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Originally published by Catharina Cheung. Last updated by Lily Valette.
There is something so inherently romantic about sunsets, whether you’re enjoying it by yourself or with a loved one. Luckily, Hong Kong has plenty of places that offer great vistas of the sun setting beautifully at the end of the day. Here are nine such spots around the territories—and no, Instagram Pier isn’t one of them.
If you’re embarking on one of the Hong Kong sunset hikes on this list, don’t forget to account for the fact that the light will fade very quickly after sundown, so you’ll need to bring a torch to avoid being stranded out in the wilderness!
Honestly, the clue’s in the name; Mount High West offers lovely, unobstructed views of the west, and is, therefore, the perfect spot for enjoying the sunset. Located in Lung Fu Shan Country Park, this summit also offers great views of Hong Kong’s cityscape, similar to the views you’d get on Victoria Peak. While not as high in elevation as Victoria Peak, Mount High West is the highest summit on the western side of the island, and so has nothing in the way of its sunset view.
To get there, you can hike from the HKU or Kennedy Town area. While you do have to tackle approximately 2,000 steep steps, it is a highly scenic route that will also bring you past some historical relics. Here is a detailed guide to doing the full hike.
There is also the much easier option of hiking from Victoria Peak. Simply follow the Peak Morning Trail (Harlech Road Fitness Trail) for a kilometre or so until you reach a park with workout stations and seating areas. Go through the park and to join up to the final section of the whole ascent called the Treacherous Trail. While the full hike will take one to two hours to complete, taking this shortcut will cut the journey down to approximately half an hour. You can then make your way to the eateries at the Peak for some dinner as well!
Because it’s right at the northwestern corner of Hong Kong Island, it makes sense for Kennedy Town to have great sunset views. Much beloved by residents nearby, you’re sure to find at least a few groups of people milling around taking photos. There is a small sitting out area off of Shing Sai Road that offers lovely views of the setting sun over the waters of Belcher Bay, and the eateries along New Praya Road are also great to sit at and enjoy some food and drink while gazing out into the horizon.
Also known as Red Incense Burner Summit, this hike has plenty of viewpoints along the way that will afford you different vistas of the city. Its slopes are located behind Fortress Hill and Tin Hau, overlooking both the skyline and the natural landscape. Follow Google Maps up to Red Incense Burner Summit, making sure to veer off the path whenever you see gaps in the foliage, because these will all give you great views of the city below.
Often, these break points in the trees and brush are accompanied by rock platforms that you can clamber onto with some care for the perfect photo op. Depending on the time of year, the sun will either set behind the city skyline or seemingly sink into the harbour—both make for stunning sights.
Sitting along the quiet bit of southside away from the tourist crowds, Cyberport offers spacious lawns and unfettered sea views, so it’s just you, the trees, and the sea stretching into the dusky distance ahead. Apart from the views, the great thing about Cyberport is that it is a dog-friendly space—after all, petting cute dogs is really a form of self-care! Grab a drink from the supermarket conveniently located in the Cyberport mall and toast the sunset.
Once valued by both Chinese pirates and the British military for its strategic view over the Lei Yue Mun straits, Devil’s Peak is part of the Gin Drinker’s Line, a defensive line across Hong Kong’s natural geological ridges against the Japanese invasion, and the ruins of Gough and Pottinger Batteries, a smaller outpost, and a redoubt on the summit of peak are still visible today.
From its location on the eastern edge of Kowloon, visitors to the redoubt at the summit can enjoy views of the harbour, Junk Bay, as well as cityscapes on both Hong Kong and Kowloon sides.
A bit of a hidden gem, the HKJC University of Chicago sits at the foot of Mount Davis, between Kennedy Town and Cyberport. Enter the university complex via its strikingly curved glass façade, and you’ll find that the far end of the central open space is a great spot from which to enjoy the sunset. You’ll also be able to see the old Jubilee Battery.
For an even better vantage point, head down a set of stairs just to the left of the university entrance. There, you’ll find a small pavilion right on the waterside, with rocks around it that you can climb onto as you watch the sun slowly sink away.
This is one of our favourite urban walks, conveniently located in the middle of the city, yet just removed enough to afford visitors some peace and greenery. Accessible via a flight of stairs behind Mei Ho House, Garden Hill is a popular spot with school kids on their dates as well as photographers.
The sunset views over Sham Shui Po’s skyline is an incredible mix of city and nature, but don’t rush off too soon, as the night views are also stunning—a great swatch of glittering lights with the brightly-lit Yen Chow Street extending into the distance.
Though not the easiest place to get to without private (Lantau-licensed) transportation, the fishing village of Tai O has much to offer as one of Hong Kong’s neighbourhoods that is still very strongly rooted in history. Wind through the little paths and alleys, and enjoy the sun setting over fishing boats and stilt houses. The sight is such an organically historical one that you might just catch yourself wondering if it’s still the modern twenty-first century.
With a name like that, you just can’t ignore Sunset Peak when looking for beautiful dusks! This is Hong Kong’s third-highest mountain, so hiking up isn’t going to be a walk in the park, but know that you’ll have breathtaking views waiting at the end.
Ascending to higher planes from Pak Kung Au, you’ll be able to see sweeping panoramas of the islands lying offshore set against an egg-yolk like setting sun. Should you make the trip in autumn, you’ll also be treated to its famous seas of golden silver grass, but even if you’re not there at the right season, we reckon the views are still pretty unparalleled. Here is a more detailed guide to hiking Sunset Peak.
Pak Tso Wan is a small beach located south of Cheung Chau island. Only a 25-minute walk from the ferry pier, this beach is surprisingly overlooked by most visitors who prefer to spend time on Tung Wan Beach, Kwun Yam Beach, or the well-known Coral Beach. That means you’ll probably have this white-sanded Eden mostly to yourself, should you choose to make the very manageable trek (save for one or two fishermen on the rocks nearby).
Pak Tso Wan is not only a beautiful spot for your next day out at the beach, but it also offers an unobstructed view of the sunset. Except for a few islets here and there and the occasional fishing boat passing by, all that lies between you and the setting sun will be the ocean with its lapping waves.
Catharina has recently returned to her hometown of Hong Kong after spending her formative years in Singapore and the UK. She enjoys scouring the city for under-the-radar things to do, see, and eat, and is committed to finding the perfect foundation that will withstand Hong Kong’s heat. She is also an aspiring polyglot, a firm advocate for feminist and LGBTQIA+ issues, and a huge lover of animals. You can find her belting out show-tunes in karaoke, or in bookstores adding new tomes to her ever-growing collection.
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