Sports and leisure activities Hong-Kong 香港

Budget & Tips

Hong Kong is an unsuspected paradise for sports enthusiasts of all kinds, and many outdoor activities are free of charge.

Hiking. With over 200 islands and 40% of its surface area classified as nature parks, Hong Kong offers an incredible playground for hiking.

Beaches. Take advantage of the many beaches, some of which are truly heavenly (Sai Kung) and others - also very beautiful - have the advantage of being easily accessible by public transport from the city center.

Jogging and trail running. In Tsim Sha Tsui or on Hong Kong Island, the landscaped waterfront offers a superb setting for a jog at the start or end of the day. On islands like Lantau or in the New Territories, there are numerous trails for trail running.

Swimming. In-building, hotel or public swimming pools (Kennedy Town and Kowloon Park are recommended).

Cycling. Although cycling is not recommended on Hong Kong Island, there are cycle paths in the New Territories and on islands such as Cheung Chau, which offer a different way of discovering the city.

Water sports. Surf at Big Wave Bay or kayak and paddle at Sai Kung, but also wakeboarding and water-skiing, and there's even a kitesurfing school.

Diving. Hong Kong's seabed isn't paradise, but it's possible to dive and take the various certification courses.

Paragliding. For those looking for a touch of adrenalin.

Yoga and other sports. Many sports studios offer discounts or even a free class for the first try. Smart plan. The ClassPass app gives you access to a wide range of classes (Pilates, yoga, boxing, massage, climbing, etc.) without obligation, and they often have a "one month free" promotional offer.

Urban leisure. Escape games, laser games, bowling and paintball, amusement parks and water parks, skating rinks and karaoke... this is the realm of entertainment!

Relaxation and well-being. Hong Kong is a paradise of spas, massage parlors and beauty salons for facial and body treatments. There's something for every budget (and every taste). It's customary to tip the masseuse 10, 15 or 20%, depending on the degree of satisfaction. Smart deals. Many beauty salons offering body or facial treatments have a very attractive offer for the first session. For example, you can treat yourself to a treatment for HK$90 instead of HK$600. Spas in 5-star hotels often offer promotional deals for access to their thermal baths or treatments on weekdays. The Klook app also offers a wide range of creative activities, massages, sports, etc. at special prices.

Cooking classes. This is an original activity, quite common in Hong Kong, where you can learn in 2-3 hours how to prepare pastries, dim sum and other local dishes.

Chinese calligraphy. Some workshops offer introductory courses in Chinese calligraphy, a traditional and original artistic activity.

Artistic activities. Pottery and ceramics, candle-making, perfume-making, carpet-making and neon lighting: manual workshops are all the rage.

What's very local

Tai Chi. In parks and on the waterfront, it's common to see elderly people practicing tai chi, a traditional Chinese martial art that combines slow, fluid movements with the principles of meditation and breathing.

Mahjong. In parks, on the streets of more residential areas or in the back rooms of local shops, Hong Kongers love to play mahjong, a board game of Chinese origin played by four people, using tiles to form winning combinations.

Dragon Boat. Many Hongkongers and expatriates practice this local sport, which resembles rowing on superb boats, in teams via associations or their companies. Training usually takes place in the evenings and at weekends. The racing season starts in May.

Hiking. From October to April, the weather is ideal and it'shike season. Hong Kongers love this activity, which they do mainly at weekends, equipped like real marathon runners. There are hundreds of well-marked trails, accessible to all levels, even if most hikes in Hong Kong are steep and involve many steps. Watch out for monkeys and wild boar in places. On Lantau, Sai Kung, the New Territories and even Hong Kong Island, the scenery is breathtaking.

Beaches. Whether it's for an afternoon of swimming or reading, watching the sunset with friends, having a barbecue or spending a night in a tent, beaches are part of everyday life and popular activities in Hong Kong.

Jonques. This is a very popular activity, particularly among young expatriates. A junk boat refers to a traditional Chinese sailboat and by extension means a day when around 20-40 people rent a boat to spend the day at sea, with various activities such as inflatables or water-skiing, music and often drinks and a food buffet included.

Horse racing. Horse-riding is possible but very complicated in Hong Kong, as riding schools are rare and very expensive. On the other hand, attending horse races on Wednesday evenings at Happy Valley is very local and almost free.

Massages. In massage parlors, especially those offering attractive prices (between HK$150 and HK$400), it's common to have your feet or neck massaged in a shared room, or to have only a curtain separating the different cabins... Calm is not always the order of the day, and this may come as a surprise at first, but all you have to do is close your eyes and forget about it!

To be booked

Registration is required several months in advance for major sporting events such as marathons and trails. Reservations are recommended for artistic activities such as cooking or calligraphy classes, recreational activities, most treatments and massages, and sports classes. Reservations are not required for surfboard and bike rentals.

Smart tip. If you want to hike or enjoy a beach, recommend a weekday for more peace and quiet, or a weekend morning. Everything is free and the beaches are supervised from May to October.

Main events

Horse racing. Every Wednesday evening between September and June.

HK Sevens. This international rugby sevens tournament is one of the highlights of the year in April.

Marathon. Usually held in late January/early February, it attracts 74,000 runners.

New World Harbour Race. Every year, thousands of swimmers take on the challenge of crossing Victoria Bay. Usually in November.

Trails. The Oxfam Trailwalker on the 100 km MacLehose Trail, in mid-November; the HK 100 with trails from 33 to 192 km in January; the TransLantau trails on Lantau Island (UTMB World Series circuit) in November.

Tourist traps

Although there are fewer and fewer of them, massage parlors that actually offer sexual services still exist. To avoid unpleasant surprises, here are our tips: these establishments display a neon "24h/24" logo and/or a smiley face concealed in a foot logo. For the others, no problem!