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Beach volleyball in Hong Kong combines some of the best that the city has to offer—sun and sand, a friendly sports community, and frozen pineapples after a dip in the ocean. Due to Covid-19 restrictions on large indoor gatherings, the great outdoors have been pulling thousands from their offices and homes for a workout. And with beaches slowly re-opening just in time for the summer season, beach volleyball can be the perfect way to make some new friends and work up a sweat!
In this guide, we have included a list of public beach volleyball courts that are already equipped with nets and line markers. Some of these courts are on a first-come, first-served basis (pun intended), but some require advance booking!
Beach volleyball first rose to popularity in the United States during the Great Depression, due to its accessibility and affordability. Rather than needing to rent out an indoor facility with all the necessary amenities, public nets could be left out. Shortly after, professional tournaments began to crop up globally, with the sport formally joining the Olympic Games in 1996. Although the inclusion of sun, sand, and wind adds new challenges to an already tough sport, the relative softer landing and overall chill atmosphere of being at the beach draws thousands of new players to the nets each year.
While there is a bit of a debate on whether court volleyball or beach volleyball is superior, the popular sentiment is that comparing the two is like comparing apples and oranges. Both are different enough that it takes some time to adjust and develop new skills, but compatible enough that there are some transference and training that overlaps.
Whilst beach and court volleyball overlap heavily in terms of rules and gameplay, there are a few key differences to make up for the addition of sun, sand, and wind to the former sport. If you are trying to transition from the court to the beach, or if it’s your first time touching a volleyball at all, here is a rough guide to the major differences.
Officially, the court is located at Cafeteria New Beach, but the beach is contiguous to Golden Beach and therefore, the locations are sometimes referred to interchangeably. Tucked away in Tuen Mun, this beach is one of the first artificially created beaches in Hong Kong! It is surrounded by floral and fauna, along with easy access to a shopping centre, tuck shops, and the usual seaside amenities—toilets, changing rooms, and shower facilities.
If you are looking for some inspiration to go along with your scrimmage, look no further than Cafeteria New Beach. It’s a common spot for the Hong Kong Beach Volleyball team’s training sessions, so if you’re lucky, you can catch the start of a session! To avoid potential conflicts in using the court, book the court on the third floor of the Tsuen Wan District Office. Cafeteria New Beach Volleyball Court is open from 9 am to 6 pm except on Wednesday, where it closes at 12 pm.
Cafeteria New Beach Volleyball Court, 18½ Milestone, Castle Peak Road | (+852) 2450 6440
Curiously enough, the Choi Hung Road Playground Beach Volleyball Court is the first of its kind to be built in the urban area, introducing the sport to the general population. Smack-dab in the middle of a variety of sports facilities—including a playground, badminton courts, handball courts, tennis courts, and basketball courts—you can engage in a myriad of activities here other than beach volleyball. To book one of the courts, which are open from 7 am to 11 pm daily, you will need to apply in person at the Wong Tai Sin District Leisure Services Office.
Choi Hung Road Playground Beach Volleyball Court, 150 Choi Hung Road, San Po Kong | (+852) 2326 2517
Kwai Chung beach volleyball court is adjacent to the Kwai Chung Sports Grounds, and thus, athletes are able to access toilets and shower facilities there. As an added bonus, there is a seating area for spectators as well. To book the courts, the process is slightly complicated: You will need to go to the Kwai Chung Sports Grounds in person on the twentieth of each month at 8 am to reserve a spot for the following month. If the twentieth of a particular month falls on a weekend, then the reservation period is pushed to the following Monday. Nothing else is needed aside from your HKID! Kwai Chung Beach Volleyball Courts are open from 8 am to 10 pm, except on Tuesdays from 8 am to 5 pm.
Kwai Chung Beach Volleyball Court, 93 Hing Shing Road, Kwai Chung | (+852) 2429 8039
If you are looking for a more private scrimmage session with some iconic picturesque views, Lido Beach is the place for you. Lido Beach regularly draws tons of visitors due to its front-row seat to Tsing Ma Bridge and Ting Kau Bridge. Albeit only being 200 metres long, this hidden gem offers two volleyball courts, along with shower and changing facilities, and even small tuck shops for snacks. No advance booking is available during the summer season, so just show up early and hope to find an empty court or some very friendly players to play with! Open from 9 am to 6 pm.
Lido Beach Volleyball Court, 11½ Milestone, Castle Peak Road (Ting Kau), Tsuen Wan | (+852) 2491 1209
The Repulse Bay Beach Volleyball Court is embedded into the main beach, and thus, athletes can access all of the amenities and facilities for beach-goers, including public showers and changing stations, toilets, small tuck shops, and restaurants. If you are looking for a post-game cool-down, there is a floating deck you can swim out to! Repulse Bay is easily accessible via public transport, but if you are feeling really up to it, you could hike to the beach! Simply call the Southern District Office in Aberdeen to do your booking. Repulse Bay Beach Volleyball Courts are open from 9 am to 6 pm.
Repulse Bay Beach Volleyball Court, Beach Road, Repulse Bay | (+852) 2812 2483
Silvermine Bay Beach is tucked away in Mui Wo, a hidden paradise with a beautiful waterfront, barbecue pits, and, of course, a beach volleyball court. It offers public bathrooms and changing facilities, a handful of restaurants and grocery stores just a short distance from the beach, so all of your regular amenities are taken care of. The Silvermine Bay Beach Volleyball Court are on a first-come, first-served basis, open from 9 am to 6 pm daily.
Silvermine Bay Beach Volleyball Court, Tung Wan Tau Road, Mui Wo, Lantau Island | (+852) 2984 8229
The Tin Yip Road Artificial Sand Court was opened in 2014 with the vision of being a multi-purpose sand court to be shared between beach volleyball and handball players. It is open for beach volleyball players on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays, and housed within the Tin Yip Road Park, which includes a turf pitch, jogging trails, and open fields for families and sports fanatics alike. There is access to bathrooms and shower facilities as well. There is no advance booking for this court, so show up as early as you can. Open from 8 am to 10 pm, except Wednesdays from 8 am to 5 pm.
Tin Yip Road Artificial Sand Court, Tin Yip Road, Tin Shui Wai | (+852) 2682 3439
Having grown up in a creative community, Grace can often be found taking photos, journaling on train and bus rides, and writing poems to her friends. She is fond of asking friends, family members, and strangers personal questions about their happiness and mental health. If she could ask the whole world a question, it would be, “What was the last thing that made you laugh?” She is an avid fan of Radiolab, Mamamoo, volleyball, and Shin Ramen.
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