City: Southern District
Top Things to do in Southern District
Top Restaurants in Hong Kong
Countries
What to do and see in Southern District, China: The Best Things to do
Delectable dim sum, floating islands, and a one-of-a-kind skyline are just some of Hong Kong’s unique features. Get an eyeful of traditional Chinese architecture in Ngong Ping village, then take the tram to the tippity-top of Victoria Peak for unparalleled views. The rocks and gentle hills of Nan Lian Garden will bring you inner peace, as will a calming cup of tea in a Stanley café. Become one with everything at the Chi Lin Nunnery, a serene Buddhist complex.
Restaurants in Hong Kong
1. Dragon's Back
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2,102 reviews
Reviewed By Veg-Traveller-2020
Dragons Back is a must do hike in Hong Kong. The view is breathtaking. To get here, you take the Chai Wan Line To the starting point: From MTR Shau Kei Wan Station Exit A, walk to the Shau Kei Wan Bus Terminus to take bus number 9 and get off on the Dragons Back stop on Shek O Road. Before you start the hike there are a couple of toilets and you wont find any along the way until the end. It takes a couple of hours and you have shorter hike options too
2. Tai Tam Valley
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 14 reviews
Reviewed By Mairwen1
Tai Tam valley is a beautiful green belt, lying in the heart of the Tai Tam Country Park. The deep ravines are studded with dams, reservoirs and natural waterways and are very scenic. An excellent way to explore the area is via the Waterworks Heritage Trail. The 5km hiking trail takes you right down through the valleys and past the four historic reservoirs, built between 1888 and 1917. The trail includes detailed information boards that describe the history of these early constructions and provide more information about the aqueducts, valve houses, stone bridges, workmen’s buildings and other various structures that you see along the way. I was intrigued to learn that a sunken Hakka village lies beneath the dam waters, under about 1.4 billion gallons of water. It was submerged over 100 years ago when they built the Tai Tam Tuk dam. Recently, researchers have recovered relics of mud bricks, several banyan trees, century-old soda water bottles and small opium containers from the site of the village. WHAT TO TAKE: Water, sunscreen and a hat are essentials as there’s nowhere to buy anything en route. There are a few picnic and BBQ areas with toilet blocks. GETTING THERE: The trail begins at the entry gates to the country park, just past the Parkview residential complex. As you approach, you will notice other trail signs but ignore these and go just past them until you get to the park gates. From Central, a taxi will cost about $75HKD and will take about 15 min. Or you can take the #6 Stanley Market bus (don't get the 6X bus which also goes to Stanley via another route). Get off on Wong Nai Chung Gap Road beside a petrol station (just past the tennis courts and cricket club), where you’ll see a set of stairs that lead up to Tai Tam Reservoir Rd. It is a 15 minute walk up this steep road to Parkview and the gates of the Country Park.
3. Shek O Beach
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 335 reviews
Reviewed By Mairwen1
I love this place. If you only have a few days in Hong Kong then you won’t have time on your itinerary to go to Shek O but if you have longer, this is a brilliant beach location. It feels like you are seeing the hidden side of Hong Kong that most tourists don't get to see. It is a strikingly picturesque beach cradled between two mountains and looking out towards several small islands. It’s worth making a day of it. You don't need to take much with you. Beach chairs and umbrellas can be hired there. You can bargain but they’re not expensive anyway ($20HKD for a beach chair) and they will carry them down to the sand for you. It all has a cool, village feel, with cheap and cheerful local restaurants back up on the road. We particularly like the large ‘Shek O Thai’ restaurant on the corner. After lunch, if you make your way through the maze of tiny lanes and whitewashed houses, you may even be lucky enough to come across the well-hidden Ben’s Bar down on the waterfront of a secluded cove. PRACTICAL TIPS: The beach is patrolled and has lifeguards but be aware, that it can have rips from time to time. There are toilets, change-rooms and showers on the beach. You can rent umbrellas and chairs and there are several shops where you can buy inflatables, buckets and spades, hats, water etc GETTING THERE: It is a bit off the beaten track so by public transport from Central/Admiralty, you’ll need to first catch the MTR train on the island line to Shau Kei Wan station (exit B) and then get the No 9 bus. I caught an Uber which took just under 30 mins and cost $198HKD, which is pretty much what I'd expect to pay in a taxi. There were 4 of us but even with 2 people, it’s worth remembering that taxis are relatively cheap in Hong Kong and it will be so much quicker.
