Beaches

Hong Kong has many fantastic beaches with gorgeous views of the sea dotted with small green islands. On the southern coast of the main island, the most accessible and most popular are Stanley and Repulse Bay. Just to the west is the smaller, less-crowded Deep Water Bay, and farther west is the more intimate South Bay. On the southeast coast of the island, Turtle Cove is isolated and beautiful, and Shek O's beach has a community feel. Day trips to the outlying islands can also include sunbathing on a clean beach. You can reach most beaches by bus or taxi (HK$150 and up).

The waters off beaches in the New Territories, particularly the Sai Kung Peninsula, are crystal clear. Pollution can be a problem on the Southside, though that doesn't deter the thousands who flock seaside for respite from the summer heat. Hong Kong's Environmental Protection Department has set some tough guidelines and goals for cleaning up area waters. For more info, including beach-by-beach pollution ratings, check out the EPD's Web site: www.epd.gov.hk/epd.

Southside

Deep Water Bay. On Island Road, just to the east of Ocean Park and all its amusements, this bay was the setting for the William Holden film Love Is a Many Splendored Thing (1955). Nearby are the manicured greens of the Deep Water Bay Golf Course, which is owned by the Hong Kong Golf Club. The area has become a multimillionaires' enclave, and is home to Hong Kong's richest man, Li Ka-shing, a real-estate tycoon. From Exchange Square Bus Terminus in Central, take Bus 6, 64, 260, or 6A.

For a scenic route to Deep Water Bay, take Bus 70 from Central's Exchange Square to Aberdeen and change to Bus 73, which passes the beach en route to Stanley.

Repulse Bay. It's named after the British warship HMS Repulse and not, as some say, after its slightly murky waters. It was home of the now demolished Repulse Bay Hotel, which gained notoriety in December 1941, when Japanese clambered over the hills behind it, entered its gardens, and overtook the British, who were using the hotel as headquarters. Repulse Bay Verandah Restaurant & Bamboo Bar —a great place for traditional English afternoon tea—is a replica of the eating and drinking establishment that once graced the hotel. High tea is served Tuesday to Saturday from 3 to 5:30 and Sunday from 3:30 to 5:30. There are several Chinese restaurants and snack kiosks on the beach. The Lifesaving Club at the beach's east end has large statues of Tin Hau, goddess of the sea, and Kwun Yum, goddess of mercy. If you opt for a meal in a seafood restaurant here or at any beach, note that physicians caution against eating raw shellfish because of hepatitis outbreaks. From Exchange Square Bus Terminus in Central, take Bus 6, 6A, 6X, 66, 64, or 260. 109 Repulse Bay Rd., Southside, Hong Kong. 2292-2822. www.therepulsebay.com.

Shek O. This wide beach is almost Mediterranean in appearance, with its low-rise houses and shops set prettily on a headland. In Shek O village you can find old mansions, small shops selling inflatable toys and other beach gear, and a few popular Chinese and Thai restaurants. Follow the curving path from the town square across a footbridge to the "island" of Tai Tau Chau, really a large rock with a lookout over the South China Sea. Also near town are the Shek O Golf and Country Club and the superb Shek O Country Park, with great trails and bird-watching: look for Kentish plovers, reef egrets, and black-headed gulls, as well as the colorful rufus-backed shrike and the ubiquitous chatty bulbul. From Central, take MTR to Shau Kei Wan, then take Bus 9 to last stop (about 30 min).

Stanley. Notorious during World War II as the home of Japan's largest POW camps in Hong Kong, Stanley is now known primarily for its market, a great place for deals on knickknacks, ceramics, paintings, casual clothing, and sporting goods. Past the market, on Stanley Main Street, a strip of restaurants and pubs faces the bay. On the other side of the bay is a temple honoring Tin Hau.

Stanley's wide main beach is the site of Hong Kong's official Dragon Boat races, usually held in June, in which teams paddle out into the sea, turn around, and, at the sound of the gun, race ferociously back to shore. The beach is popular with the windsurfing, waterskiing, and wakeboarding crowd. From Exchange Square Bus Terminus in Central, take Bus 6, 6A, 6X, 66, 64, or 260.

