Chevalier Garden in the Ma On Shan part of Sha Tin was my home base when I was visiting Hong Kong…read more Chevalier Garden is a public housing estate comprising of 17 apartment buildings built in 1988. The estate has numerous facilities including a school and recreational facilities like basketball courts. There is also a commercial shopping complex full of restaurants and shops. And is well served by numerous bus routes at the Chevalier Garden Bus Terminus. Stayed in Block 17. It is a bit of a walk to the shopping center and bus stop, but not that far. The apartment I was staying in was decent size in regards to space compared to a couple other public housing apartments in HK that I have visited. It also has a view of Ma On Shan which is one of the tallest mountains in HK. There is a security guard stationed in the lobby as well as a key code entry system so it is pretty safe. In staying at Chevalier, I got that there was a real sense of community as people greeted each other as they walked within the complex. The reason for the three stars is that the ventilation in the building is not the best. If it is hot outside, it is going to feel the same inside. Making air conditioning a must. I had a few sleepless nights due to the hot weather. It also limits your ability to cook since a dish requiring high heat is probably not a good idea. Fortunately, there are a few restaurants downstairs so it would be easier to order these dishes as takeout instead and save you the trouble. Living at Chevalier is convenient from a commute standpoint too. They have a bus (85K) that goes to Sha Tin Station so you can get on MTR as well as a bus (A41P) that goes directly to the airport. It also is close to the MTR Tai Shui Hang Station though I did not use that station as I found the bus easier. While it may not be in urban Hong Kong, I did not find it difficult to get from Chevalier Garden into the city. There are plenty of commute options. I enjoyed my stay here. A bit of a distance away from the urban sprawl, but not too far.

I used to live quite close to Tai Mei Tuk, so I was spoiled for choice on my weekend activities…read more Tai Mei Tuk is popular with the locals because of the many barbecue pits available by the sea view. All you need to do is buy some cheap chicken wings and sausages from Park'N'Shop and set up shop one of the many little pits. There's a kiosk that sells cold drinks, ice-cream, as well as plastic fishing lines. However, from personal experience, you're not gonna have a hard time catching anything in the open sea, which is probably why there's a Tai Mei Tuk Fish Farm right next to the bus terminus. The fish farm is one of the largest freshwater cultured fish ponds in Hong Kong, with tilapia, carps and more, and can be good fun for a few hours. If you don't like eating fish, don't worry: there's a tuck shop nearby that serves standard Hong Kong snacks. For the not-so-avid angler, you can hire out four-wheel bicycles with a friend, or get your own bicycle and cycle down some trails - including a 20km path from Tai Mei Tuk to Tai Wai that runs parallel to the Shing Mun River for a while. It takes around 3 hours but the sites are well worth it. A number of eateries have also popped up in Tai Mei Tuk village that are definitely worth checking out (read: Chung Shing Thai Restaurant has some of the best Thai food in Hong Kong). And, finally, if you're just one of those lounge-about types, you can sit under the pagoda and appreciate the amazingly calming view over the Plover Cove Reservoir. There's something for everyone here, so why not make a day of it?

This is nice relaxing spot to get away from the tourist crowds. You can relax and spend some…read moreleisure time here. There are vendors and also ice cream stands in you come with kids.