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This is an easy section, walking along the catchwater. Very peaceful, interspersed with with picnic sites, there isn't much variation but here we see a natural gap and waterfall. Not much further ahead is Pui O at distance post L122.

Pui O is ahead, the ultimate stage, stage 12 is about to start. Stage 12 begins with distance post L122 and ends in Mui Wo at L140. The route takes you past mud flats in Pui O village. If you stop and admire the view you will realise that the ground is moving. Upon inspection mud skippers can be seen moving about.

Between distance posts L108 and L109

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Great time of the year to hike but as usual, views can be spoiled by the air pollution giving a perpetual milky haze.

After the following the coast from Tai O, the path leads to the end of the Yi O coastline and then suddenly turns in at distance post L62. Some parts have overgrown vegetation and if you are like me you will be thinking this is a great way to pick up a tick or a leach. Once I found the top of my sock soaked in blood and a leach having a fine feast.

As you emerge from the inland path you will see Tsin Yue bay and an island with a feature on it called Peaked Hill. The path then leads down to sea level where some rocks afford a good place for a rest, away from the forest and the nuisance of biting insects.

At around distance post L67 you will find a rocky beach far enough away from the forest to not get pestered by bugs. Here was a good place for a spot of lunch.

At L67 on Tsin Way bay, the path again turns inland for another 3 distance post and brings the walker down to the deserted sandy beach at Fan Lau Sai. 9 more distance posts to go until the end section 7 (about 4.5km). At this point you have a choice; you can come off the Lantau trail and look for the Fan Lau country trail for a detour that will take you to the ruins of an old Chinese fort once used to control piracy.

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100m to 200m after the deserted house the path leads to what looks like an inhabited area. Maybe. The ground here is covered in star fruit.

100m to 200m after the deserted house the path leads through the village which still looks in use. Contrast this with what most of us think of as Hong Kong, sky scrapers, a finance industry and large salaries. Look deeper and there is a lot of poverty, or if not at below the poverty level, massive inequality.

Fan Tau Lang bay is the last bit of coastline; its now time for another inland swing towards a service road where section 8 begins.

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Tai-O is still an active fishing village with a major hustle in taking money off of the many visitors who come to this remote part of Hong Kong.

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The 'Garden of Enlightenment' at the end of stage 5, Lantau's hidden garden appears out of the countryside. It's a Chinese landscaped garden that has no obvious way of getting there other than on foot. It was built in the 1960s by Mr Woo Kun Sheng, a devout Buddhist. It went into decline when the he passed away although it's been restored by his descendants since the 2010s.

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The top of Fung Wong Shan, or Phoenix Mountain, isn't far off now, but there's still a sweaty climb ahead.

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Stage 2

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