Fanling to Tsuen Wan via border and Route Twisk
Feel like an explorer as you ride through an area that until 2012 was off-limits to anyone without a permit. This peaceful area is a world away from the bustle of Hong Kong, despite being only five kilometres from the new towns of Sheung Shui and Fanling and their MTR stations.
The basicsRating: B2
Distance: 57km approx. Starts: Fanling MTR exit Ends: Tsuen Wan MTR Urban/rural/mixed: 10/70/20% Surface: Excellent through most of the ride Difficulty of navigation: Easy with maps |
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Map and elevation
The details
The ride starts on a short section of actual road cycling from the MTR exit. It soon picks up a quieter road that follows the river briefly, but you need to continue to follow the road away from the river and around some houses for a short distance until the bridge. Over the bridge, turn left to follow the cycle path all the way until the water works, at which point you need to come off the bike briefly to follow a narrow and sharply turning path that goes over, under and around various industrial things and the railway. Having navigated this short path, pick up the cycle path and turn right, eventually crossing the bridge to join another cycle path up towards Shenzhen. At the end there is no alternative except to turn back. However, it gives good views and it's interesting to see the city come right up to the border, while on the HK side there's virtually nothing!
I then took a route up Fai King Road. From here to the end, it's very easy navigation and this is a beautiful road (compared to urban Kowloon, for example) though not the truly rural paradise of Lantau. The road is very flat and easy. Note that there are signs with 'Access only' clearly marked, but the police passed me without issue.
At the end, I chose to turn right up Lok Ma Chau Road, but I could have cut out this short border area (nice enough, but nothing special and not as nice as the area just seen) by turning right immediately. At the end of Lok Ma Chau Road (very clearly the end, as it's a T junction because straight ahead is one-way only) turn right and join Castle Peak Road. This is a necessary road but not that nice - it runs alongside the highway, so it's noisy and busy. Crossing over the highway to the adjacent road doesn't help.
Eventually turn left (over the highway and the river) for Ko Po Road. This becomes one-way in sections, so crossing the river is necessary (though I broke the rules and didn't bother).
At the end, turn left and pick up the road towards Tai Wai. It's a surprisingly long way to get to the bottom of Route Twisk (turn right at both roundabouts) and Route Twisk itself is a punishing climb with no opportunity to buy refreshment. The descent is steep and leads straight into Tsuen Wan, where the MTR is easiliy located by following the pedestrian signs.
I then took a route up Fai King Road. From here to the end, it's very easy navigation and this is a beautiful road (compared to urban Kowloon, for example) though not the truly rural paradise of Lantau. The road is very flat and easy. Note that there are signs with 'Access only' clearly marked, but the police passed me without issue.
At the end, I chose to turn right up Lok Ma Chau Road, but I could have cut out this short border area (nice enough, but nothing special and not as nice as the area just seen) by turning right immediately. At the end of Lok Ma Chau Road (very clearly the end, as it's a T junction because straight ahead is one-way only) turn right and join Castle Peak Road. This is a necessary road but not that nice - it runs alongside the highway, so it's noisy and busy. Crossing over the highway to the adjacent road doesn't help.
Eventually turn left (over the highway and the river) for Ko Po Road. This becomes one-way in sections, so crossing the river is necessary (though I broke the rules and didn't bother).
At the end, turn left and pick up the road towards Tai Wai. It's a surprisingly long way to get to the bottom of Route Twisk (turn right at both roundabouts) and Route Twisk itself is a punishing climb with no opportunity to buy refreshment. The descent is steep and leads straight into Tsuen Wan, where the MTR is easiliy located by following the pedestrian signs.