Hong Kong Beaches

Hong Kong has many fantastic beaches with gorgeous views of the sea dotted with small green islands. On the southern coast of the main island, the most accessible and most popular are Stanley and Repulse Bay. Just to the west is the smaller, less crowded Deep Water Bay, and farther west is the more intimate South Bay. On the southeast coast of the island, Turtle Cove is isolated and beautiful, and Shek O's beach has a community feel. You can reach most beaches by bus or taxi (HK$150 and up).

Southside

Just east of Ocean Park, this bay was the setting for the William Holden film Love Is a Many Splendored Thing (1955). Nearby are the manicured greens of the Deep Water Bay Golf Course. The area has become a multimillionaires' enclave, and is home to Hong Kong's richest man, Li Ka-shing, a real-estate tycoon.

Repulse Bay, in Southside, is named after the British warship HMS Repulse and not, as some say, after its slightly murky waters. If you come out here, the Verandah, a replica of the eating and drinking establishment that once graced the iconic Repulse Bay Hotel, is a great place for traditional English afternoon tea.

In Shek O village you can find old mansions, small shops, and a few popular Chinese and Thai restaurants. Follow the curving path from the town square across a footbridge to Tai Tau Chau, really a large rock with a lookout over the South China Sea. Also near town are the Shek O Golf and Country Club and the superb Shek O Country Park, with great trails and bird-watching. From Central, take MTR to Shau Kei Wan, then take Bus 9 to the last stop (about 30 minutes).

Stanley is known primarily for its market, but past the market, on Stanley Main Street, a strip of restaurants and pubs faces the bay. Stanley's main beach is the site of Hong Kong's official Dragon Boat races, usually held in June.

Lantau Island

Popular Cheung Sha, on Lantau Island, is only a short taxi or bus ride from the Silvermine Bay ferry pier. Its mile-long expanse is excellent for swimming.