Shek O

A nice secluded beach that is on the south side of the Hong Kong island. Beach doesn't get too crowded 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, particularly 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.

Absolutely gorgeous beach! An amazing way to escape the crowds in the city. I came here after work for a bbq with coworkers, and I was blown away by how beautiful it is, the water is really clear, yet not cold at all. Perfect for swimming is you're up for that. We were even able to witness a proposal! It's a bit far from the urban areas, so I would probably suggest taxi or some other arranged transportation. (I'm sure there are buses from somewhere too) There are around a dozen bbq pits located at the back of the beach (charcoal only), so bring some meat, some drinks and have a good time!

The highlight of Shek O is the nice beach where I can pick a bench (or even lay in the sand) and look out into the open waters. It's gorgeous. It's one of my semi-regular stops when visiting Hong Kong. (Unfortunately this last visit had to cut the water-gazing because it got surprisingly windy and cold and I was without my jacket.) The neighboring is enjoying walking around also. I don't know the background or history of it but it's apparently Thai-influenced as evident by the food stands and restaurants there almost all having Thai food on the menu. To get here one can take the MTR to the Sau Kei Wan station and take the Bus No. 9 from the depot. One highlight of going to Sau Kei Wan is walking around the street market while there, as well as visiting the one stand there selling street food like my favorite, fin soup.

Its summer, the sun is out and the summer holidays are on- where do you go? Shek O of course! There are many beaches in Hong Kong and arguably all of them have their own fortes- Big Wave Bay is clean, Deep Water Bay is where you go people watching (being very politically correct) and Gold Coast Beach is probably better for families. So is there one that encompasses everything? There comes Shek O. Situated right at the southern end of Hong Kong island, going to Shek O takes you through the scenic parts of Hong Kong's south coast- the views are just breathtaking however you look at it. The beach is wide and largely unobstructed and there is a good area for everybody to fan out on a busy day. There are many little shops around providing food and drinks as well as floating toys so you can really enjoy with your family as well. Wrapping out the evening with dinner at Chung Tai (a Thai Restaurant there) used to be my favourite thing to do for a summers day. Bad points? Parking. The carpark fills up by 8am and you are literally forced to park anywhere you see; getting a ticket is almost expected but with hourly parking at $30 dollars an hour I am inclined to risk it. Public transport is also busy and the bus ride back down is not for people who get car sick easily. Are these bad points enough to deter me? Nope.