Best beaches in Hong Kong: where to surf, where to avoid sharks and where to relax on the sand and watch the world go by
With 41 public beaches and dozens more, the city’s shores offer extraordinary variety of options for fun, adventure and people-watching
From the highly developed southern shores of Hong Kong Island to the wilder coastlines of Sai Kung, the city boasts an extraordinary variety of beaches. They are among our most valuable assets, especially in the sweltering summer heat when the best option for outdoorsy types is to stay close to water. And every beach has its own character, its own story to tell.
The Leisure and Cultural Services Department operates 41 gazetted public beaches that are staffed by lifeguards and equipped with shark prevention nets. There are also dozens of non-gazetted beaches, which lack the facilities of government-run beaches, and appeal more to nature lovers and those who want to get away from the urban hustle and bustle.
The site of shark attacks: Silverstrand Beach, Sai Kung
Situated just off Clearwater Bay road, Silverstrand Beach is the one most likely to send a shiver down the spine. Why? Because this was the site of several shark attacks between 1991 and 1995. Six shark-related fatalities took place across Hong Kong in this period – with several in the vicinity of this small beach.
Little is known about the attacks and there is not even agreement about what species was responsible, though it was likely a tiger shark. As a direct consequence of the attacks, the government sank millions into installing shark prevention nets at public beaches.