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Beaches of Hong Kong

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Hong Kong has a long and jagged coastline with many bays and beaches. The shelter provided by adjacent mountains keeps wave sizes generally small, and most beaches are thus suitable for swimming and recreation, if they can be reached.

About half of Hong Kong's more accessible beaches are gazetted and thus managed by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD). Many that are not gazetted are also popular, and some privately owned beaches are publicly accessible.

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. In 2011, Lido Beach, Casam Beach, Approach Beach and Hoi Mei Wan Beach were reopened following an improvement in water quality.[1]

Gazetted beaches

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A total of forty-two beaches in Hong Kong are gazetted and managed by LCSD. Twelve of these are located on Hong Kong Island, with the remaining 30 spread across the New Territories, including the Outlying Islands. Some are temporarily closed to swimmers.

Lifeguard tower at Castle Peak Beach.
Shark net at Kiu Tsui Beach.
Shark net at Deep Water Bay Beach.

Full list

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Tuen Mun District

1. Butterfly Beach (蝴蝶灣泳灘)
2. Castle Peak Beach (青山灣泳灘)
3. Kadoorie Beach (加多利灣泳灘)
4. Cafeteria Old Beach (舊咖啡灣泳灘)
5. Cafeteria New Beach (新咖啡灣泳灘)
6. Golden Beach (黃金泳灘)

Tsuen Wan District

7. Anglers' Beach (釣魚灣泳灘)
8. Gemini Beaches (雙仙灣泳灘)
9. Hoi Mei Wan Beach (海美灣泳灘)
10. Casam Beach (更生灣泳灘)
11. Lido Beach (麗都灣泳灘)
12. Ting Kau Beach (汀九灣泳灘)
13. Approach Beach (近水灣泳灘)
14. Ma Wan Tung Wan Beach (馬灣東灣泳灘)

Sai Kung District

15. Trio Beach (三星灣泳灘)
16. Kiu Tsui Beach (橋咀泳灘)
17. Hap Mun Bay Beach (廈門灣泳灘)
18. Silverstrand Beach (銀線灣泳灘)
19. Clear Water Bay First Beach (清水灣第一灣泳灘)
20. Clear Water Bay Second Beach (清水灣第二灣泳灘)

Hong Kong Island

21. Deep Water Bay Beach (深水灣泳灘)
22. Repulse Bay Beach (淺水灣泳灘)
23. Middle Bay Beach (中灣泳灘)
24. South Bay, Hong Kong (南灣泳灘)
25. Chung Hom Kok Beach (舂坎角泳灘)
26. St. Stephen's Beach (聖士提反灣泳灘)
27. Stanley Main Beach (赤柱正灘泳灘)
28. Hairpin Beach (夏萍灣泳灘)
29. Turtle Cove Beach (龜背灣泳灘)
30. Shek O Beach (石澳泳灘)
31. Rocky Bay Beach (石澳後灘泳灘)
32. Big Wave Bay Beach (大浪灣泳灘)

Lamma Island

33. Hung Shing Yeh Beach (洪聖爺灣泳灘)
34. Lo So Shing Beach (蘆鬚城泳灘)

Cheung Chau

35. Kwun Yam Beach (觀音灣泳灘)
36. Cheung Chau Tung Wan Beach (長洲東灣泳灘)

Lantau Island

37. Silver Mine Bay Beach (銀鑛灣泳灘)
38. Pui O Beach (貝澳泳灘)
39. Upper Cheung Sha Beach (上長沙泳灘)
40. Lower Cheung Sha Beach (下長沙泳灘)
41. Tong Fuk Beach (塘福泳灘)

Tai Po District

42. Tai Po Lung Mei Beach (大埔龍尾泳灘)

Tuen Mun

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Kadoorie Beach

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Kadoorie Beach

Kadoorie Beach (加多利灣泳灘) is located at 18¾ milestone, Castle Peak Road. The enquires of the beach are 2450 6336 and 2451 3461. There are BBQ area, changing rooms, shower facilities and toilet. Lifeguard service hours are 0900–1800 in April to May, September to October, and also on Mondays to Fridays in June to August. On Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays in June to August, lifeguard service hours are 0800–1900. Lifeguard services are suspended during winter (November to March).

