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Summer is here and so is the heat! And by “heat,” we are referring to the sun, as well as flushed cheeks and fluttering heartbeats. If you want to make the most out of the summer season with your significant other, check out our list of fun summer date ideas and suggestions for both outdoor and indoor activities across Hong Kong.
Hong Kong is a renowned concrete jungle, but people seem to forget that half of the city is covered in greenery, too. New Territories, in particular, has a lot of farms and eco-parks, where you can soak up Hong Kong’s natural beauty and enjoy the bountiful adventures of fruit-picking. A majority of Hong Kong’s fruit farms mainly offer strawberries, but the summer harvest expands the roster of produce, such as Muscat grapes from Japan, pineapples, sugar canes, and all kinds of veggies for you to pick.
Do be mindful of the heat and remember to wear a sun hat, but most importantly, take your time to enjoy plucking the firmest and juiciest fruits from the vines. For the ultimate romance move, pop some into each other’s mouths to share the romance! Here are some of the best fruit-picking farms in Hong Kong.
Gentle caresses, a sneaky pinch here, and a heartful squeeze there... Woah, what are you thinking about? Just to be clear, we’re talking about an inspiring trip to a pottery and ceramics studio for a go at clay manipulation. Book a class with your date to experience a hands-on bonding session featuring wet clay and spinning wheels, and make something together with love to take home with you. Unlike children, your creations won’t require constant feeding. Click here for pottery and ceramic studios in Hong Kong.
Grab your partner and run away from the hustle and bustle to immerse yourselves in the starry night sky. (Honestly, that sentence sounds more romantic than most of our previous love expeditions!) If you get far away enough from Hong Kong’s skyscrapers and glistening towers, you’ll find that the city offers plenty of astronomical hotspots for stargazing.
You can even download a star map or astronomy app and try to find stars for each other. Click here to discover the best stargazing spots, and wish upon a shooting star by heading to one of the many gorgeous locations on designated dates here to witness a meteor shower.
Toss a dart on the world map to pick your next destination! After all, there is nothing more romantic than a lovey-dovey summer getaway. Whether it’s a cultural excursion in Japan, visiting historical landmarks in Italy, a beachy trip in Thailand, or joining a wildlife tour in Tasmania, you can surely find a spot that suits travel preferences for both of you.
If you need inspiration for places to visit, click here to discover bucket-list places worth visiting around the globe.
It doesn’t matter if you are five years old or well into your seventies, board games are fun no matter your age. Most people will be familiar with Uno or Monopoly, but there are a hundred different board games out there worth exploring with your partner. Board game cafés provide a comfortable haven for you and your date to relax and have a go at the range of games in-store. Here are some of the best board game cafés in Hong Kong.
Hongkongers are all about the beach life and poolside hangs in summer but sadly, our beaches do have their own waste and litter problems, especially if your visit coincides with an incoming tide. That is precisely why you need to use our guide to the best beaches in Hong Kong if you are seeking pristine sand and waters with your date.
As a side note, everyone should clean up after themselves after their trip, so make sure you do your part and don’t leave any rubbish behind. If you are looking to get your heart rate going, here is our list of unusual water sports to try in Hong Kong. Or, if all that activity is too much for you and your date, how about some simple sunset-watching?
Tired of hiking around Hong Kong’s peaks and in search of a more active (and faster) way to take in the city’s natural beauties? Try cycling! Hong Kong offers several choices of cycling trails, and which one you end up picking decides how effortless or challenging your day trip will be. If you pick a relaxing route, you won’t have to put on full cycling gear for your leisurely ride, making it the perfect opportunity to hang out and bond with your date! Here are some of our favourite cycling trails in Hong Kong.
Travelling overseas is heaps of fun, but it can understandably become quite costly. If you and your other half are running on a lower vacation budget, how about making the most of Hong Kong? Many hotels in town offer staycation deals, with benefits such as complimentary afternoon teas, dinners, and even creative twists such as cinema screenings in bed and wellness retreats. To us, splurging on a weekend stay at one of the many hotels in Hong Kong’s most scenic spots sounds like a sweet deal!
If you are chasing the perfect sunrise and sunset, start with one of these hotel bars to prime yourself for a palatial stay in one of their comfy rooms. Or, if you are looking to update your social media feed with your memories from the wonderful weekend getaway, give one of these gorgeously designed and decorated spots a try.
Home to over 100 beaches, Hong Kong is one of the few places in the world where you can be surrounded by skyscrapers one second, then dip your toes into the sand and surf the next. Since it is far less romantic to visit beaches everyone knows about, how about impressing your date with a day trip to some of the best off-the-beaten-path beaches in Hong Kong? If you are curious about where to find these sandy spots, click here to see the best secret beaches in Hong Kong.
Wading through rock pools, dipping your feet into pristine waters, snapping a few pics for your social feeds, and, most of all, getting a true sense of nature in Hong Kong with your partner—how can a waterfall adventure get more romantic? Most of Hong Kong’s waterfalls, of which we have many, will require a hike of some sort, so you will get to combine outdoor activities with an epic cooldown. Better polish up your photography skills to make the most out of these picturesque waterfalls! Here are our favourite secret waterfalls across Hong Kong.
Another clichéd but undeniable favourite amongst summer activities is a timeless picnic—just because hikes and anything else require constant movement in the summer heat. Why not invite your date to a picnic spot instead and get a picnic hamper for the occasion? Do pick spots with plenty of shade, in case you and your date can’t handle the glaring sunlight.
Another good thing about picnics is that most Hong Kong picnic spots double as dog parks, so that’s some extra furry fun you can throw in! Click here for more information on where to have your picnic, and here for some tips on where to get the best picnic hampers.
As a tried-and-tested conversation starter, the act of admiring and analysing art has always been an excellent way to show off and flex your creative acumen. Plus, you can impress your other half by using your sharp eye for aesthetics, and dive deep into passionate discussions about your artistic revelations.
Hongkongers are blessed with a vibrant arts and entertainment scene filled with museums, galleries, and street art. Check out the best art galleries in Hong Kong here for a day of gallery-hopping with your partner. Want some extra excitement? Take your appreciation for the arts outside at one of these outdoor art and mural villages. Aside from exploring some eye-catching works, you can also take some time to stroll around the quaint neighbourhood.
First published on 30 June 2020. Written by Ching Yuen. Last updated by Stella Li.
Covering the hottest new eats, the best places to play, offbeat takes on local culture, and so much more, Localiiz is every Hongkonger’s destination for how to live a well-rounded life in our vibrant city. Why the strange spelling? Well, Localiiz is designed to be your “local eyes”—and for that, you need two i’s.
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