Hong Kong is a really beautiful city with amazing landscapes, nice and fancy shopping places.Except these, somewhere outside the city are just so amazing that can truly see the beauty of Hong Kong.

My love @Jankasparec came visit Hong Kong for few days so we decided to go for a hike and burned some fat as we ate too crazily in Europe at Christmas. Lion Rock hike is the first idea crossed to my mind! Why not then? I should bring the guests to see the beauty of Hong Kong.

Lion Rock Hill is located between Kowloon Tong of Kowloon and Tai Wai of the New Territories.

Let me tell you something about Lion Rock. If you know some people who was born and grow up in Hong Kong, they must know how the lion Rock represents the core value of Hong Kong society. During 60s and 70s, people in Hong Kong was going through very rough time because of mass migration wave. Living problems, hygiene problems etc were getting worse. The old generation built up Hong Kong slowly by their hands, sweats and tears. The only entertainment for the families mostly is TV. So around 70-80s it was the golden time for developing local TV dramas. by the time, there was a TV drama called ‘Below the Lion Rock Series’(‘獅子山下’). It was broadcast five times. Each series was a collection of unrelated stories produced by the RTHK.

The commercial of ‘Below the Lion Rock Series’. This version is from 2015 but still keep the 'lion' as the background.

The name of the theme song is also called ‘Below the Lion Rock(‘獅子山下’) same as the TV drama. The lyrics are quite motivating and encouraging which is quite different than other typical canto-pop songs. The message behind the song is telling people have to stay strong together under the Lion Rock even though we are going through extremely hard time but we are a family now. Hong Kong was no longer only for refugee. It’s for ‘HongKongers’. Since every time the protest for independence HK happens, this song will come along. This is where this beautiful city came from when all people just focus now and forgot how much tears and sweats old generations spent to build it up. This is 'Spirit of Lion Rock'.

When we fought for true democracy in 2014, some supporters made this video with the song ‘Below the Lion Rock' to support Hongkongers stay strong and flight for our city. www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y4ThjZkOgjg

Some protesters put the yellow banner written 'I Want True Universal Suffrage' on the lion head. Captured from Google.

Anyway, this is the story comes from this Lion Rock. We chose to start from Shatin Wai in New Territories cause we started quite late and we hoped we could come back before evening. First we had to pass through estates next to Shatin Wai train station, then we started climbed up the mountain through Ma On Shan Country Park.

We took around two hours something to go the top of the mountain. I think without me, Jan could finish it even more faster as he is a sporty and healthy guy! But I am happy this hike brought him some energy back from nature, for me as well. It was so sad that I couldn't see the sunset cause the visibility was getting lower. We still enjoyed so much!

We made it !!

Next time I will try to show you more beautiful places outside the city and you must love them.
Thanks for reading my post. Wish you have a good and happy weekend :)

Best Wishes,
Gladys
@gladysmak