by Rachel Au
Looking for things to do in Hong Kong this summer as the city begins to relax its coronavirus social distancing measures? We’ve got you covered with our roundup of the best things you can do while staying safe and being socially-responsible. From outdoor adventures to food and culture tours, these activities are bound to keep everyone in the family entertained.
1. Support local restaurants by ordering takeout
Have a favorite pasta joint or mom-and-pop noodle shop down the street? Chances are they’re feeling the effects of the COVID outbreak and struggling to stay open. Support your favorite local restaurants by ordering takeout from them directly– food delivery apps usually take a sizable cut of the revenue. Many restaurants have started offering takeout-exclusive discounts as well, so take this opportunity to tuck into your favorite foods for less in the comfort of your own home!
2. Discover local eats and unknown history on a Foodie Tour
As Hong Kong begins to ease its social distancing measures, we have resumed our Central & Sheung Wan Foodie Tour, Sham Shui Po Foodie Tour, and Temple Street Night Foodie Tour, all at full capacity. Our Foodie Tours aren’t only for tourists– our guides’ close relationships with local eateries and breadth of historical knowledge are guaranteed to help provide a fun, insightful and delicious(!) experience for Hong Kong locals and expats as well. Join us on our tasting tours where we will take you to nostalgic, family-run eateries (some of which locals don’t even know about), while sharing interesting tidbits about the neighborhood and its history.
From now until 31 August, 2020, we are offering a 12% DISCOUNT on all Foodie Tours, using promo code “summer2020”. Seize this chance to take your friends out on a fun, educational, and delicious experience and reserve your spot on one of our Foodie Tours right now!
Central & Sheung Wan Foodie Tour
Temple Street Night Foodie Tour
* For your health and safety, our guides will be wearing a facemask throughout the tour. We will also provide hand sanitizer for our participants to sanitize their hands at every tasting location.
3. Explore new hiking trails
Suffering from cabin fever after being stuck at home for so long? Hong Kong has a plethora of hiking trails that offer views so stunning you’ll feel like you’re in a tropical paradise. If you’re looking for things to do in Hong Kong this summer that offer you a breath of fresh air, check out our guides to short and scenic hikes and lesser-known hikes in Hong Kong!
4. Go kayaking in cool and refreshing waters
If hiking in the sweltering summer heat isn’t your idea of fun, why not try kayaking in the cool and refreshing waters of Sai Kung and Stanley? You can rent both single and double kayaks at Sai Kung’s Sha Ha Beach, Stanley main beach, or our personal favorite– Hoi Ha Wan Marine Park in Sai Kung. Hoi Ha Wan Marine Park is a quaint sheltered bay located north of the Sai Kung West Country Park. It is a little out of the way (you will need to take minibus 7 from Sai Kung Town Centre for around 30 minutes), but its calming, therapeutic views are definitely worth the trip. Plus, there is no better way to practice social distancing than kayaking out onto the sea.
5. Beat the heat by wakeboarding
Kayaking too slow and boring for you? Your inner adrenaline junkie might want to try wakeboarding. Beat the heat as you skim across the waters at thrilling speeds– you can even do a flip if you’re brave! Don’t worry if you’re new to the sport, there are plenty of wakeboarding coaches in Hong Kong that can be found from a quick Google search. Popular spots for wakeboarding include Sai Kung, Tai Tam Bay, and Deep Water Bay.
6. Relax while island hopping
Those in search of more relaxing things to do in Hong Kong this summer can try island hopping around the city’s many picturesque outlying islands. Step into a traditional Hong Kong kaito ferry and find yourself transported to the lush green pastures of Grass Island, the spectacular hexagonal rock columns of the Ninepin Islands, or the crystal clear waters of Sharp Island. To get to Grass Island, catch a kaito ferry from either Ma Liu Shui Ferry Pier or Wong Shek Pier. Both the Ninepin Islands and Sharp Island can be reached by boarding a kaito ferry or speedboat from the Sai Kung Public Pier along the harborfront.
7. Bike along the sea
Feel the wind in your hair as you cruise along the sparkling waters of Hong Kong. For an easy family-friendly ride right in the middle of the city, the West Kowloon Waterfront Promenade is a great choice. If you’re looking for an island getaway, visit Cheung Chau, where you can rent a bike to coast along the seas while exploring the many fascinating alleyways. Or try our favorite route– Tai Wai to the scenic Plover Cove dam in Tai Mei Tuk, where you’ll be greeted with majestic bodies of water on both sides. For the best views, we suggest renting your bikes near exit A of Tai Wai MTR station, and bike along the Shing Mun River and Tolo Harbor, all the way towards Plover Cove reservoir. The trip will take 2-3 hours.
8. Visit museums that are now open
Looking for things to do in Hong Kong this summer that won’t require you to break a sweat? A number of Hong Kong museums that have been previously closed due to the coronavirus outbreak are now open! The Hong Kong Museum of Art, Hong Kong Museum of History, Hong Kong Heritage Museum are only a few among many that have just reopened on 6 May. However, do note that interactive exhibits and public programs are still suspended, and that special opening hours will be implemented. For more details, please visit the LCSD website here.
9. Chase that adrenaline rush on roller coasters at Ocean Park
Having been closed since late January 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Ocean Park has recently resumed operations on June 13th. The 43-year old Hong Kong favorite nearly went bankrupt after it was forced to close temporarily as the city battled the virus’s spread, but managed to stay afloat thanks to a HK$5.4 billion cash injection from the government. For the health and safety of its guests, the Park has implemented social distancing measures, reducing its number of visitors admitted to 25% of its maximum capacity in the first two weeks of reopening, and will require visitors to make a reservation to visit the park.
To attract visitors, Ocean Park is dropping its entrance fee by 30% for each adult visitor to HK$350, while offering free admission for children aged 11 or below and people aged 65 or above until the end of July. The reduced adult ticket fees will even be fully rebated as cash vouchers for visitors to spend on food and gifts in the park! Sounds like an amazing deal to us!
10. Relive your childhood at Hong Kong Disneyland
Following the reopening of Ocean Park, Hong Kong Disneyland recently reopened its doors on June 18th after being temporarily closed due to the coronavirus. If you’ve been feeling a bit down lately, why not visit Disneyland for a dose of good old nostalgia to lift your spirits a little? The park has adopted enhanced health and safety procedures, such as implementing social distancing measures and requiring visitors to make a reservation prior to their visit. Despite not offering promotions similar to Ocean Park’s, we believe that devoted fans of Disney will always have an affinity for the magic only found at Disneyland.
And that wraps up our list of socially-responsible things to do in Hong Kong this summer!