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Beaches of Hong Kong
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Hong Kong has a long coastline that is full of twists and turns with many bays and beaches. Many of them are well sheltered by mountains nearby, as Hong Kong is a mountainous place. As a result, large waves seldom appear at the bays, making them suitable for swimming.
However, with the increasing development and urbanisation of Hong Kong, water quality has worsened resulting in the closure of several beaches previously suitable for swimming.
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Hong Kong has a long coastline that is full of twists and turns with many bays and beaches. Many of them are well sheltered by mountains nearby, as Hong Kong is a mountainous place. As a result, large waves seldom appear at the bays, making them suitable for swimming.
However, with the increasing development and urbanisation of Hong Kong, water quality has worsened resulting in the closure of several beaches previously suitable for swimming. These include Approach Beach, Ting Kau Beach, Anglers' Beach, Gemini Beaches, Hoi Mei Wan Beach, Casam Beach and Lido Beach in Tsuen Wan.
The majority of beaches suitable for swimming in Hong Kong are managed by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, and are officially referred to as gazetted beaches. A number of other beaches are privately owned or not gazetted, but are nonetheless publicly accessible.
Beaches suitable for swimming, managed by the LCSD
At present, a total of forty beaches in Hong Kong are managed by the LCSD. Eleven of them are located on Hong Kong Island and the southern part of Kowloon Peninsula, and the remaining 29 are located across the New Territories, including the outlying islands.
- Butterfly Beach
- Castle Peak Beach
- Kadoorie Beach
- Cafeteria Old Beach
- Cafeteria New Beach
- Golden Beach
- Anglers' Beach
- Gemini Beaches
- Hoi Mei Wan Beach
- Casam Beach
- Lido Beach
- Ting Kau Beach
- Approach Beach
- Ma Wan Tung Wan Beach
- Kiu Tsui Beach
- Hap Mun Bay Beach
- Trio Beach
- Silverstrand Beach
- Clear Water Bay First Beach (????????)
- Clear Water Bay Second Beach (????????)
- Big Wave Bay Beach
- Shek O Beach
- Turtle Cove Beach
- Hairpin Beach
- Stanley Main Beach
- St. Stephen's Beach (???????)
- Chung Hom Kok Beach
- South Bay Beach
- Middle Bay Beach
- Repulse Bay
- Deep Water Bay Beach
- Hung Sing Yeh Beach
- Lo So Sing Beach
- Cheung Chau Tung Wan Beach
- Kwun Yam Beach
- Silvermine Bay Beach
- Pui O Beach
- Upper Cheung Sha Beach
- Lower Cheung Sha Beach
- Tong Fuk Beach
6. Golden Beach - New Territories
Golden Beach is located at the 18.5 km milestone of Castle Peak Road, Tuen Mun. It is the largest beach in Tuen Mun with a total area of 78,500 mē and a length of 545 meters. It is the first artificial beach in Hong Kong. It is classified as a Grade 2 beach, meaning that the water quality is fair. Refreshment kiosks, a hotel and a shopping mall are to be found adjacent to the beach.
Golden Beach is unique amongst the beaches of Hong Kong in that it has a volleyball court. The Hong Kong Beach Volleyball Team occasionally practises on Golden Beach.
Golden Beach is served by KMB buses no. 52M from Kwai Fong and no. 53 from Tsuen Wan.
14. Ma Wan Tung Wan Beach - Ma Wan island
Ma Wan Tung Wan Beach is located on Ma Wan island.
21. Big Wave Bay Beach
Big Wave Bay Beach is also the site of prehistoric rock carvings similar to those found on Cheung Chau Island.
23. Turtle Cove Beach - Hong Kong Island
The beach situated east of Stanley and west of Tai Tam Reservoir is Turtle Cove Beach which is a Grade 1 beach. Being less than 70 meters long, it can easily be considered as a "baby beach". Turtle Cove is very well equipped; with changing rooms, toilets and showers as well as a small playground, a soft drinks kiosk and seven barbecue pits.
To get there, people can take bus No.14 from exit A of the Sai Wan Ho MTR station or the mini-van 16X from Chai Wan. Once having gone past the Tai Tam Reservoir, they should keep an eye open for an estate called Red Hill on their left. Then they should get off at that stop, and walk on till stairs leading people down the hill to the beach can be seen.
