They say a great place to live is a great place to visit. But what if all the things we visit other places for exist in the place where we live?
I was recently catching up with a friend in Indonesia when I casually mentioned that I’ve been wanting to take my kids surfing in Bali. She asked, "Isn't there surfing in Hong Kong?"
"Actually, there is," I replied.
We laughed at the absurdity of flying five hours instead of commuting a fraction of that time to do the same thing.
But isn't this the paradox of travel? We travel even when logically, it doesn't make sense from a time-cost perspective. Of course, travel isn't always about practicality. We travel to escape routines, experience the novel, challenge ourselves, and maybe learn something new.
Perhaps we associate our own city with the everyday, the mundane, the same day-to-day challenges. Or perhaps we've fallen into the trap that we can explore Hong Kong anytime, while an overseas holiday comes with a sense of urgency. We make the effort to discover new places because we know our time there is limited.
Adventures in Hong Kong, by comparison, can wait.
Bali, for example, offers much more than waves and wellness. It sells a vision of a certain lifestyle. It's not just the surfing I'm dreaming of; it's the cooler version of myself. The one who is effortlessly with the ocean, enjoying a hard-earned plate of nasi goreng and vibrant tropical fruit blend after a surf.
But what if I didn't have to count down 70 days until my next holiday? What if I could skip the airfare and research, and get a taste of that adventurous lifestyle right here in Hong Kong?
Turns out, I can.
And surfing is just the beginning.
The more I thought about it, the more I realized that Hong Kong offers an extraordinary range of experiences we often associate with holidays elsewhere in Asia: Boracay offers crystal-blue waters and incredible diving. We flock to Borneo for rainforests and wildlife. Though Hong Kong also has the natural landscapes, biodiversity, and outdoor activities that people travel across Asia to experience, it's an entirely different side of the city that rarely gets the same attention.
So, in the spirit of rediscovering my own city, I put together a list of experiences right here at home:
Instead of birding in Borneo...
…try birding at Mai Po Nature Reserve.
Managed by WWF, Mai Po is a Ramsar site, a wetland that has been given special international status. It holds significance as an environmentally important site, as designated by the Ramsar Convention. The Ramsar Convention is an international treaty signed in 1971 in Ramsar, Iran, and countries that agree to this treaty also promise to safeguard these places for their nature and wildlife habitats.
Mai Po has recorded 380 out of Hong Kong’s 580 recorded bird species on site. In other words, 65% of all birds found in Hong Kong can also be found at Mai Po. For anyone who’s keeping track, the opportunity to see unique birds at this site is pretty high.
Visit WWF’s site for more information about how to get there and the activities they offer.
Instead of diving in Phu Quoc…
…check out Sharp Island, Hoi Ha Wan Marine Park, or Tung Ping Chau.
Hong Kong’s marine biodiversity is impressive, holding 26% of China’s total marine biodiversity. Our waters have rich hard and soft coral ecosystems and are home to over 1,000 species of fish and 20 marine mammals.
While diving is possible in southern Hong Kong, the eastern side towards Sai Kung and further north has less commercial traffic and therefore offers better visibility (Dillon, 2020). This means there's an opportunity to see crabs, eels, rays, anemones, colorful coral, of course, and all kinds of fish. Hong Kong’s seasons offer a variety of different experiences, with autumn being one of the best times of year to go for comfortable temperatures, higher visibility, and relatively calmer weather.
Sai Kung Scuba has a variety of different courses for divers of all stages and interests.
Instead of staged dolphin encounters in Zhuhai or Hainan…
… go see pink dolphins in their natural habitat: the ocean!
It will be much more rewarding than any captive experience, I promise. The pink dolphins, also known as the Chinese white dolphin or the Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin, are found in Hong Kong waters and the Pearl River Estuary, though their numbers are decreasing. Despite their protected status, human activity (such as marine traffic, pollution, fishing, development, and land reclamation) continues to threaten the local dolphin population.
In my opinion, Dolphin Watch is the best option for this activity, thanks to their focus on education, conservation, and whale-safe practices. For convenience, they will pick you up in Tsim Sha Tsui, or you can meet the boat in Tung Chung before heading to the marine park.
