Author: Cherry Lee
Source: https://hongkongliving.com/
Link: https://hongkongliving.com/green-egg-island-clearwater-bay/
Located off the coast of Clearwater Bay, Green Egg Island, originally called Lan Pai, is a paradise for people wanting a break from the hustle and bustle of the city.
The island gets a unique name from its resemblance to a green poached egg from above. With a small grassy hill and pebbly beach surrounding it, maybe visitors have compared this island to the Maldives.
With no pier or other facilities, the island is relatively small but its clear waters and unique range of waterlife are perfect for scuba diving and snorkelling. For those who want a little more time, Green Egg is also the perfect camping spot, just be sure to bring your own tent and plenty of water.
This is just one of the 263 islands surrounding Hong Kong. Its untouched state offers a unique experience from the rest of the city, but it’s important that we protect these diverse ecosystems. Please take your rubbish back with you when leaving and tread with caution.
How to get there: Blue Sky Sports Club offers half day eco tours to and from the island which includes lunch, gear rental and a tour guide. Alternatively you can hike from Lung Ha Wan, which will take around three hours and include a five minute swim.
Author: Charmaine Ng
Source: https://hongkongliving.com/
Link: https://hongkongliving.com/cleanest-beaches-hong-kong/
With summer well under way, many of us are spending the weekends at one of Hong Kong’s beaches. While we’re lucky that to have an abundance of sandy shores to choose from, not all beaches are created equal.
To help us make our choice easier, the Environmental Protection Department recently released the latest grading of water quality for 38 gazetted beaches and one non-gazetted beach. 19 beaches were rated as Good (Grade 1), eight as Fair (Grade 2) and 12 as Poor (Grade 3).
Meanwhile, well known Grade 2 beaches include Big Wave Bay Beach, Castle Peak Beach, Discovery Bay and Lower Cheung Sha Beach.
The list of Grade 3 beaches includes shores that are lesser heard of, such as Anglers’ Beach, Silver Mine Bay Beach and Ting Kau Beach.
The present grading system classifies beaches into four grades, namely Good (Grade 1), Fair (Grade 2), Poor (Grade 3) and Very Poor (Grade 4), in accordance to the water quality. Grades are calculated based on the level of the E. coli bacteria in the five most recent sampling occasions. The beach grades are updated on the Environmental Protection Department’s website every Friday.
Author: Team Hong Kong Living
Source: https://hongkongliving.com/
Link: https://hongkongliving.com/best-beaches-in-hong-kong/
Aside from the iconic skyline and Victoria Harbour, Hong Kong is also known for its many stunning beaches. And the best part? Most of them are just a short bus ride away from the city centre! Here’s a list of the city’s finest sandy shores.
The dramatic scenery, sheltered location and clean, fine golden sands make this a popular choice during the summer months. The beach overlooks a small island called Ng Fan Chau and the rocky cliffs offer excellent rock climbing opportunities. Cococabana offers a terrace with delicious mediterranean food, while Ben’s Back Beach Bar provides a casual atmosphere and very reasonably priced drinks.
How to get there: Take the MTR to Shau Kei Wan Exit A2, then take bus 9 to Shek O Beach
Turtle Cove
Slip through the gap in the barrier just past Pak Pat Shan Road at Redhill Peninsula on Tai Tam Road and be transported to a world away. The steep path winds through mountain-side terrain, gurgling streams gush seawards and you aren’t rewarded with a glimpse of the golden sands until you round the final bend. This is not a walk for strollers, so make sure you bring a carrier or sling for tiny tots. The beach itself boasts a small kiosk, lifeguards and a protected cove for swimming. Be warned, though: parking is practically non-existent up on the road, so a taxi is probably your best bet.
How to get there: Take MTR to Sai Wan Ho Exit A, then take bus 14 from Tai On Street
A sandy destination that can only be reached by sampan, Hap Mun (or “Half Moon”) Bay is a beautiful crescent of a beach on Sharp Island, New Territories. Approach one of the sampan ladies (or kaito – small ferry operators) on Sai Kung pier – a round trip should cost about $40-50 per person. Hap Mun is the smaller of the two beaches located on Sharp Island, while Kiu Tsui stretches along the western edge. The water quality is generally good at Hap Mun and there are handy family-friendly facilities including toilets, changing rooms, showers, kiosks and barbecue pits. As with all Hong Kong beaches, mid-week is much quieter than weekends.
How to get there: The only way to get to this beach is by taking a boat to Hap Mun Bay from from a vendor at Sai Kung Pier. You can take MTR, minibus or bus to get to Sai Kung
Clearwater Bay Two’s less-well-known little sister, Clearwater Bay First Beach sits nestled in the northern crook of Clearwater Bay. The sand is clean and there is protected swimming to be had in the bay. Reach the beach from the main road by heading downhill by foot on Tai Wan Tau Road. There is some parking off Clearwater Bay Road by Shing Kee Store, otherwise park at Hang Hau MTR and grab a taxi. Expect crystal-clear waters, fewer visitors and a lifeguarded stretch of sand. There is no kiosk so bring your own supplies.
How to get there: Take bus 16 from Hang Hau to Po Toi O and walk downhill to Clearwater Bay First Beach
Being a mere five minute walk from Stanley Market, on the eastern side of the peninsula, this is the perfect place to enjoy the best of both. The sand on this narrow stretch of beach is pleasant and the location is popular for watersports. The Hong Kong Sea School is a boarding school for underprivileged boys in Stanley which is located at the southernmost end of the beach along with the watersports centre, which is closed on Wednesdays.
