Where on earth will you find the Devil's fist, pineapple buns, spectacular hexagonal volcanic rock columns, sea caves, stacks and arches, as well as beaches and other landforms such as tombolos?
Amazingly these are all highlights of the Hong Kong Global Geopark of China. Pineapple Buns (quartz monzonite boulders)
- An "Adult" Pineapple Bun – Beaches of Sharp Island, Hong Kong Global Geopark of China. (http://www.geopark.gov.hk/en_s3j.htm)
- A Pineapple Bun baked in a oven (http://labofedibles.wordpress.com/2007/09/19/the-perfect-pineapple-bun/)
Hong Kong Global Geopark of China (中國香港世界地質公園) was established in 2009 and is part of a UNESCO programme, The Global Geoparks Network (GGN), which focuses on the promotion and conservation of the planet’s geological heritage. A Geopark is an area of special geological significance and natural beauty.
Hong Kong's Geopark was listed by the GGN in 2011 and includes eight Geo-Areas, distributed across the east of Hong Kong. It covers the Sai Kung Volcanic Rock Region and the Northeast New Territories Sedimentary Rock Region.
The Devil's fist at Bluff Head on Port Island was formed about 400 million years ago during the Devonian Period and is probably the oldest rock formation in Hong Kong. Sedimentary rocks here, like sandstone, siltstone and conglomerate form impressive red and white rock strata cliffs, 20–30 meters high. The Devil’s Fist (http://www.geopark.gov.hk/en_s4f5.htm)
The 8 GeoAreas Summarized
| Geo Area Name | Type of Area | Accessibility | Special Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| High Island | Volcanic | Easy - Take bus 94 at Sai Kung Market or 96R at Diamond Hill MTR station (service on weekends and public holidays only) | Internationally rare acidic polygonal volcanic rock columns |
| Double Haven | Volcanic | Moderate — boat hire or minibus from Tai Po and Fanling MTR stations possible | Double Haven marine park (Yan Chau Tong) rests on the northeastern shore of Plover Cove Country Park. |
| Port Island | Sedimentary | Difficult — private boat hire required or joining boat tour | Devil’s Fist and red and white strata cliffs |
| North and South Coasts of Tolo Channel | Sedimentary | Moderate — Bus 74K or minibus 20K at the Tai Po MTR Station for Sam Mun Tsai. 2km walk after alighting | Outcropped Permian Age strata and rock garden on Ma Shi Chau are extremely rare |
| Sharp Island | Volcanic | Easy — 2km boat ride from Sai Kung Pier. | Walk the tombolo (sandbar) that connects Sharp Island to Kiu Tau Island |
| Ninepin Group | Volcanic | Difficult — 15km SE of Sai Kung. Hire a boat or join a tour. Check weather conditions, needs calm seas. | Spectacular sea arches. Exposure to open seas and wind exposes volcanic rock structures |
| Un Kong Group — Bluff Island | Volcanic | Moderate — Hire boat from Sai Kung. Check weather conditions, needs calm seas. | A sea cave cuts right through the island, just wide enough for a boat to sail through. |
| Tung Ping Chau | Sedimentary | Difficult — Travel by MTR East Rail to University Station, walk 15 mins to Ma Liu Shui Pier for ferry to Tung Ping Chau. | HK’s most easterly island, closer to China than HK. Flat island, less than 50m above sea level, famous for flat rock formations. |