Patrick's Water-skiing is run by the friendly, laid-back man himself. Patrick will take you to the best area waters and give you pointers on your technique. The fee—HK$700 per hour on weekdays, HK$800 on weekends—includes a range of equipment. Tai Tam, Stanley, Hong Kong. 2813-2372.

The New Territories

Hap Mun Wan. Half Moon Bay is a brilliant, golden-sand beach on a grassy island near Sai Kung Town. It's one of the many small beaches among dozens of small islands near Sai Kung that are popular and easy to reach. Sampans to Half Moon depart from the Sai Kung waterfront, beside the bus station. If you're sharing a sampan with other passengers, remember the color of the flag on the roof: that's the color you need for your return ferry. Shared sampans cost HK$40. To cruise around the harbor, rent a kaido (pronounced "guy-doe," one of the small boats run by private operators for about HK$130 round-trip), and stop at tiny Yim Tin Tsai Island, which has a rustic Catholic mission church built in 1890. From Central, take MTR to Hang Hau, then Exit B1 and Minibus 101M to Sai Kung Town.

Bunn's Divers Institute runs outings for qualified divers to areas like Sai Kung. 188 Johnston Rd., Chuen Fung House, Wan Chai, Hong Kong. 3422-3322 or 2574-7951. www.bunnsdivers.com.

Sha Ha. The sand isn't fine and golden, but the main reason people visit this beach is for the windsurfing. Sha Ha's waters are shallow, even far from shore, and ideal for beginning windsurfers. Grab something to eat at the restaurants and bars that dot the beach. From Central, take MTR to Hang Hau, then Exit B1 and Minibus 101M to Sai Kung Town. It's a 10-min walk along the shore to Sha Ha.

You can take lessons or rent a board or even a kayak at the Windsurfing Centre Hong Kong. Ask for Eddy. Shop 13, 1/F, Ko Shing Bldg., 9 King Man St., Sai Kung, Hong Kong. 9733-1228. www.windsurfing.com.hk.

Silverstrand. Though a little rocky in spots, this beach at the east end of Sai Kung near Clear Water Bay has soft sand and is crowded on summer weekends. Walk down a steep set of steps to reach the small stretch of beach where families enjoy all manner of floating beds and tubes in the sea. Despite the heat, barbecuing is a popular beach activity, where the local style is to hold long forks laden with sausages, chicken wings, fish balls, or other finger food over the coals. From Central, take MTR to Hang Hau, then Exit B1 and Minibus 11M toward the University of Science and Technology.

Lantau Island

An often-overlooked fact is that when visitors arrive, they land on Lantau Island—on a large stretch of reclaimed land purposely built for the airport called Chep Lap Kok. Twice the size of Hong Kong Island, Lantau is also home to the giant Tian Tan Buddha statue, which sits majestically on a hilltop next to the Po Lin Monastery. The Ngong Ping 360 cable car whisks you here in 25 minutes. Also on Lantau is Hong Kong Disneyland, a small version of its American counterparts, as well as the charming Tai O fishing village.

Cheung Sha. Popular Cheung Sha is only a short taxi or bus ride from the Silvermine Bay ferry pier. Its mile-long expanse is excellent for swimming. The Stoep restaurant on the beach serves great Mediterranean and South African fare. Watching the sunset here is a perfect end to a sun-drenched day. There are only 30 taxis on the entire island, so on weekends, when things get busy, make sure you ask the restaurant to get you one back to the pier. Take ferry from Central's Pier 6 to Mui Wo. Buses meet ferry every half hour on weekdays and Sat.; on Sun., buses leave when full.

Silvermine Beach. The stretch of beach can be seen from the ferry as you approach the island, though because of its proximity to the pier and other fishing boats, the waters aren't as clean as those at Cheung Sha. You can rent bikes at the Silvermine Beach Hotel and explore the village of Mui Wo. Take ferry from Central's Pier 6 to Mui Wo. Buses meet ferry every half hour on weekdays and Sat.; on Sun., buses leave when full.