Kau Nga Ling


Kau Nga Ling, known locally as Dog Teeth Range, is a series of precipitous mountains on Lantau Island, Hong Kong, with a height of above sea level. It is one of 16 "high-risk" locations for hikers and is notorious for three expert-level hiking trails leading to the summit of Lantau Peak.

History

Kau Nga Ling and nearby Lantau Peak are inside Lantau South Country Park, which was created in 1978.

Name origin

The mountains resemble the teeth of dogs, when viewed from above.

Geology

are widely distributed in Hong Kong and formed most of the highest mountains in Hong Kong, such as Tai Mo Shan, Lantau Peak and surrounding mountains including Kau Nga Ling. This is in contrast to the many mountains in the Kowloon area that are formed by Granitic rocks, such as Lion Rock.

Geography

To the north of Kau Nga Ling is Lantau Peak's summit. To the west is Shek Pik Reservoir, which captures water from Kau Nga Ling and nearby ridges. To the south is the Tong Fuk village area, while to the east, there is another mountain called Cheung Yan Shan.

Access

There are three primary ridge hikes on Dog Teeth Range leading to the summit of Lantau Peak -- West Dog Teeth, Middle Dog Teeth and East Dog Teeth. All three routes are technically and physically demanding, as hikers need to deal with jagged clusters of rocks, while ascending 800+ metres under exposed conditions.
Of all three routes going up, West Dog Teeth is considered the most difficult to climb, and it meets Middle Dog Teeth at a precarious, but aptly-named location known as Lifeline, where it is so narrow that only one person could go through at any given time.

Hiking safety

Dog Teeth Range is one of the most popular hiking spots for experienced hikers in Hong Kong.
Many hikers have perished or suffered serious injuries on Dog Teeth Range, so precautions are necessary.