28. and 29. South Bay Beach and Middle Bay Beach - Hong Kong Island
These two small beaches are located within walking distance of Repulse Bay Beach. However, since they are not directly accessible by public transport, they tend to be quieter and less crowded than Repulse Bay. Middle Bay is popular with gay beachgoers.
30. Repulse Bay Beach - Hong Kong Island
This beach, traditionally Hong Kong's most popular because of its easy access by bus and extensive facilities, is located on southern Hong Kong Island. See Repulse Bay.
31. Deep Water Bay Beach - Hong Kong Island
The beach is located on southern Hong Kong Island. See Deep Water Bay.
32. Hung Shing Yeh Beach - Lamma Island
Hung Shing Yeh Beach is the most popular beach on Lamma Island. The sand on the beach is very fine, like powder. The water of the Beach is clean and it is classified as a Grade 1 beach.
Near the beach, there is a barbecue area, refreshment kiosk, and shower and changing facilities.
There is no public transport on Lamma Island. To reach the beach one must travel to Yung Shue Wan from Central by ferry, and then walk for about 20 minutes. The route is signposted.
33. Lo So Shing Beach - Lamma Island
Lo So Shing Beach is located on Lamma Island about halfway between the main villages of Yung Shue Wan and Sok Kwu Wan. The water of the beach is clean and it is classified as a Grade 1 beach. Some years ago the government of Hong Kong built shower and refreshment facilities there, which remain almost unused because of the beach's remote location and the absence of public transport.
To reach the beach one must travel to Yung Shue Wan or Sok Kwu Wan from Central by ferry, and then walk for about 40 minutes.
34. and 35. Cheung Chau Tung Wan Beach and Kwun Yam Beach - Cheung Chau
There are two main beaches on Cheung Chau, Cheung Chau Tung Wan Beach and Kwun Yam Beach. Although they are not as big as the well-known beaches along the Hong Kong Island coast, they do have their own qualities. Kwun Yam Beach is a beautiful fine white beach situated on the east coast of Cheung Chau. The water quality is good and it is classified as a Grade 1 beach. It provides many water sports facilities, particularly for sailboarding. Many lovers like to take leisurely walks there and to enjoy the village scene which still keeps the old traditions. Also, it is the place where Hong Kong's first Olympic medallist, Lee Lai Shan, practised when she was young. A formal monument to her achievement is erected in the children's playground on Tung Wan Beach, while an unofficial monument is to be found beside the "windsurfer" cafe owned by her uncle, which is situated between the two beaches.
36. Silvermine Bay Beach - Lantau Island
Hong Kong's largest island, Lantau, has several beaches which are clean, uncrowded and relatively convenient to reach. For all of them, the first step is to simply take the ferry from Central to Mui Wo. Then, if necessary, one can just hop on a bus.
Silvermine Bay Beach, which is a Grade 1 beach, is the easiest one to get to, since it is located about a 5 minute walk away from the Cheung Chau ferry pier. Since there is a sandbar area, this beach is ideal for flinging frisbees or flying kites. Further along the beach is a swimming area with several lifeguards on duty. Many visitors rent a bike for the afternoon, and stop off at the many refreshment kiosks and little restaurants along the road fronting the beach. If people do not feel like hurrying back into the city, they can also choose to stay overnight at the Silvermine Beach Hotel, located right on the waterfront. Also, there are several other hotels and guesthouses in the area where people can stay.
37. Pui O Beach - Lantau Island
38. and 39. Cheung Sha Beaches - Lantau Island
Cheung Sha Beach on the southern shore of Lantau Island, is divided into two parts: Upper Cheung Sha Beach and Lower Cheung Sha Beach. It is 3 km long and is the longest beach in Hong Kong.