Instead of windsurfing and paddleboarding in Boracay…
… try doing that in Cheung Chau or Stanley!
Windsurfing is, of course, the sport where Hong Kong won its first Olympic medal in 1996. Rental shops vary in their offerings, but generally will have stand-up paddleboards, kayaks, and wingfoils available for rent, along with lessons. Hing Kee in Cheung Chau has a beach restaurant and umbrella rentals as well. For best availability, contact in advance.
Instead of surfing in Bali…
… try surfing in Tai Long Wan (Sai Kung) or boogie boarding in Big Wave Bay (HK side).
To get to Tai Long Wan from Sai Kung Pier, take a bus or taxi to Sai Wan Pavilion, then walk the rest of the way on the MacLehose Trail, about 40 minutes. It is also possible to take a 30-minute speedboat, which will cost about $150 per person, each way. A couple of operators (Blue Sky Sports Club & HK SurfSUP) at the beach offer rentals. For classes, best to call ahead.
The best way to get to Big Wave Bay on Hong Kong Island is to take the MTR to Shau Kei Wan on the Island Line. Take exit A3 and take bus 9 to Shek O. Get off at the Big Wave Bay stop. The cost to rent a board varies depending on the type of board, but around HK$50-75 for the whole day. A boogie board rental is $30 for the whole day, and an umbrella and chair rental is also $30 for the whole day. Each item requires a $50 deposit.
Note that surfing is banned on Hong Kong’s public beaches managed by LCSD, which rules out Cheung Sha and Pui O on Lantau, as well as Big Wave Bay on Hong Kong Island. Tai Long Wan in Sai Kung does not fall under this jurisdiction.
As you can guess, this isn't just about attracting more tourists. It's also about helping those of us who live here see our home differently, too. By supporting local businesses and NGOs who operate in this space — the experts who take care of these special outdoor spots — we can learn how to care for our local environment and live the well-being life we want to live.
Now, don't get me wrong. I'm not suggesting we stop traveling to Indonesia, Vietnam, Malaysia, the Philippines, or anywhere else. Our Asian neighbors have incredible landscapes, cultures, food, and outdoor experiences that are absolutely worth exploring. But they've also done an excellent job of selling an eco-lifestyle vacation ideal. Hong Kong offers many comparable experiences. So how come we don't associate our own city with that lifestyle?
Perhaps it's because Hong Kong's adventure and outdoor tourism offerings have never received quite the same attention as our breathtaking skyline, shopping districts, and neon lights. We've spent decades building a reputation as a fast-paced, cosmopolitan city, while our mountains and beaches are just a blip in the B-roll.
I realize that, in a city where convenience is king, traveling to Sai Kung or Mai Po might feel like a trek, especially since we often refer to Hong Kong as a 15-minute city. But compared with a five-hour flight, hotel bookings, and the cost of international travel, a local adventure suddenly looks more appealing.
Of course, Hong Kong doesn't need to become the next Bali. Nor should it. We have our own identity, but our skyline wouldn’t be the way it is without our natural landscapes and cultural nuance, which make this city unlike anywhere else.
But if Hong Kong wants to remain a world-class tourism destination, perhaps it's time we pay more attention to our natural environment and outdoor experiences. Not only for visitors discovering the city for the first, second, or third time, but also for those of us who live here.
Why do we reserve our adventurous side for international vacations? Why should surfing, diving, wildlife encounters, and more be saved for time spent outside of Hong Kong? And still, my friend’s question has stuck with me: Isn’t there surfing in Hong Kong?
There is, but maybe the other question to ask is why it never occurred to me to look here first. We have so much of what we cross oceans for here, yet we reflexively seek experiences elsewhere. So maybe the secret to getting that much-needed change of scenery that travel gives us isn't by traveling farther, but rather by seeing the place we call home a little differently.
Sure, Hong Kong doesn't have Bali's endless waves or Borneo's vast rainforests. But we do have remarkable biodiversity, majestic coastlines, fascinating wildlife, the best comfort food, and rich cultural heritage, and the unbeatable luxury of sleeping in our own beds afterwards. Or perhaps, the greatest luxury is living in a place worth visiting and exploring time and time again.
