Hong Kong Activities and Sports

Hong Kong has plenty of other ways to spend your time. While the city is very built up and heavily populated, but Hong Kong does have many green areas for outdoor activities.

Hiking and Biking as well as world class golf courses are seen at the busy Hong Kong Island, sports facilities are present to for suitable activity. The government has invested heavily into tennis courts and basketball courts, swimming pools and many open fields to encourage people to be physically fit and healthy lifestyles in what can be a stressful place to live.

Hong Kong Activities - The Rugby Sevens

There are some fantastic private clubs that offer wonderful food and stunning sports facilities rather like a five-star hotel. Hong Kong is known as surrounded in water and Hong Kong has clean and safe public beaches open throughout the year and people do water sports such as sailing windsurfing and just taking a junk trip to soak up the scenery and fine food.

There are official sports leagues and clubs for almost every sport you can imagine. The website of the Sports Federation and Olympic Committee of Hong Kong has a page giving details of NSA's (National Sports Associations).

Horseracing

This is the most popular sport among local people. Race meetings, at which vast sums of money change hands, are held from September to June, Saturday or Sunday afternoon, and Wednesday evening.

The two main racecourses are at Happy Valley (Hong Kong Island) and Shatin (New Territories). The tourism board organises horseracing tours which allow visitors to enjoy the races from the members-only enclosures.

Hiking and trekking

MacLehose Trail, the longest trail, at 100km (62 miles), crosses the New Territories, taking in Hong Kong's highest peak, Tai Mo Shan (985m/3231ft). It can be joined at 10 different points, all of them accessible by public transport, and is recommended for experienced hikers.

The 70km- (43 mile-) Lantau Trail runs around Lantau Island, via Lantau Peak (934m/3064ft) and Po Lin Monastery, home to the world's tallest seated Buddha.

The Hong Kong Trail runs through five country parks on Hong Kong Island, and the Wilson Trail runs for 78km from the south of Hong Kong Island to the north of the New Territories, necessitating a ferry ride across the harbour.

A popular walk is the Dragon's Back on Hong Kong Island, which follows a ridge, giving spectacular views. This can be concluded with dinner in one of the restaurants in Shek-O village. On these trails and on other walks, visitors can escape from the urban bustle that characterises the rest of the territory and enjoy tranquillity and beautiful views.

Hong Kong Wildlife

Many of Hong Kong's natural areas are protected, and there are 22 country parks which cover approximately 110,000 acres (40,000 hectares) of land. There is a wide variety of vegetation, including native and imported species of trees.

Although there are no longer large mammals such as tigers and elephants to be seen, it is possible to spot macaque monkeys, wild boar, civet cats, barking deer and the Chinese pangolin, a scaly mammal which resembles an armadillo.

Hong Kong's prime birdwatching site is at the Mai Po marshes near Yuen Long in the east of the New Territories. The area is now administered by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) and visitors are required to obtain a permit to enter. Black-headed gulls, Saunders gull, osprey, Dalmatian pelicans and Chinese pond herons all visit the site to feed on the fish in the mud flats and mangroves there, and many other species can also be seen.

Hong Kong's waters are home to the Chinese pink dolphin, which can be observed near Lantau Island.

Hong Kong Golf

All golf clubs and their facilities in Hong Kong are for members only, although visitors can play for a limited time at an extra cost. Major tournaments are held at the renowned Hong Kong Golf Club in Fanling, which also allows visitors to join as day members.

The Jockey Club Kau Sai Chau public golf course, beautifully located on an island, was designed by Gary Player. The Hong Kong Tourism Board organises sports and recreation tours on Tuesdays and Fridays which include trips to various golf courses (see Contact Addresses section).

Watersports

There are over 30 highly-acclaimed beaches throughout the territory. Excellent skindiving, water-skiing, sailing, kayaking, windsurfing, and fishing (from a boat or at a reservoir) are available. Watersports equipment can be hired from beaches and hotels in Stanley and Sai Kung, and from other centres.

Cyclists will enjoy the Tolo Harbour Cycling Track, running from Sha Tin to Tai Po, an easy ride through scenic countryside. Bikes are available for rental near MTR (formerly KCR) stations. Most of the outlying islands do not allow cars and are therefore very peaceful. They are best visited in the week because they attract many visitors at weekends.

Spectator sports such as soccer, rugby and cricket are also popular. Jogging facilities are provided by some hotels. The Clinic at Adventis Hospital holds jogging sessions every Sunday. There are also good facilities for squash, tennis, riding, bowling and ice skating, as well as health-centre facilities.

Hong Kong Activities and Sports

While this Hong Kong website have made extensive effort to be accurate, we make no warranty or guarantee as to the correctness of the above and all information listed here. Certainly schedules, prices and policies will and do change. Sometimes contact info is provided so one way to be sure is to call or book ahead. Similarly, we do not guarantee the claims made by our sponsors and advertisers. Caveat emptor!