Hong Kong is a sprawling, busy city where east seems to meet west. From its street coolies to its huge skyscraper towers, Hong Kong is a place where it feels as if anything could happen. You could even take a Hong Kong white water rafting trip! While you can’t raft in Hong Kong itself, it is a short hop over the South China Sea to Guangdong, where you can.
Guangdong has several options for your Hong Kong white water rafting trip, mostly to the north of the coastal capital of Guangzhou. Around 30 km from Gunagzhou is Quinyuan. Nearby is the Huangteng Gorge, in a sub-tropical, misty valley. There is a challenging 168 m drop in the gorge, which can be tricky and narrow in places, but is usually fine for beginners. It is the best-known and most popular rafting site in the region. Nearby is Bia Ja Mountain, where you’ll find less challenging rafting, but waters that flow all year round.
A little further afield, head to Hiuzhou and the Chuanlong Gorge. There is a gentle 11 km route for beginners, and a challenging 4 km route for those who can handle its sharp turns and rocks. Another possibility is Panlong Gorge, near the city of Zhaoqing. It is known for its tough but safe rapids, and stunning mountain views.
A Hong Kong white water rafting trip might sound like a strange thing to plan. But, as with so many things, a little research opens up lots of possibilities. The Chinese mainland nearest to Hong Kong is hilly and attractive: a great place to explore and blow away a few of those city cobwebs. Even better if you do it on the water.