How to get there: Take minibus 40 or 40X from Causeway Bay to Stanley
Chung Hom Kok Beach
One of Southside’s prettiest and most secluded beaches is Chung Hom Kok. A sun-dappled path leads down the wooded hillside and onto the beach, passing a shady children’s playground – a huge hit with young kiddies. The water is a beautiful turquoise (and clean, there is a water cleanliness monitoring board on the beach). It’s the perfect spot to spend a happy afternoon collecting shells and watching the occasional junk or fishing boat drift past. The beach is patrolled from April to October and there is a handy kiosk selling soft drinks, snacks and inflatable water toys. There are clean changing rooms and shady areas on the beach in the mornings from the surrounding trees.
How to get there: Take minibus 40 or 40X from Causeway Bay to Cape Drive and walk over to Chung Hom Kok Beach
Repulse Bay
Source: Pixabay
The backdrop to this beach is widely regarded as one of the most expensive housing areas in Hong Kong. The recently revamped boardwalk offers a host of eateries including Limewood, Classified and The Verandah for something more special. The pulse shopping centre offers a chance to escape the heat and enjoy a relaxed beachside shopping environment. Facilities include changing rooms, toilets, shower facilities, a playground and a beach volleyball court.
How to get there: Take minibus 40 or 40X from Causeway Bay to Repulse Bay Beach
Trio Beach
Beloved by Sai Kung’s locals, this beach can get crowded on weekends, but as it’s reasonable challenging to reach (a five-kilometre hike from the Sai Kung branch of the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club or a sampan from Pak Sha Wan Pier), it tends to be quieter mid-week than many of Hong Kong’s more popular beaches. There is parking on Pak Sha Wan pier, from where you can catch one of two sampans that chug backwards and forwards all day to little Trio. Once you’ve disembarked, you’ll find a kiosk, BBQs (charcoal is available from the kiosk) and a children’s play area. The swimming area is protected and boasts a dive platform, and the beach is lifeguarded until the end of the summer.
How to get there: To get to Trio Beach you need to take a boat from Hebe Haven Pier in Sai Kung. To reach the pier take MTR to Hang Hau, Exit B, then minibus 101M to Pak Sha Wan. Cross the road to Hebe Haven Pier and get a boat ticket for Trio Beach
Big Wave Bay Beach
Hailed as the birthplace of Hong Kong’s surf scene this beach is naturally popular with local windsurfers. It is smaller than neighbouring Shek O and easily accessible by road. Facilities include a cafe, showers, toilets, barbecue pits and a car park.
How to get there: Take MTR to Chai Wan, Exit C, then bus 18M to Cape Collinson Road and walk to Big Wave Bay Beach
Located on the southern shore of Hong Kong island and reputed to be the “wealthiest neighbourhood on earth” according to Forbes. This beach is popular with elderly Chinese locals taking an early morning dip. Coco Thai offers excellent Thai food into the evening in an open air, beachside setting. The beach also has changing rooms, toilets, shower facilities and barbecue pits.
How to get there: Take MTR to Causeway Bay Exit F1, then minibus 40 or 40X to Deep Water Bay Beach.
If you’re up for a challenge, this hike over four peaks is no walk in the park and demands a good level of fitness and experience. Climb your way over Pyramid Hill, Ma On Shan, the Hunch Backs and Tiu Shau Ngam to mountainous terrain and spectacular views over Sai Kung and its outlying islands. Traversing along the narrow ridges of the mountaintops, you’ll feel like you’re on top of the world!
Getting there
Take minibus No.3 from Yi Chun Street, opposite Sai Kung Wet Market, to Po Le Che, alighting at the crossroads with Tan Cheung and Pak Kong Au roads. Walk up Pak Kong Au Road for approximately 550 metres, past the public toilets to a refuse collection point and an inconspicuous path marked “行山”, which translates to “hiking”. Alternatively, you can ride a taxi all the way to the start by telling the driver you want to head into Tai Shui Tseng.
Follow the path up a flight of concrete steps to the Ma On Shan Country Trail. Ignore the first dirt trail off the path and continue towards the marked path to Ngong Ping. After about 200 metres the steps are replaced by a rather challenging dirt trail with scattered uneven rocks. Eventually, it intersects with section four of the MacLehose Trail at a fork marked by an information board. Take the path on the right for the short walk to Ngong Ping.
A perfect spot for a picnic, Ngong Ping is a vast grassy plateau with incredible panoramas of Sai Kung and Port Shelter. To begin your ascend to Pyramid Hill, cross the plateau. Detour from the MacLehose Trail and take the path on the right, near the edge of Ngong Ping, and climb Pyramid Hill.
Take a moment at Pyramid Hill
The summit of Pyramid Hill is a sea of Chinese silver grass during autumn and winter with a breathtaking view over Sai Kung and the Ngong Ping plateau. Your next challenge is to continue down Pyramid Hill, leaving the MacLehose Trail to reach up to saddle-shaped Ma On Shan. To the left, there’s a view over the wild mountains of Ma On Shan Country Park stretching into the distance; to the right, Three Fathoms Cover emerges from behind the mountain.
Arrive at Ma On Shan
It’s a steep scramble to the summit, but you’ll be rewarded with an unobstructed 360-degree view of Tolo Harbour, Three Fathoms Cove and Port Shelter, and ahead of the saddle to the slightly lower peak of the Hunch Backs. This is a great time to take a break. At night, Ma On Shan’s streetlights offers a whole new perspective for experienced hikers equipped with head torches.
Getting back
Follow the trail to a junction with two red warning signs: take the left fork, which joins the Ma On Shan Family Walk to the finishing point at Ma On Shan barbecue site. From there, it’s another hour’s walk to the MTR stations, or catch the village bus NR84 shuttle which runs to Ma On Shan MTR station.
Author: Eric Ho
Source: https://hongkongliving.com/
Link: https://hongkongliving.com/hike-pyramid-hill-hunch-backs/
