1. Hong Kong SAR

The high-rise cityscape of Hong Kong conceals a high-rise countryside: ranks of green hills, many of them harbouring climbable crags of granitic or volcanic rock.

Start your exploration with a visit to Hong Kong Climbing, an authoritative portal offering advice and details of just about every rock climbing or bouldering route in Hong Kong. You’ll soon discover that many climbing areas lie just a short hike from the city’s excellent public transport system. Equip yourself with an Octopus card and you’re set – it even works on the weekend ferries to Tung Lung Island, a popular climbing venue rimmed with sea cliffs at the eastern mouth of Victoria Harbour.

Two must-visit spots are Central Crag on the slopes of Hong Kong Island’s Victoria Peak, where you can climb with Central district’s skyscrapers right at your back; and Lion Rock, a dramatic outcrop above Kowloon, named for its appearance from certain vantages.