Rev up for the roads to romance
There are plenty of romantic drives in Hong Kong. Repulse Bay, South Bay and Stanley beaches are obvious choices, with lots of mountain greenery and cool ocean breezes.
Best sampled at sunset, the Repulse Bay will accommodate you in its lap of luxury, and Stanley (below) has a range of restaurants in the Murray House complex and marketplace. Parking isn't difficult, with both beaches offering metered spaces and car parks.
There's usually less traffic and a more spectacular sea view at Shek O, where you'll find barbecues on the beach, a variety of eateries by the main car park, and a couple of diners in the village offer valet parking. It's also only a two-minute sprint to Big Wave Bay, which is one of the quieter beaches in Hong Kong.
For a drive around the island, there's my usual test route of Victoria Road, weaving from the Pokfulam end of Aberdeen around the west coast towards Kennedy Town. Swing down to Cyberport for a movie or a romantic meal at one of the Le Meridien restaurants, from which (on a clear day) you can see Cheung Chau and beyond. Parking is plentiful at Cyberport, at $40 an hour.
If your date's new to town, you could go up to the Peak - via Cotton Tree Drive from Central; from Robinson Road from the west; or Stubbs Road from the east. Whichever way you go, you'll find a superb hill-climbing route with few traffic lights and twisting action. Once you get to the top, the view of the harbour is breathtaking - although it's best after sunset, which on Tuesday is at 6.19pm.
A less well-known run is up Mount Butler, which is above most of Wan Chai and Central and offers a wonderful perspective of the Kowloon waterfront. Drive past the firing range, all the way to the top - you'll have ample room to three-point-turn when you get to the end.
The New Territories has even more for car lovers. Cruising from either Lion Rock Tunnel or Tate's Cairn, turn off at Taipo Industrial Estate. The long and winding Ting Kok Road north-bound leaves the grey concrete behind and takes you past reservoirs, through picnic-haven nature reserves until you get to Brides' Pool Road near the Shenzhen border. You're so near the mainland that your mobile phone might start roaming for other networks.
Fei Ngo Shan Road and Route Twisk have fuelled passions among lovers and road-racers for decades. Fei Ngo Shan is best reached from the Choi Hung interchange, whereas Route Twisk starts at the Tsuen Wan end of Shing Mun Tunnel and takes you to Yuen Long. Both are challenging drives with cambered curves and chiselled corners, and great views of the entire city.
You can go from Fei Ngo Shan to Sai Kung on the Sai Kung Highway, or if you're coming straight from Lion Rock, via Ma On Shan on the Sai Sha Road. As gentle country roads go, they don't get any better in Hong Kong. With some interesting detours to Pak Shek, Tai Mong Tsai or Clearwater Bay, you're never far from the sea and fresh air, and there are plenty of fantastic local restaurants.
Finally, a stretch of ruler-straight highway on Lantau beyond Tung Chung leads you far out into the South China Sea along reclaimed land. You can marvel at the complete isolation.
I can't really advise on what you should drive. But do drive carefully and smoothly - nothing's worse than the love of your life getting carsick. Stick to the speed limits and allow yourselves plenty of time.
And don't drink and drive - only a tiny amount of alcohol is enough to slow your reflexes, inflate your ego and push you over the legal limit. And if you're caught, you could be looking at a night or three in jail - with less-than-romantic company.
