Field Trip: Lantau Mountain Camp and Historic Stone Huts

Description

Perched on the windswept saddle between Sunset Peak and Yi Tung Shan, Lantau Mountain Camp is a rare remnant of early 20th-century missionary life in Hong Kong. Built between 1925 and 1930 by visiting missionaries from Europe and the United States, the 19 modest stone huts offered respite from the city’s heat and humidity. Today, the camp has become a cherished retreat for private owners and a popular destination for hikers seeking tranquillity, scenic view and a connection to Hong Kong’s heritage.

The field trip is led by Martha Collard, who has a long and personal history with the site. After first visiting as a scout, she later took on the restoration of Hut 4, transforming it from a derelict structure into a carefully maintained retreat. Over nearly 15 years, she has helped care for multiple cabins while building an international career in wellness, as founder of Asia’s first meditation gong studio and a speaker and practitioner across the world.

Participants meet at either Central’s City Hall at 9:30 or Tung Chung MTR station at 10:00, before a coach transfer and a hike from Nam Shan to the stone huts. After a coffee or tea break, the route descends to Pak Kung Au, with a return to Central by late afternoon. Those participating are expected to have a good level of fitness, as both the ascent and descent involve steps and rocky terrain.