Sweat It Out
Beat the sticky season this year with our essential guide to maximizing your Hong Kong summer.
There’s more to Hong Kong summer fun than boozing it up on a junk trip, you know. If you’re in town over the sweatiest time of year, heat things up with the help of our ultimate summer guide, which contains more than 50 great recommendations for the best beaches, activities and hottest events happening from now until August.
Water World
Want to get wet and wild? Take the plunge at these local pools and watersports centers.
Swimming
The government runs a number of really, actually, pretty decent indoor and outdoor pools suitable for all ages. Admission is $17-$20. The most popular is the Kowloon Park Swimming Pool (Kowloon Park, 22 Austin Rd., Tsim Sha Tsui, 2724-3577), which has outdoor leisure pools, a 50-meter indoor training pool and a diving pool. The Victoria Park Swimming Pool (Victoria Park, Hing Fat St., Causeway Bay, 2570-8347) is the biggest public swimming pool on Hong Kong Island. It has a main pool, a training pool, two fun pools and a diving pool. There is also a huge sunbathing area, a large spectator stand with 1,700 seats and an electronic scoreboard. Here are some other good pools:
Kowloon Tsai Swimming Pool
They’ve got a main pool here, two leisure pools, a family changing room and a spectator stand. Kowloon Tsai Park, 13 Inverness Rd., Kowloon City, 2336-5817.
Morrison Hill Swimming Pool
You’ll find a 25-meter indoor training pool here, as well as an outdoor main pool, an 18 meter teaching pool and an 18 meter toddler pool. 7 Oi Kwan Rd., Wan Chai, 2575-3028.
Sha Tin Jockey Club Pool
Another big, popular swimming site that holds open competitions and attracts professionals and families alike. Four pools. 10 Yuen Wo Rd., Sha Tin, 2693-6613.
Summer is the best time to learn the sport or brush up on your moves. For newcomers, Hong Kong Wakeboard (10H Nai Chung Village, Sai Sha Rd., Sai Kung, 9021-4221, www.hkwakeboard.com) has all levels of classes at $700 an hour for groups of three to four. Experienced boarders can get the all-you-can-ride weekday package from 10am-6pm. Groups of four ride for $800 a head, groups of five for $700, and groups of six and up for $600. An alternative is The Tai Tam Wakeboarding Centre (3120-4102, www.wakeboard.com.hk) for $600 for the whole day.