[advertise]广告[/advertise]GLOBAL brands are promoting luxury bicycles to emphasize environmental protection. Luxury brands like Chanel offer handmade bikes for 89,000 yuan (US$13,000); Gucci sells its red bikes at 55,360 yuan, and Hermes has seven-speed bikes for 23,906 yuan. But it doesn’t cost that much to go green and enjoy a day of pedaling. You can enjoy nature during the approaching holidays by renting a bike for less than 50 yuan. For Shenzheners, neighboring Hong Kong offers some very pleasant sites for bike tours, such as Lamma Island, Cheung Chau and Shatin. Shatin Shatin was a Hong Kong Olympic equestrian venue in 2008 and is most famous for the prominent university that calls it home: Chinese University of Hong Kong. The first cycle track in Shatin opened to the public in 1981, running along Tolo Highway to Tai Po, and this remains the territory’s most popular cycling venue. To tie in with the development of Ma On Shan, the cycle track was extended to Ma On Shan. On the way to Tai Po, you can appreciate the scenery along Shing Mun River, Tsang Tai Uk, Che Kung Temple and Tai Po Waterfront Park. Tolo Harbor can also be seen on a 1.2-kilometer-long road in the park. If you choose the other cycle track to Ma On Shan, you can visit Sunshine City Plaza, Ma On Shan Country Park and Wu Kai Sha Youth Village. But the route to Tai Po is recommended. Riding along Shing Mun River, you can overlook the Shatin Racecourse. Opposite the river is the Shatin Star Seafood Floating Restaurant. A typical Hong Kong-style community, the 25-year-old City One, can also be seen on the way to Tai Po. Hung Mui Kuk, a popular barbeque site, is recommended if you’re keen on picnicking. Tsang Tai Uk is a well-known walled Hakka village in Hong Kong and one of the best preserved. It was constructed in 1848 as a stronghold for the Tsang Clan. It is rectangular and consists of three rows of houses that are surrounded by grey-brick compound with high, thick walls and tall corner towers. When you step into Tsang Tai Uk, you’ll likely be welcomed by a cat awakened from its slumber in a corner of the peaceful courtyard. Transportation Take the Kowloon-Canton East Rail Line and get off at Tai Wai Market MTR Station or Shatin Station. The former is recommended because it is also the starting point of the bike track, and there are more shops offering bike rental services there. Bike rental is HK$50 to 80 a day. Tips Always take the bike track when there is one and pay extra attention to tandem bikes. It is better for kids to wear a helmet when riding. Obey the traffic rules and don’t run through red traffic lights, otherwise you’ll be fined. There are more bicycle sites in Hong Kong and nearby cities, but a bicycle trip to the three sites above may be enough to bring you a wonderful holiday and a very happy New Year. (Jane Lai) Lamma Island Also known as Pok Liu Chau, this island is peaceful and tranquil with natural scenery in sharp contrast to Hong Kong Island and Kowloon. The island is where Asian film star Chow Yun-fat spent his youth. Chew grew up in the island village of Tung O in Yung Shue Wan. There is also a significant Western population here regarded by some as hedonists and “lotus eaters” because of their alternative lifestyles. Although it may be a challenge to ride on the narrow streets and downward slopes between the tightly packed old buildings, the community’s only means of transport is by foot or bicycle. Even police officers patrol by bike. Start your bike journey at Tin Hau Temple, ride along the road passing Grandma’s Bean Curd, Hung Shing Yeh Beach, Herboland, and all the way to Sok Kwu Wan Ferry Pier. Bike rental fee is HK$15-20 per hour. Herboland, an organic herbal farm, was founded by two young green-living enthusiasts with the concept of an inspirational place to visit and experience the world of herbs. Grandma’s Bean Curd is a dessert tent run by a 70-year-old grandmother who has been in the business for more than 25 years. Bean curd is also known as douhua, a popular Chinese dessert made of very jelly bean curd and yellow sugar syrup. Prepared with homemade soy milk, the bean curd has a creamy textured sweetness. You can also find some special shops on Lamma Island. In the Bookworm book store, you can read and taste Western vegetable dishes. There are many seafood restaurants from Yung Shue Wan to Sok Kwu Wan Ferry Pier, which on average are HK$100 per person. Just imagine the pleasure of sitting by the seaside, sipping a cup of tea or enjoying seafood and setting your mind free after hours of riding. Transportation Take the subway to Central on Hong Kong Island, walk through the International Financial Center to Central Ferry Pier No. 4, and take a ferry to Yung Shue Wan on Lamma Island. Fast ferry takes about 20 minutes and regular ferry takes around 35 minutes. Tips Holiday flats cost HK$300 to 400 per night, and early booking is recommended if you wish to spend holidays or weekends there. Cheung Chau Historically this dumbbell-shaped island was a fishing village, and there are still fishing fleets working from the harbor. It is basically free of motor traffic and inhabitants usually travel by foot or bike. You can rent a bike at Cheung Chau Ferry Dock and ride along Cheung Chau Sai Tai Road. After about 20 minutes, you will get to Cheung Po Tsai Cave. It’s named after Cheung Chau’s most infamous pirate from the 19th century, who used the cave as a hideout. The cave is also known as a playground for McDull, a well-loved Hong Kong cartoon piglet who appears in the show, “My Life as McDull.” You’ll need to bring a flashlight because you have to enter from the top and climb down inside. Once inside, the paths are dark and narrow, with only a ray of light beaming down from the top. Out of the cave, you can continue to ride to Tung Wan Beach and Kwun Yam Wan Beach, where Hong Kong’s first Olympic gold medalist, Lee Lai-shan, used to practice windsurfing as a schoolgirl. Rock carvings believed to be thousands of years old are located near Tung Wan Beach and have been declared monuments of Hong Kong. Transportation Take a ferry at Central Ferry Pier No. 5 next to the ferries to Lamma Island. A fast ferry takes about 35 minutes and regular ferry takes around 55 minutes. Tips Bikes can be rented hourly for HK$10 to 15 or daily for HK$30 to 40. One night at holiday flats costs HK$300 to 400. Source:Shenzhen Daily