Often overlooked in favour of Sai Kung’s sandy beaches, Tseung Kwan O rewards those brave enough to travel to the end of the purple line with plenty of hidden gems. The area is mainly filled with residential estates and shopping malls, but it also features treats perfect for families, city slickers looking to shake it up, and everyone in between.
What to do around Tseung Kwan O
Tseung Kwan O Waterfront/Cycling Track
Walking and running:
On the weekends, the Tseung Kwan O waterfront is usually bustling with runners, tai chi enthusiasts and residents out to bask in the beauty of the harbour on the hour-long walk between Tiu Keng Leng to Lohas Park.
Seating area in Tseung Kwan O Waterfront promenade. Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Boozin’ and chillin’:
For a more picturesque view, you can always climb over the railing with a beer in hand and make your way to the rocks by the sea, but be warned of security guards who could cut short your little Instagram session and/or your deep, thought-provoking conversations.
Rocks along the harbour (seats for you adventure seekers). Photo: Medha Vernekar
Dog walking:
Pet-owning Coconauts can bring furry companions to the nearby 648-square-foot pet garden located in the middle of the walkway for some quality playtime.
Cycling:
Along the waterfront lies a fairly new cycling track, with its various routes stretching six to 14 kilometres. The track covers ground in Po Lam, Hang Hau, Tseung Kwan O, Tiu Keng Leng and Lohas Park and takes around 45 minutes to 3 hours to complete depending on the route taken. For bike rentals, you could go to Beverly Cycle Co. in Po Lam, where bikes are HKD20 for the first hour and HKD15 for every hour after that. Or you could simply rent a bike for the whole day at a reasonable cost of HKD80.
A cycling track with a view. Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Hong Kong Velodrome
Cycling, rock climbing, jogging and more:
The newly opened Hong Kong Velodrome is the Swiss Army knife of parks in Tseung Kwan O, with just about everything a park can hold. Its features include a skate park (you are probably not cool enough), a sports climbing wall, an indoor wooden cycling track previously used for other international events (although you need to pass an LCSD training course to use the track), a jogging track and a model boat pool. The luscious green lawns make a great place for picnics as long as it doesn’t (literally) rain on your parade.
Lawns for public use. Photo: LCSD
Artificial lakes surronding the Velodrome. Photo: LCSD
Skate park for the cool kids. Photo: LCSD
Tseung Kwan O Water Park
Swimming and splashing:
With summer swiftly approaching, what better way to spend the day than splashing around with your mates? Under the guise of a public pool, Tseung Kwan O Swimming Pool (a.k.a. discount Water World) is full of water cannons, slides, hoses and sprays, water castles and of course a giant water-dropping bucket suitable for all ages. If you tire of swimming, you can also make your way to the canteen located near the pool, grab some refreshments and plonk yourself down on one of the cabanas. Jump in while the water’s cool for just HKD17 on weekdays and HKD19 on weekends.
Aerial View of the Tseung Kwan O swimming pool. Photo: Wikimedia Commons
High Junk Peak Country Trail
Hiking:
For those wanting a little up close encounter with Mother Nature herself, the High Junk Peak Country Trail does just that with mesmerising views of the seaside as it stands between Tseung Kwan O and Sai Kung.
To get to the starting point in a remote location in Hang Hau village, you will need to either take a cab from Hang Hau MTR station (which will cost around HKD28) to Ng Fai Tin or take the 103 minibus from Tseung Kwan O Exit A. The hike takes approximately four hours with four different summits to cross, all overlooking Junk Bay and giving a glimpse of the ever-beautiful golden beaches of Sai Kung.
Many local hikers frequently make their way onto these summits with their cameras to catch the dance of colours at dawn or sunset. Word of warning: be ultra careful while descending the trail’s notoriously steep downward slopes. At the end of the country trail, you will be able to take a minibus back to civilisation (…so, Hang Hau MTR station) with lots of cover-photo-worthy snaps.
The majestic High Junk Peak. Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Where to eat around Tseung Kwan O
Lardos Steak House
Lardos Steak House is exceptionally popular among local residents and well-known around Hong Kong despite its quiet location in Hang Hau village. The restaurant (which houses around 10 tables) is usually jam-packed with hungry diners during dinner time so reservations are necessary. The cozy little steak house aims to serve steaks worthy of “five-star-restaurants” but “without all the fuss”; diners often praise the authentic feel of the restaurant along with its reasonably priced menu. A few favourites on the menu include mussels, marinated spring chicken, the juicy ribeye steaks and the lamb loin.
Photo: cho_bo via OpenRice
Opening hours: Mon.-Fri. 12pm-3pm and 6pm-10:30pm, Sat., Sun. and public holidays 12pm-10:30pm
Where: 4B, G/F, Hang Hau Chuen, Tseung Kwan O (Google Maps)
Price: About HKD250 to HKD300 per head
Grand Thai Restaurant / Grand Restaurant and Pub
Right next door to Lardos, the Grand Thai Restaurant is usually discovered by visitors if they miss their reservation at at the steakhouse but make no mistake, this hidden gem serves up some great authentic Thai food and seldom disappoints.
Photo: m毛毛呆m via OpenRice
Like Lardos, this place is usually packed especially during lunch hours where the line can spill onto the street – and for good reason. Prices on the extensive menu are cheap with large portions… sounds like a dream, right? Some of their must-try dishes include their pad thai, the snack platter (includes prawn cakes, fish cakes, spring rolls, prawn crackers, and chicken breast in pandan leaves) and the stir-fried rock crab in curry and egg.
Opening hours: Mon.-Thur. 11am-11:45pm, Fri.-Sun. 11am-12:15am
Where: No. 25-26 Hang Hau Village, Tseung Kwan O (Google Maps)
Price: About HKD100 per head
Tze Yuet Heen
For the perfect quiet meal, Tze Yuet Heen offers authentic dim sum and Guangdong dishes in its sophisticated restaurant located in five-star hotel Crowne Plaza. Its beautiful purple décor really sets the stage for this elegant Cantonese restaurant — so sweatpants and flip-flops won’t fly.
Photo: 明鑽 via OpenRice
As with most good restaurants, this place is usually full so you will need to make reservations beforehand. The diverse menu features crowd-pleasers such as roasted Peking duck with New Zealand honey sauce and poached Garoupa fillet with fresh ginseng and wolfberries from the à la carte menu.
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 11:30am-2:30pm and 6pm-10:30pm, Sat, Sun and public holidays 09:00am-2:30pm and 6pm-10:30pm
Where: 2/F, Crowne Plaza Hong Kong, Kowloon East, 3 Tong Tak St, Tseung Kwan O (Google Maps)
Price: About HKD350-HKD450 per head
Now quick! Head TKO before the hipsters find it.
