Is it possible to swim in Hong Kong - on the example of Silver Strand Beach
When I was in Hong kong, I had a natural question, is it possible to swim here? After all, there is the sea all around! But as a rule, I met the answer that there is no seaside holiday in Hong Kong. As I understand it, very few people in general know that Hong Kong has a great beach holiday. After a little googling, I found out that for this you need to go to neighboring islands, for example, Lantau Island (Silvermine Bay Beach and Pui O Beach), Lamma Island (Lo So Shing Beach and Hung Shing Yeh), or the south of Hong Kong Island (Deep Water Bay Beach, Stanley Beach, Shek O Beach). If you suddenly search, then all these names will help. Some of them Google Maps can show on its map.
Since I lived in Chunking mansion, which is located in the very center of the Kowloon Peninsula, I did not want to go somewhere far, considering that I had only 5 days for the whole of Hong Kong. Therefore, accidentally seeing a point somewhere on the map near one of the last metro stations on Kowloon itself, I decided to check what kind of beach there was. Moreover, judging by the satellite map, the beach should have been there. Later I found out that many put dots on the maps just like that, from the bulldozer, but I did find the beach, though not the one that was in the description on that site :)
The content of the article
On the way to the beach
So, you need to take the lilac metro line (Hong Kong subway map) almost to the very end, to the penultimate Hang Hau station in the east of the Kowloon Peninsula. This area is called Saikun and is located in the New Territories. From the station walk 10-15 minutes to the sea along the street. If you have a navigator with you or a printout from Google, then it will not be difficult to find your way. Plus, there will also be a sign at the roundabout where to turn. The road goes first uphill and then downhill. By the way, this trip is also interesting because you can see the sleeping area of Hong Kong, as well as neighborhoods without skyscrapers.
We leave at the Hang Hau station in the sleeping area
Each house has its own name
We go to the beach. Laundry is drying on the fences
Sleeping area with bike paths
Colorful cleaning ladies
Places for walking dogs
The bag is designed for a dog's travel
Quarter without skyscrapers
It has its own religious island
Turn to Silver Strand Beach
Noble cars drive here
View from the hill to the sleeping area
Silver Strand Beach
The beach is very simple and bounty lovers will hardly like it. But, if we are talking about the fact that you just want to swim, and not to go anywhere far, then it is. I'm here in Moscow to the nearest beach on the Black Sea 3 hours by plane, and then I took the metro and after 30-60 minutes you are already swimming. On the beach, there are mostly only locals who live next door in their birdhouses and villas, I have not seen tourists.
The good news is that Silver Strand Beach has a changing room with warm showers and toilets. Is free! I somehow immediately remembered the Black Sea, and the Thai beaches too, there is somehow tight with it. The beach is state owned, admission is free, lifeguards are on duty, there is a parking lot and a sports ground. There is also a shark net, and in the water there are wooden platforms on which you can rest. True, for some reason, you cannot jump from them, although I would very much like.
We're almost near Silver Strand beach
Most of the coast is solid stones, which speaks of the artificiality of the beaches
You can live in such a villa on the seashore
You can't do much here, but it's for the best.
Can you swim in Hong Kong? Can!
There is rubbish too, but it is on the sidelines
Wooden platforms for rest
Changing room and shower room
Locker room with shower inside. Heat fans.
Silver Strand Beach in Hong Kong
Silver Strand opening hours
This stand shows that the water is clean and you can swim
Can you swim in Hong Kong? Can!
Beach on the map
As I said, you need to take the purple line to the penultimate Hang Hau station. We look at the map below and see that it is very close there. You need to go in the direction of the roundabout. First, we go up the hill and there will be the same roundabout, where there will be a pointer to where to go. We go down the hill and find ourselves in the parking lot next to the beach.
P.S. Of course, you shouldn't consider Hong Kong exactly as a beach resort, but there are really a lot of beaches there, and some of them are really tailored for a seaside holiday. So Hong Kong is not only about shopping and skyscrapers! Therefore, if you are there on a journey, you can indulge in the pleasure of swimming. By the way, there are much more beaches there than listed in the first paragraph..