The best beaches on Hong Kong Island

When people think of Hong Kong, images of a densely built-up city with glittering skyscrapers are usually what come to mind. However, Hong Kong is also covered by beautiful nature. On Hong Kong Island alone, there are twelve picturesque beaches, all of which are well maintained, equipped with bathroom facilities and shark nets and patrolled by lifeguards. Here is a roundup of the best beaches on Hong Kong Island:

Shek O Beach

Shek O beach has a distinctly Hong Kong vibe. Families and groups of friends often come here on weekends to enjoy the sand and sea and spend an afternoon barbequing at one of the many undercover barbeque restaurants. There are also stalls to rent beach equipment and do water sports through, like banana boating or windsurfing. To get here, take bus 9 from Shau Kei Wan MTR Station and get off in Shek O Village. Alternatively, you can arrive at Shek O by hiking along the easy Dragon’s Back trail, which offers spectacular views out over the south west of Hong Kong Island. Be warned though, when trying to leave at the end of the day, there are often long queues for the bus back to Shau Kei Wan.

Chung Hom Kok Beach

This delightful little beach is a haven from the hustle and bustle of Hong Kong. Chung Hom Kok beach is tucked away in the south of Hong Kong Island and is usually very quiet. It’s the perfect spot for a chill afternoon swim. The beach is serviced by a single kiosk with cold drinks, snacks and some basic beach equipment. There are also public barbeque pits here shaded by trees, making is this an excellent picnic spot. Take bus 6X, 63 or 66 from Exchange Square bus terminus to get here. You’ll find the beach after a short walk down some stairs. If you keep walking south along Chung Hom Kok Road for another ten or so minutes, you will come to Chung Hom Kok Park, which has additional public barbeque pits and lovely scenery although no beach.

Repulse Bay Beach

Repulse Bay is one of the biggest and most popular beaches on Hong Kong Island. It has a much more upmarket resort type feel and is the easiest to access. Right along the beach front is The Pulse, which is a small shopping centre offering a variety of clothing retailers, trendy restaurants and bars and a trick-eye museum. The beach itself is immaculate with crisp white sand and studded with trees so there’s plenty of shade. There is a public beach volleyball court, a children’s playground and a large square raft out in the middle of the water. This is a great spot to sunbake on. If relaxing undisturbed on the beach is what you’re after, it’s best to situate yourself at the far-left side as large tour groups tend to crowd the right side. To get to Repulse Bay beach, you can either take bus 6, 6A, 6X, 66 or 260 from Exchange Square in Central or jump in a taxi to arrive in just twenty minutes.