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Header image courtesy of Bkemaoe HOMA (via Wikimedia Commons)
As much as we love hiking, finding the time to commit to a long trek is not always what the occasion calls for. An easy alternative that offers up equally stunning views—the ones tapering out to sea—are waterfront spaces, which are plentiful in multiple urban corners of Hong Kong.
Whether you are simply strolling solo to find your own moment of peace for the day or bringing along the whole family for a chilled day out, these waterside spots provide the best vibes.
It’s hard to believe that this revitalised space was once a public cargo docking area packed with metal ports and pounding lading noises. Sweeping out across Victoria Harbour, the open space covers up to almost 6,000 square metres with a tapering wooden boardwalk leading the way. A multipurpose venue, you will find skaters and kids swinging on a colourful playground, as well as seats made from reclaimed pallets and planked wood dotted all over.
Unlike many other public spaces, the area allows for leashed pets to roam, even dedicating a corner as a pet zone. Another special feature is the 2,000-square-metre community garden that hosts hydroponic and aquaponic crops and organic produce, one of the first urban leisure farms in Hong Kong to combine the three. Aside from making the most out of all the different facilities, keep your eyes peeled for art installations and gardening classes.
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In a pocket of the Southern District stretching out to meet the waters of Telegraph Bay, this dog-friendly park is a secluded yet broad space of flat greens. Perfect for a picnic, revel in the brilliant viewpoint that reaches as far as Lamma Island, as well as the soothing winds that brush across to meet the occupants of its well-maintained grass plots.
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A vibrant attraction on the sunrise side of Hong Kong Island, this splash of colour constitutes a part of the area’s ongoing expansion of public facilities by the harbour. Brimming with bright blues, delightful oranges, and burning yellows, the waterfront park of the East Coast Park Precinct debuted with an expansive 9,800-square-metre area for all to rest and play.
Weaving past the children’s play equipment is a small cycling trail and off to the sides is a long pier-like strip that allows for surrounding views of Victoria Harbour, which is quite rare to come by. Find out more about the East Coast Park Precinct here.
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Like an inviting backyard, the HarbourChill space is 1,800 square metres of fun and relaxation. Replete with animal-shaped furniture, swing chairs, and art installations that are on exhibit for a minimum of six months per rotation, this is a place where you can kick back while being surrounded by an Instagram-friendly backdrop.
Aside from peddling snacks and drinks, the on-site We+ Kiosk also holds collaborations with various local social enterprises to provide cutesy souvenirs and other goodies for sale.
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Covering an expanse of around 4,000 square metres, the Hoi Fai Road Promenade lines the boundaries of the suburbs of Olympic in the Tai Kok Tsui neighbourhood. Along the way lies an alternating pattern of grass lawns intercut with benches framed under angled white beams, which light up in the evening and look as though they could double as modern art sculptures. Aside from fewer crowds and an updated glass-roofed rain shelter design, another merit of the space is its fantastic panoramas.
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Urban explorers will be thrilled by the four-kilometre path that runs beside the Hung Hom Pier. Its reach spans all the way between the laddered green lawns in front of the Kerry Hotel to the terracotta-tiled boulevard that is never short of wandering families and joggers. Arguably the best time to head over is during sunset, as the space allows for golden hour to bleed beautifully across the whole horizon in its full range of hues.
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Formerly a recycling depot that has been completely transformed into a hip harbourside space, the Kwun Tong Promenade is one that melds together concepts of sustainability, history, as well as the arts. Taking inspiration from its past as a container port, one of the main attractions features a multilevel tower of colourful light blocks, alongside viewing platforms, sheltered seating, as well as fitness and play facilities under the giant bypass.
Gaze across the waters to look out to the also-revamped Kai Tak Cruise Terminal, alongside bits and pieces of the Whampoa, Quarry Bay, and North Point neighbourhoods further out.
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Although the Quarry Bay Park is separated by a pedestrian flyover, the 100,000-square-metre space encompasses many sporting pitches, a serene tai chi garden, children’s playgrounds, and also a special gallery in a retired fireboat. Hoisted right in the middle concourse, the Fireboat Alexander Grantham Exhibition Gallery utilises the body of the authentic boat itself to showcase a treasure trove of old firefighting artefacts, as well as an introduction to the history of marine rescue work in Hong Kong.
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What once occupied a little corner of the Southern District as an oil depot surrounded by rural hillside village houses and bay farmlands, South Horizons had since developed into the sleek residential pocket that it is today. Aside from admiring the languid boats pulling in and out of the Aberdeen Harbour, the stretch also affords you gorgeous views reaching Lamma Island, Lantau Island, Cyberport, and the southern waterfronts of the Island.
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A hit weekend destination in the New Territories not too far from urban sprawl, the Tai Po Waterfront Park offers over 200,000 square metres of calm. Starring an impressive fixture amongst the lush greens and slithering cycling tracks, the Lookout Tower is one that grants a wide-reaching overview of the Tolo Harbour and the park’s gorgeous gardens.
Explore the varied facilities that include beautifully maintained flower plots, a herb garden, an educational insect house, and even a model boat pool.
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Giving a full view of the Central Government Offices and the Legislative Council Complex on one side and Victoria Harbour on the other, the spacious bowling greens of Tamar Park contrast against levelled platforms to provide a space that joins concrete and glass with greenery. Covering an area of about 17,600 square metres, the manicured landscape has played many a part in serving as the city centre’s favourite outdoor multipurpose venue.
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Interlinking the sleepy Tseung Kwan O area with neighbouring Tiu Keng Leng and Lohas Park is the Tseung Kwan O Waterfront Park, a picturesque alcove that rounds out to become Junk Bay. Aside from the fantastic front-seat visuals of Eastern Hong Kong Island, the promenade is fully stocked with cafés and eateries, with the occasional jogger or skater speeding past. Off to the side is the Wan Po Road Pet Garden, a modestly-sized paradise where your furry friends can roam off-leash and meet other dogs to play with.
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Bookended by the dazzling biomimicry-inspired K11 Musea mall and the boxy Hong Kong Museum of Art, the stretch of waterside bliss along the Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade is a consistent contender on the list of Hong Kong’s most iconic sites. Find your own slice of relaxation between the eager tourists seeking out the Bruce Lee statue, the cheery families admiring the nightly light show together, and the sunset-chasing photographers.
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A collection of two sporting pitches, an elderly fitness corner, a mini boat zone, a children’s playground, and even a skate park, the Tsing Yi Northeast Park is an underrated gem on the boundary of the island. Surrounded by the comforts of suburban Tsing Yi, with the gargantuan Maritime Square mall a quick gander away, enjoy gazing out and catching sight of the stunning cityscape out in the not-so-far distance.
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The emerald heart of the West Kowloon Cultural District, the Art Park and its adjacent Waterfront Promenade make for two perfect spots to fully soak in the relaxed ambience that seeps through the area. A popular place for picnicking, hanging out with pets, and gliding past on wheels, it has quickly become one of Hong Kong’s favourite spots to chill.
Marvel at the broad and all-encompassing view of the Victoria Harbour that stretches all across the Island side, with front-row seats to the sun sending out its final glints of gold over the calm blue waters. For a full guide on restaurants, cafés, things to do, and places to visit in the West Kowloon Cultural District, check out our complete guide here.
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