Cafeteria Old Beach

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Cafeteria Old Beach (舊咖啡灣泳灘) is located at 18¾ milestone, Castle Peak Road. The enquires of the beach are 2450 6306 and 2451 3461. There are refreshment kiosk, BBQ area, changing room, shower facilities, toilet and bathing shed. Lifeguard service hours are 0900–1800 in April to May, September to October, and also on Mondays to Fridays in June to August. On Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays in June to August, lifeguard service hours are 0800–1900. Lifeguard services are suspended during winter (November to March).

Cafeteria New Beach

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Cafeteria New Beach (新咖啡灣泳灘) is located at 18½ milestone, Castle Peak Road. The enquires of the beach are 2450 6440 and 2451 3461. There are refreshment kiosk and beach volleyball court. Lifeguard service hours are 0900–1800 in April to May, September to October, and also on Mondays to Fridays in June to August. On Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays in June to August, lifeguard service hours are 0800–1900. Lifeguard services are suspended during winter (November to March).

Golden Beach

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Golden Beach (黃金泳灘) is located at the 18½ milestone of Castle Peak Road, Tuen Mun. It is the largest beach in Tuen Mun with a total area of 78,500 m2 and a length of 545 metres. 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 bus routes 52X (Tuen Mun Central ↔ Mong Kok), 53 (Yuen Long station ↔ Tsuen Wan), 61A (Yau Oi South → Tuen Mun Road Interchange), 61M (Yau Oi South ↔ Lai King North), 252B (Handsome Court → Tsim Sha Tsui), 252X (Handsome Court/Chi Lok Fa Yuen ↔ Lam Tin station) and 261B (Sam Shing → Kowloon station);
by Citybus bus routes 962/N962 (Lung Mun Oasis ↔ Causeway Bay), 962B/962S (Chi Lok Fa Yuen ↔ Causeway Bay);
by Long Win Bus bus routes A33 (Airport ↔ Tuen Mun Road Interchange);

by MTR Bus feeder bus routes K51 (Fu Tai ↔ Tai Lam) and K53 (Tuen Mun station ↺ So Kwun Wat).

Ma Wan Tung Wan Beach

Tsuen Wan

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Ma Wan Tung Wan Beach – Ma Wan

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Ma Wan Tung Wan Beach (馬灣東灣泳灘) is located on Ma Wan island.

Hong Kong Island

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Deep Water Bay Beach

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A Panorama of Repulse Bay Beach looking southwest

Deep Water Bay Beach (深水灣泳灘) is located on southern Hong Kong Island. See Deep Water Bay Beach.

Repulse Bay Beach

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Repulse Bay Beach (淺水灣泳灘), 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 Beach.

Middle Bay Beach and South Bay Beach

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These two small beaches at South Bay and Middle Bay 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.

Turtle Cove Beach

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The beach situated east of Stanley and west of Tai Tam Reservoir is Turtle Cove Beach (龜背灣泳灘) which is a Grade 1 beach of less than 70 meters in length. 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.

Turtle Cove Beach is accessible by bus No.14 from exit A of the Sai Wan Ho MTR station or mini-bus 16X from Chai Wan; the beach is located near the Red Hill estate stop (past the Tai Tam Reservoir). From near the bus stop, stairs lead down the hill to the beach.

Big Wave Bay Beach

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Big Wave Bay Beach (大浪灣泳灘) in Southern District is also the site of prehistoric rock carvings similar to those found on Cheung Chau Island.[2] Not to be confused with other places called Big Wave Bay or Tai Long Wan in Hong Kong.

Lamma Island

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Hung Shing Yeh Beach

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Hung Shing Yeh Beach (洪聖爺灣泳灘) 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.

