Japanese Tunnel, Ling Kok Shan, #1 [????- ]

This is the first tunnel we found on Lamma. A lot of earth has washed into this tunnel, something we also noted on the other Lamma tunnels. The vegetation is quite sparse on the hillsides, much less than on HK island, and perhaps that's one reason for all the debris getting washed into the tunnels.

To get there, follow the concrete trail that leads up from near the Tin Hau temple at Sok Kwu Wan going towards Shek Pai Wan. When you reach the pass at the top, there is a small concrete shelter on your left. Follow the concrete path on the right of the shelter, that heads up the ridge to the top of Ling Kok Shan.

A little way up the hill you'll see this group of boulders. (The government must be worried they will all come rolling down the hill, so has given them these little concrete pedestals to hold them in place!) The entrance to the first tunnel is behind the bush in the middle of the photo.

As you can see, the entrance is low, as mud has washed in.

The tunnel is a good length. It curves around and under the ridge, and along the centre section it is high enough to stand up in. The marks left by the tools used to dig the tunnels are still clear to see.

As we reached the end, the tunnel floor rose again, meaning we had to crouch down, and eventually lie down and wriggle along to get out. We could feel a strong breeze though, so we knew it wouldn't be a dead-end.