After our shore excursion group's photo stop enjoyment at Victoria Peak, our skilled driver whipped…read moredownhill towards Repulse Bay. Our guide kept mentioning the high cost of properties at The Peak but then said it's even more expensive to purchase or live in Repulse Bay. Repulse Bay is home or vacation home to many rich and famous Asians and non-Asians. Although I can see the beauty, less hectic atmosphere, and exclusivity of living in this bay area where residents can escape the frenetic city life, the name "Repulse Bay" annoyed me. So, I asked our guide about its history. He told the group that there are several unsubstantiated stories about the origin of the bay's name. But he's sticking to saying, "This bay was used as a base by pirates and caused serious concern to foreign merchant ships trading with China. The Royal Navy subsequently repulsed the pirates, hence the name." Anyway, we were allotted an hour to either wander along the beach sand (IMHO, the sand was coarse and not like the finer sand we have in Hawai'i) while dipping our toes into the cool water, roam through their shopping mall, or follow the guide to the Taoist Kwun Yam (Guanyin) Shrine at the southeastern side of the beach. We followed the group to the Kwun Yam Shrine to view the gigantic statues of Guanyin (Chinese Goddess of Mercy) and Tiānhòu (Empress of Heaven or Goddess of the Sea and Patron Deity of fishermen, sailors, and any occupations related to the sea). According to our guide, the Kwun Yam Shrine isn't "active"; the shrine-like exterior is just a façade for a small convenience store, although several people offered prayers with joss sticks or incense to the statues. The guide encouraged everyone to cross "The Bridge of Longevity" at least seven times because of the belief in extending your life an additional ten years with each crossing. Woohoo! My husband and I quickly jumped on board with that belief and traversed that bridge! We felt relieved and comforted by walking along the beachfront yet slightly unsettled by the densely built-up apartment buildings and estates behind us as the development reminded us about Hawai'i's Waikīkī, Kaka'ako, and Ala Moana neighborhoods. But, thankfully, our island isn't as densely populated as Hong Kong.

Repulse Bay 淺水灣 is in en route towards Stanley and I have only visited once during a day tour…read moreguide. It was a nice experience to escape the metropolitan atmosphere. Located at the southern end of Hong Kong yet fully accessible via public transportation and a common site for the privileged or advantage to settle.

A nice secluded beach that is on the south side of the Hong Kong island. Beach doesn't get too…read morecrowded and there is a large area to lounge on the sand or swim in the water. The neighboring area of Shek O has a distinct beach town feel to it and has a very different vibe then the more commercial repulse bag or Stanley beach.

Once again I certainly wouldn't be putting this beach up on the top of my list of places to visit,…read moreparticularly since it is a Hong Kong beach. However, unlike some of the other beaches that I have visited in Hong Kong, there are certainly some nice places around here, so it is a bit more set up, though the lack of places to store my stuff certainly seems to be a running theme not just around here, but around beaches world wide. However, since there are some restaurants, it is good, and it is also somewhat out of the way, so it is rather quiet as well.

Coming here is a pain in the rear but Trio Beach is probably the cleanest and least crowded public…read morebeach in Hong Kong due to it's remoteness. You can make it a day trip by going to one of the nearby Pak Sha Wan BBQ Site.

My favorite beach in Hong Kong. I know it sounds weird but I put this string of beaches up against…read moreeven beaches in Thailand. The water is almost completely clear, there are very few people, there's almost no litter and the sand is pretty soft. I'd say the only issue is accessibility. First you need to get to sai kung. Then you need to take a bus or taxi to the pavilion. If you want to take the easy way, there's a nice walk to the first beach, sai wan. The beach is still super clean, there's food, there's a boat that can pick you up. You can walk another 20 minutes to the sai kung rock pools which I highly recommend. The water is so nice and cool. Perfect on a hot day. If you want to get workout in, you can go up and down the mountain to get to the rock stream and the first beach instead of the leisurely walk. From the first beach and rock pools, you can take another short hike to the second beach, Ham Tin. The sand and water is even better here than the first. They have food and boat pickup here. This beach reminded me of Thailand and Hawaii. Highly recommend these beaches if you have the time. Distance: 2.5km Duration: 45 minutes Difficulty: 1 out of 5 Top tip: We suggest to hike from Sai Wan Pavilion to Sai Wan Beach, then hike to the other beaches (Ham Tin Beach, Tai Wan Beach, and Tung Wan Beach) and finally take the speedboat back to Sai Kung from Ham Tin Beach. It's easy to hike from one beach to another as the trails are clearly marked. It's up to you if you want to see all four beaches. Speedboats operate till 5 or 6 PM. Tickets are limited so make sure that you buy your ticket the moment you arrive at the beach from where you'd like to leave!

If there's one place I call paradise in Hong Kong, I'd have to name Ham Tin Wan. Away from the…read morehustle and bustle in the city, Ham Tin Wan is definitely THE most beautiful beach in Hong Kong. Unlike some of the beaches that are packed with tourists, such as the Repulse Bay, Deep Water Bay and Stanley Beach, Ham Tin Wan is not accessible by any transportation. You could only get there on a hike. As such, the beach remains free from litter, the sand is very soft and the water is as clear as it can be. Ham Tin Wan is on the MacLehose Trail. Start your hike in the morning at Sai Wan Pavillion, takes about 1.5-2 hours to get to Ham Tin Wan. Enjoy a local meal at a cafe in Ham Tin Wan and set off for the second part of your hike towards Chek King. The entire hike takes about 4 hours or so (excluding lunch and resting time). Go on a sunny day in the winter months (December to March) and you'll be guaranteed the best view in Hong Kong you can ever imagine. It's definitely a delight every time I come back here for a hike every few years!

Ah, can't wait to hike it again. Joined a tour to check out the Dragon's Back trail. Booked on…read morePelago as you get double Krisflyer miles per dollar spent. It started mid morning 10a.m. Met the tour guide outside the metro station, grabbed a local bus up the mountain and started the trek 128m from the summit. It's chockers full of people so go earlier !. We set a crazy pace up the massive steps, stones and earth. Stopped only to catch a view and a quick breath. Everyone was out there but it was absolutely lovely and shady. The views of course were well worth it!. We diverted to walk down steps after the reservoir to get to Big Wave Bay where local surfers hang out. Ended the hike in 2.5 hours ( give yourself 4 to 5 hours, our guide was fast). Spent the next 45 minutes by the beach watching the waves and cooling down. Best time is winter for cool weather. Best time for wildlife is July!

This is a great Medium difficulty hike with spectacular views of the beaches and bays on either…read moreside of the island. Take a bus to drop you off at the trailhead and start your hike up the mountain. Total time to hike the trail took about 2 hours at a brisk pace. If you're taking a leisurely stroll it will take much longer. I would recommend doing the hike that leads to Big Wave Bay where you can grab a bite to eat by the beach while watching the surfers catch some waves.