Repulse Bay and Stanley

The south side of Hong Kong Island feels like a different city: green hills dropping to the sea, sandy bays, and a slower, seaside pace. Repulse Bay and Stanley are the easiest way to experience it, linked by the same bus routes from Central and close enough to combine in a half-day. Repulse Bay is a broad crescent of sand backed by apartment towers, including the famous building with a square hole through its middle, said to let the dragon of the hills pass through to the sea. The beach is one of the most popular in Hong Kong, with lifeguards and shark nets in the swimming season, changing rooms and showers, and calm water. At its eastern end is a shrine to Tin Hau and Kwun Yam, crowded with colourful statues of gods, a giant pair of deities overlooking the water and a red Longevity Bridge that is said to add years to your life each time you cross it. The colonial-style Repulse Bay complex nearby houses restaurants, including a famous veranda tea room. A short bus ride further east, Stanley is a former fishing village turned weekend destination. Its waterfront promenade is lined with restaurants and bars facing the bay, and at one end stands Murray House, a Victorian colonnaded building that originally stood in Central and was taken down stone by stone and rebuilt here, now home to restaurants with sea views. Next to it, Blake Pier, another relocated historic structure, juts into the bay and is a departure point for ferries to Po Toi Island. Behind the waterfront, the lanes of Stanley Market sell clothing, silk, souvenirs, art and accessories at fair prices, and Stanley Main Beach is a favourite for water sports and the dragon boat races. Both places are free to enjoy, and the bus ride over the hills is a scenic attraction in itself.

Getting there: buses from Exchange Square in Central run over the hills to Repulse Bay and on to Stanley, taking roughly half an hour to forty-five minutes depending on traffic. Sit on the upper deck on the right-hand side for views over the bays as the bus winds down the hill. Several bus routes serve the area, and minibuses also run from Central. A good plan is to go to Repulse Bay first for a morning swim or walk, then take the bus on to Stanley for lunch and the market, and return to Central in the late afternoon. Taxis are an easy alternative for families.

When to go: the beaches are at their best from late spring to autumn, with lifeguards on duty during the swimming season. Weekends and public holidays are very busy, and buses back to Central can have long queues in the late afternoon. Weekdays are much calmer. Stanley Market is open daily, and the waterfront restaurants are lively in the evening, especially at weekends.

Who it suits: families looking for a beach day without a ferry, couples who want a long lunch with a sea view, and shoppers hunting for souvenirs. Combine with Ocean Park, which is on the way, for a full south-side day, or with the Dragon's Back hike, which descends to the beaches at Shek O and Big Wave Bay on the same side of the island. History lovers can add the Stanley Military Cemetery and the area's wartime sites.