40. Tong Fuk Beach - Lantau Island
Privately owned/Other beaches suitable for swimming
- Chung Wan South Crooked Harbour, North District
- Cheung Sha Wan Northeast Ping Chau
- Crescent Bay Crescent Island, Mirs Bay
- Lo Kei Wan Crescent Island, Mirs Bay
- Tung Wan Wong Wan Chau, Mirs Bay
- Wu Kai Sha Wu Kai Sha, Ma On Shan
- Lung Mei Plover Cove, East Tai Po
- Hoi Ha Wan Hoi Ha Wan, North Sai Kung
- Nam She Wan East Sai Kung, Mirs Bay
- Tung Wan East Sai Kung, Tai Long Wan
- Tai Wan East Sai Kung, Tai Long Wan
- Ham Tin Wan East Sai Kung, Tai Long Wan
- Tai Long Sai Wan East Sai Kung, Tai Long Wan
- Long Ke Wan Long Ke Wan, East Sai Kung
- Long Ke Tsai Long Ke Wan, East Sai Kung
- Pak Sha Chau Sai Kung Hoi, Sai Kung
- Pak Lap Wan High Island, South Sai Kung
- Ma Tau Wan High Island, South Sai Kung
- Kam Lo Wan High Island, South Sai Kung
- Nam Fung Wan High Island, South Sai Kung
- Kau Sai Wan Kau Sai Chau, Sai Kung
- Whiskey Kau Sai Chau, Sai Kung
- Campers' Bay Ngau Mei Hoi, Clearwater Bay
- Pak Shui Wun Ngau Mei Hoi, Clearwater Bay
- Bayside Ngau Mei Hoi, Clearwater Bay
- Little Palm Ngau Mei Hoi, Clearwater Bay
- Lung Ha Wan Ngau Mei Hoi, Clearwater Bay
- Ung Kong Wan Bluff Island, Clearwater Bay
- Lung Kwu Upper Lung Kwu Tan, west Tuen Mun
- Lung Kwu Lower Lung Kwu Tan, Tuen Mun
- Dragon Bay Tsing Lung Tau, Tsuen Wan
- To Tei Wan Shek O, Cape D'Aguilar
- Tai Pak Wan Discovery Bay, East Lantau Island
- Tai Long Wan Chi Ma Wan, South Lantau Island
- Yi Long Wan Chi Ma Wan, South Lantau Island
- Sha Lo Wan West Tung Chung, North Lantau Island
- Tai Long Wan Shek Pik, South Lantau Island
- Lo Kei Wan Shui Hau, South Lantau Island
- Kau Ling Chung Fan Lau, Southwest Lantau Island
- Fan Lau Tung Wan Fan Lau, Southwest Lantau Island
- Fan Lan Sai Wan Fan Lau, Southwest Lantau Island
- Luk Keng Wan Yam O, Northeast Lantau Island
- Tai Kwai Wan Northwest Cheung Chau
- Po Yue Wan Southwest Cheung Chau
- Pak Tso Wan Southwest Cheung Chau
- Shek Pai Wan Southeast Lamma Island
- Mo Tat wan East Lamma Island
- Kwo Chau Wan Tai Chau, Ninepin Group
- Siu A Chau Wan Siu A Chau, Soko Islands
Note: some of these beaches are difficult to reach. Because they are not maintained by the government, some may be unclean at times. As no lifeguards are on duty, swimmers are recommended to exercise caution.
Grading system of beaches
Gazetted beaches in Hong Kong are classified into four grades ( Grades 1 – 4 ) according to the level of E. coli in the water of the beaches. This is done by the Environmental Protection Department. Every week, water samples of each beach are collected for analysis to find out their bacterial level.
Grade 1 means that the water qualities of the beaches are good. The amount of E. coli is no more than 24 counts per 100 mL of beach water. Also no related case of skin and gastrointestinal illnesses has been reported by swimmers who have swum at these beaches.
Grade 2 means that the water qualities of the beaches are fair. The amount of E. coli is about 25 – 180 counts per 100 mL of beach water. Also the rate of skin and gastrointestinal illnesses is no more than 10 cases per 1000 swimmers.
Grade 3 means that the water qualities of the beaches are poor. The amount of E. coli is about 181 – 610 counts per 100 mL of beach water. Also the rate of skin and gastrointestinal illnesses is about 11 – 15 cases per 1000 swimmers.
Grade 4 means that the water quality is very poor. The amount of E. coil is greater than 610 counts per 100 mL of beach water. Also the rate of skin and gastrointestinal illnesses is greater than 15 cases per 1000 swimmers. As a result, swimmers are advised not to swim at Grade 4 beaches.
See also
Line notes
External links
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