[Car Tips] Where are the narrowest roads in Hong Kong?
🚗 Editor's Exclusive: The Most Narrow Road Driving in Hong Kong
Hong Kong's terrain is hilly, and the roads in old districts are so meticulously designed that one might wonder if they were designed for oxcarts. The result is a large number of roads so narrow that two cars have to pass face to face .
Some narrow roads are two-way roads with no center line or shoulder, and there are also sharp turns, slopes and blind spots. If you are not familiar with driving, you may hit the wall or kiss the oncoming car in a matter of minutes.
The following is a ranking of the top six narrow roads in Hong Kong , compiled by the editor based on years of driving experience and online driver reputation.
🏆 No.1 Mid-Levels Robinson Road - Seymour Road Intersection
Difficult driving reasons
- Two-way narrow road : Although it is in the urban area, the road surface is only wide enough for one large vehicle to pass.
- Many blind spots : There are many corners, and if an oncoming car suddenly appears, you must stop and give way.
- Roadside parking : Many cars park illegally on the roadside, making the passage narrower.
Editor's Comments
This is a daily route for residents in Mid-Levels. New SUV drivers might wonder, "Why is this mountain road so narrow?"
Driving Guide
- Keep speed low (20-30 km/h)
- Use horns to notify oncoming vehicles
- Keep as close to the inside as possible before entering a turn
🥈 No.2 Stanley Carmel Road
Difficult driving reasons
- Narrow road along the coastal cliff : one side is tied to the mountain wall, and the other side is tied to the seaside railing.
- There are few parking spaces for meeting : by the time you see the oncoming car, there is no way to retreat.
- There are many people and cars on holidays : tourist buses, private cars, and bicycles mixed together, which is very stressful.
Editor's Comments
The scenery was beautiful, but the driver was only concerned about “how to avoid falling into the sea”.
Driving Guide
- Try to avoid busy periods during holidays
- Observe the parking space ahead in advance
- If you encounter a tourist bus, you would rather stop earlier and wait.
🥉 No.3 Aberdeen Wong Chuk Hang Road - Sham Wan Section
Difficult driving reasons
- Sharp turns and narrow roads : There is almost no visibility at some turns, and the oncoming car has to stay close to the wall.
- There are many heavy vehicles : container trucks and construction vehicles frequently enter and exit the industrial area.
- Long slope : When going up a slope, you have to start halfway up the slope when encountering an oncoming car, which is a common fear for novices.
Editor's Comments
Not only is it narrow here, but you also have to compete with large vehicles for the road, which doubles the psychological pressure.
Driving Guide
- Drive slowly at low speed, and reserve more power for going uphill
- Try to avoid the peak truck hours (8-10 am)
- Sound the horn before a turn
🏅 No.4 Sai Kung Clear Water Bay Road - near Bu Dai O Branch Road
Difficult driving reasons
- Two-way single lane : literally "one lane" for two vehicles to travel.
- Tourist area : There are a lot of bicycle teams on holidays, and you have to walk in the middle.
- Roadside obstacles : tree branches, curbs, roadside stalls.
Editor's Comments
Sai Kung has beautiful scenery, but the branch road to Budai Ao will really make beginners sweat.
Driving Guide
- Check if there are any large vehicles entering before entering
- Drive slowly and leave space for passengers to avoid
- Be patient when encountering cyclists and don't overtake them too quickly
🎖 No.5 Cheung Chau Nam Tai Wan - Peak Section (Small Car Only)
Difficult driving reasons
- Extremely narrow mountain road : basically only wide enough for a small car to pass through.
- There are many sharp turns , and you almost have to turn the steering wheel hard.
- Pedestrians mixed in : Tourists will stand in the middle of the road to take pictures.
Editor's Comments
Although it is an outlying island, if you want to drive up the mountain, you'd better be mentally prepared to drive slowly enough to get off the car.
Driving Guide
- Continuous low speed (10-20 km/h)
- Use the horn to warn pedestrians behind you at the bend
- Switch to low-speed mode in advance when going up or down the slope
6️⃣ Honourable Mentions
- Shek O Road : There are many bicycles on weekends, the road is narrow and has ups and downs.
- Tai Mo Shan Road : Narrow mountain road with sharp bends, especially dangerous when it rains
- Pok Fu Lam Road - near the University of Hong Kong : crowded and narrow roads, with bus stops obstructing vision
- Tung Chung Shek Mun A Road : Narrow village roads, requiring high-level passing skills
📊 Editor's summary
Common characteristics of narrow roads in Hong Kong:
- Insufficient road width (two-way but actually single lane)
- Parking spaces are rare → Back off dozens of meters
- Poor vision → Many blind spots in sharp turns
- Mixed traffic → vehicles, bicycles, and pedestrians
- High psychological pressure → Cars behind and many emergencies ahead
💡Editor ’s Tip :
- When walking on a narrow road, one should have a "slow, steady, and patient" mentality.
- Observe the road conditions before entering a narrow road, especially on holidays.
- Be familiar with the width of your own vehicle to help you judge the distance when meeting other vehicles
- Beginners can practice with a small car first to avoid driving a large car straight into a narrow road
Ranking of the most narrow roads in Hong Kong
| Ranking | Road section name | Difficult driving reasons | Driving Guide |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🥇 1 | Mid-Levels Robinson Road - Seymour Road Interchange | Narrow two-way roads, many blind spots, and illegal parking that further narrows the passageway | Keep the speed low, use the horn frequently, and stay on the inside when entering a turn. |
| 🥈 2 | Stanley Carmel Road | Narrow roads along the coastal cliffs, few parking spaces, and heavy traffic on holidays | Avoid busy hours, find a parking space in advance, and give way to large vehicles |
| 🥉 3 | Aberdeen Wong Chuk Hang Road - Sham Wan Section | Sharp bends, narrow roads, heavy vehicles, and long slopes | Drive slowly and at low speed, avoid peak truck traffic, and honk before turning. |
| 4 | Clear Water Bay Road, Sai Kung - near Bu Dai O Slip Road | Two-way single lane, many vehicles, roadside obstacles | Drive slowly, leave space to avoid the other vehicles, and wait patiently for the next bike. |
| 5 | Cheung Chau Nam Tai Wan - Peak Section | Extremely narrow mountain roads, many sharp bends, and mixed pedestrian traffic | Maintain low speed, sound the horn at a bend, change to low wave when going up and down |
