of designated country parks , including the amazingly unspoilt Sai Kung Peninsula to the east, offering excellent hiking trails and secluded beaches. For serious extended hikes, the MacLehose Trail extends right across the peninsula and beyond. Some of the towns are also interesting in their own right, either as ordinary residential districts, or as gateways to relics from the past such as Shatin's Ten Thousand Buddha Monastery , or the walled villages near Kam Tin.

Getting around the New Territories is simplicity itself - frequent buses connect all towns, while the MTR reaches as far as Tsuen Wan and the KCR runs north through Shatin, the Chinese University and Tai Po. There are also a number of boats from Central, including the fast hoverferries that connect with Tuen Mun in only thirty minutes. Tuen Mun is the terminus of the LRT rail line that runs north to Yuen Long. You can get a flavour of the New Territories in just one day's independent exploration, or it's worth considering a HKTA tour ($385, children $335). These run every day, take six hours and include lunch. Covering such a large distance, this is probably one of their best tours in terms of convenience and value.

By public transport , a satisfying do-it-yourself tour can be made in a few hours along the following route, starting from the Jordan Road Ferry bus terminus in Kowloon (accessible by bus #8 from Tsimshatsui): take bus #60X to Tuen Mun bus terminal, then from here ride the LRT north to its terminus at Yuen Long. From Yuen Long, take bus #76K to Sheung Shui bus terminal in the north. Finally ride the KCR train south back to Kowloon.