Lo So Shing Beach

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Lo So Shing Beach (蘆鬚城泳灘) is located on Lamma Island 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 by ferry, and then walk for about 40 minutes.

Cheung Chau

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Cheung Chau Tung Wan Beach and Kwun Yam Beach

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Cheung Chau Tung Wan Beach

There are two main beaches on Cheung Chau: Cheung Chau Tung Wan Beach (長洲東灣泳灘) and Kwun Yam Beach (觀音灣) aka. Afternoon Beach. Although they are not as big as the well-known beaches along the Hong Kong Island coast, they have much character. 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 Grade 1. It is popular for various water sports facilities, with two centres providing rentals of windsurfers and kayaks. Many lovers like to take leisurely walks there and to enjoy the village scene which still maintains the old traditions. Also, it is where Hong Kong's first Olympic medallist, Lee Lai Shan, first learned and practised windsurfing. 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" café and centre owned by her uncle and first coach, situated between the two beaches.

Lantau Island

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Silver Mine Bay Beach

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Main article: Silver Mine Bay Beach
Silver Mine Bay Beach

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.

Silver Mine Bay Beach (銀鑛灣泳灘), 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 Mui Wo 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.

Pui O Beach

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Main article: Pui O Beach

Cheung Sha Beaches

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View over Lower Cheung Sha Beach. The islet in the middle of the bay is Cha Kwo Chau (茶果洲).

Cheung Sha Beach is located in Cheung Sha, on the southern shore of Lantau Island. It is divided into two parts by a small headland: Upper Cheung Sha Beach (east) and Lower Cheung Sha Beach (west). It is 3 km long and is one of the longest beaches in Hong Kong.[3] The beaches are accessible from South Lantau Road.[4] Tong Fuk Beach is located nearby, to the west of Lower Cheung Sha Beach.

Tong Fuk Beach

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Main article: Tong Fuk Beach

Non-gazetted beaches

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A number of Hong Kong's larger non-gazetted beaches are popular, with the lack of official oversight and facilities often seen as part of their attraction. Other, smaller locations may be difficult to reach and likely exclusive for any visitor that finds them. However such non-maintained beaches may have accumulated significant flotsam and jetsam of varying attractiveness. A few bays, such as Hoi Ha, lie within protected areas and swimming may be prohibited.