4. Ocean Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 10,586 reviews
One of the world's most beautiful theme parks and ranked as the 7th most popular theme parks in the world by Forbes - the home-grown destination includes an iconic Marine Land, Amazing Asian Animals (giant pandas, red pandas, asian otters, etc.), and cable cars as well as state-of-the-art, world-class facilities such as Polar Adventure, Thrill Mountain, and Aqua City.
Reviewed By joannemF322JS - Cannonvale, Australia
Had a fantastic day at Ocean Park, great for all ages, loved the Pandas and the 360 tower, rides were fun and the dolphin show was amazing, would highly recommend a visit. Reasonable price, Cable car view was brilliant.
5. Aberdeen Country Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 17 reviews
Reviewed By mosto - Hong Kong, China
This huge park is easily accessible from the city and has hiking trails for all levels of fitness. You can stay on the concrete route or make diversions to dirt trails. Comparatively with other hiking trails in HK, there are not a lot of uphill or downward steps but enough to get some cardio work. I find the trails pretty scenic with green mountains, foliage, 2 beautiful reservoirs with open views, lots of rock formations and small waterfalls if you make diversions into smaller trails. I’ve hike here a few times. You can spend at least 3 hours or more in the park and then end your hike either at Wan Chai for shopping and food or at Wong Chuk Hang and from there go to Ap Lei Chau for seafood or local food. I see a few solo hikers bringing their own food to eat in the park and then continue hiking. It’s a fabulous place to hike there if you don’t want to spend too much time on transportation to start point. To start at Wan Chai, you can access the Park via Wan Chai Gap and Wan Chai Heritage Green trail (the Park is just opposite the Heritage Green Trail). Alternatively, you can take the MTR to Wong Chuk Hang Station Exit A and take a mini bus to the Park. Either way, you plan the route you want to take when in the Park but whatever routes you take, don’t miss the Upper and Lower Reservoirs.
6. Tai Long Wan
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 52 reviews
Reviewed By TheOExpress - Hong Kong, China
Whether you choose to get here by taxi to Sai Wan Pavilion and and then hiking or by speedboat from Sai Kung, visiting here is an absolute must. For the the most part, the sand is clean and soft, the water clear and clean. On all these counts, things get better further north. Overall, this series of beaches is just stunning!
7. Wilson Trail
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 40 reviews
Reviewed By NorthStar256322
Did Section 1 of the Wilson Trail in two goes: first from Wong Nai Chung Reservoir to Tze Kong Bridge in September. Weather was sunny, hot about 30c and very humid. The start from the petrol station at the bus stop is not obvious. You need to head up Tai Tam R road & past Parkview then turn right where there is a sign Wilson Trail. Steady climb to Violet Hill then down to the saddle and the bridge. From here, take right turn (not clearly signposted) on a track that takes you to South Bay Close and a bus stop on Repulse Bay Road. Tackled Section 2 from Stanley Gap Road to the bridge in December. Weather much better for hiking. Better direction as you go down the 1,000 steps on The Twins rather than up. Be careful that you get the bus driver to stop at the Wilson Trail stop as ours roared straight through!
8. Ap Lei Chau
9. Turtle Cove Beach
10. Tai Tam Waterworks Heritage Trail
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 31 reviews
Reviewed By Mairwen1
This is an excellent 5 km hike through the Tai Tam Country Park. The walk is centred around the 4 main reservoirs and dams that were built here between 1888-1917. The walk also takes in 22 historic structures and relics related to the dams, including stone bridges, masonry dam walls, valve houses, pumping stations and aqueducts. The views and surrounding area are very scenic. LEVEL – it is a moderate to easy hike. You definitely don't need to be an experienced hiker. It is suitable for families. Kids might find it a bit long (5km) but being able to run across the bridges and aqueduct can keep them engaged and make it more interesting. TRACK CONDITIONS–The terrain is varied. From Parkview, it starts with an easy, downhill stretch of road. Mostly you will be on paved paths but at other times you will walk along dirt bushland tracks which have quite a lot of gnarly roots but are otherwise pretty good. There are stairs and these can be uneven and roughly made. You don't need hiking boots but a decent pair of runners is advisable. SIGNAGE - The path is well marked with clear signs and maps. There are also detailed information boards positioned along the route, describing the history of the reservoirs and the other structures. This is a really excellent feature of the walk. FACILITIES - there are several BBQ and picnic spots and a few public toilets WHAT TO TAKE - water, sunscreen and a hat are essentials. Also snacks if you want them because you cannot buy anything inside the country park. STARTING POINT: The trail begins at the entry gates to the country park, just past the Parkview residential complex. As you approach, you will notice signs for the Wilson Trail and other tracks but keep going past these until you get to the black and white gates at the start of the park, where you will see wooden signs for the Tai Tam Country Park and the Heritage Trail.