  1. Chung Wan (涌灣) South Crooked Harbour, North District
  2. Cheung Sha Wan (長沙灣) Northeast Ping Chau
  3. Crescent Bay (娥眉灣) Crescent Island, Mirs Bay
  4. Lo Kei Wan (籮箕灣) Crescent Island, Mirs Bay
  5. Tung Wan (東灣) Wong Wan Chau, Mirs Bay
  6. Wu Kai Sha (烏溪沙) Wu Kai Sha, Ma On Shan
  7. Lung Mei (龍尾) Plover Cove, East Tai Po
  8. Hoi Ha Wan (海下灣) Hoi Ha Wan, North Sai Kung Peninsula
  9. Nam She Wan (蚺蛇灣) East Sai Kung, Mirs Bay
  10. Tung Wan (東灣) East Sai Kung, Tai Long Wan
  11. Tai Wan (大灣) East Sai Kung, Tai Long Wan
  12. Ham Tin Wan (鹹田灣) East Sai Kung, Tai Long Wan
  13. Tai Long Sai Wan (大浪西灣) East Sai Kung, Tai Long Wan
  14. Long Ke Wan (浪茄灣) Long Ke Wan, East Sai Kung
  15. Long Ke Tsai (浪茄仔) Long Ke Wan, East Sai Kung
  16. Pak Sha Chau (白沙洲) Sai Kung Hoi, Sai Kung
  17. Pak Lap Wan (白臘灣) High Island, South Sai Kung
  18. Ma Tau Wan (馬頭環) High Island, South Sai Kung
  19. Kam Lo Wan (蠄蟧灣) High Island, South Sai Kung
  20. Nam Fung Wan (南風灣) High Island, South Sai Kung
  21. Kau Sai Wan (滘西灣) Kau Sai Chau, Sai Kung
  22. Whiskey (白環) Kau Sai Chau, Sai Kung
  23. Campers' Bay (露營灣) Port Shelter, Clearwater Bay
  24. Pak Shui Wun (白水碗) Port Shelter, Clearwater Bay
  25. Bayside (碧沙灣) Port Shelter, Clearwater Bay
  26. Little Palm (小棕林) Port Shelter, Clearwater Bay
  27. Lung Ha Wan (龍蝦灣) Port Shelter, Clearwater Bay
  28. Ung Kong Wan (甕缸灣) Bluff Island, Clearwater Bay
  29. Lung Kwu Upper (龍鼓上灘) Lung Kwu Tan, west Tuen Mun
  30. Lung Kwu Lower (龍鼓下灘) Lung Kwu Tan, Tuen Mun
  31. Dragon Bay (青龍灣) Tsing Lung Tau, Tsuen Wan
  32. To Tei Wan (土地灣) Shek O, Cape D'Aguilar
  33. Tai Pak Wan (大白灣) Discovery Bay, East Lantau Island
  34. Tai Long Wan (大浪灣) Chi Ma Wan, South Lantau Island
  35. Yi Long Wan (二浪灣) Chi Ma Wan, South Lantau Island
  36. Sha Lo Wan (沙螺灣) West Tung Chung, North Lantau Island
  37. Tai Long Wan (大浪灣) Shek Pik, South Lantau Island
  38. Lo Kei Wan (籮箕灣) Shui Hau, South Lantau Island
  39. Kau Ling Chung (狗嶺涌) Fan Lau, Southwest Lantau Island
  40. Fan Lau Tung Wan (分流東灣) Fan Lau, Southwest Lantau Island
  41. Fan Lan Sai Wan (分流西灣) Fan Lau,[5] Southwest Lantau Island
  42. Luk Keng Wan (鹿頸灣) Yam O, Northeast Lantau Island
  43. Tai Kwai Wan (大貴灣) Northwest Cheung Chau
  44. Po Yue Wan (鯆魚灣) Southwest Cheung Chau
  45. Pak Tso Wan (白鰽灣) Southwest Cheung Chau
  46. Shek Pai Wan (石排灣) Southeast Lamma Island
  47. Mo Tat Wan (模達灣) East Lamma Island
  48. Kwo Chau Wan (果洲灣) Tai Chau, Ninepin Group
  49. Siu A Chau Wan (小鴉洲灣) Siu A Chau, Soko Islands

Water quality grading system

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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 determine their bacterial level.

Grade 1 means that the water quality of the beaches is good, with an E. coli count of no more than 24 per 100 mL of beach water and no known cases of skin or gastrointestinal illnesses among swimmers there.

Grade 2 means that the water quality of the beaches is fair, with an E. coli count of 25–180 per 100 mL of beach water and no more than 10 reported cases of skin and gastrointestinal illnesses per 1000 swimmers.

Grade 3 means that the water quality of the beaches is poor, with an E. coli count of 181–610 per 100 mL of beach water and 11–15 reported cases of skin and gastrointestinal illnesses per 1000 swimmers.

Grade 4 means that the water quality is very poor, with an E. coli count greater than 610 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, swimming is not advised at Grade 4 beaches.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Four beaches in Tsuen Wan to reopen with improved water quality", Leisure and Cultural Services Department, Press Release, June 13, 2011 Archived 11 August 2011 at the Wayback Machine
  2. ^ C.Michael Hogan, 2007, Cheung Chau Rock Carvings, The Megalithic Portal, ed. A. Burnham
  3. ^ Time Out Hong Kong: "Get Out: Cheung Sha Beach" Archived 11 November 2013 at the Wayback Machine, 8 May 2009
  4. ^ Leisure and Cultural Services Department: Lower Cheung Sha Beach
  5. ^ Jules Brown and Dinah Gardner, Hong Kong and Macau, page 187
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