Tuen Mun is better known for its dense housing estates, long hospital waiting queues, and its namesake MTR line, but within the district exists a tiny, idyllic waterfront area known to residents as Hong Kong Gold Coast. Rarely visited, its combination of relaxing outdoor activities, a sprawling hotel complex and a unique range of restaurants all combine for the ideal family-friendly Hong Kong staycation.
How to Get There
The MTR is certainly a cheap way to reach Tuen Mun (HKD28 for adults from Central), but keep in mind it takes at least an hour from Central, and from there it’s about a HKD50 cab to the Gold Coast. An easier and quicker way is through the Hong Kong Gold Coast Hotel shuttle bus service, available for both guests and non-guests alike – it ranges from HKD25 to HKD35, takes a measly 30 minutes, and leaves regularly from stops at Tsim Sha Tsui, Tsing Yi and Tsuen Wan.
What to Do
Gold Digging
Photo: Pavan Shamdasani
Gold Coast has just one lone beach, the uninspiringly named Golden Beach, but it’s a surprisingly gorgeous spot considering Hong Kong’s often shoddy shores: a quiet, tree-lined coast where the water is surprisingly clear, where the sand is as bright as its name and most importantly, where the crowds are thankfully thronging at one of the city’s more popular beaches.
Do Some Good
The entrance to Crossroads. Photo: Crossroads
Help out while you’re on holiday – just five minutes from the hotel is the Crossroads Foundation, those folk normally known for collecting unwanted household stuff. But they do so much more, and you can find out all about their philanthropic ventures by touring the facility. They also host a weekend farmer’s market, a fair-trade café with cakes and coffee, and a handicrafts shop selling various socially minded items. The government is trying to force them out to build public housing, so drop by before it’s too late.
Back to Nature
Escape the automatic need to veg out in the hotel bed, and get your ass outdoors. Nearby Tai Lam Country Park is the city’s second largest, spanning an incredible 5,000+ hectares, and is filled with an endless array of outdoor activities. We’d suggest grabbing the kids and going for a hike, with twelve trails snaking their way all around. Strap on your walking boots, pack a picnic and spend the late-afternoon gazing out over the stunning Tai Lam Chung Reservoir.
Get Sporty
The soon-to-be pre-summer months mean we get about two weeks of glorious weather before everything descends into a sweaty mess. Make the most of them and indulge in the many sports available around the Gold Coast. Golden Beach is one of the few to have its own volleyball court, while the nearby Tuen Mun Public Riding School lets you play jockey for the day. The 50,000-square-foot Gold Coast lawn is perfect for a quick game of Frisbee or football, and a number of neighbouring tennis courts are available for hire.
Where to Eat
Café Lagoon (LG/F, Hong Kong Gold Coast Hotel, 1 Castle Peak Road, Tuen Mun. Tel: 2452 8448)
The Gold Coast Hotel’s main restaurant is one of the city’s most popular buffet spots, particularly for dinner. Running from 6:30pm to 10pm, its impressive offerings run the range from classic Cantonese and regional Chinese dishes, to Indian and Asian stations, all the way through to a wide selection of western favourites.
Dragon Inn Seafood Restaurant (19.5 Miles, Castle Peak Road, Tuen Mun. Tel: 2450 6366)
You’ll have to take a short cab ride to reach this famed, 70+-year-old restaurant, but those that do are rewarded with a uniquely Hong Kong experience. Diners are offered a choice of buying their own seafood from a neighbouring market, or choosing from the restaurant’s vast selection, before enjoying it all a wonderfully ornate ballroom setting.
Le Bristol (Shop R5, G/F, Marina Magic Shopping Mall, Gold Coast, Tuen Mun. Tel: 2430 9929)
Like a slice of Paris along the Hong Kong waterfront, Le Bristol’s wonderfully charming setting and surprisingly authentic French dishes combine for a romantic night out to add to your staycation getaway.
Where to Stay
The Hong Kong Gold Coast Hotel (see header photo)
The striking Hong Kong Gold Coast Hotel is the prime reason why many staycationers venture out to the area. Featuring over 450 rooms, many with their own balconies facing the lovely shoreline, it’s a family-friendly spot that offers a host of facilities, including a massive palm-tree-covered swimming pool, a kid-friendly water park with mini-slides, a spa to ease away all city burdens and four international restaurants.
Weekend prices start at around HKD1200 a night, but families might want to look into their newly renovated themed rooms. Starting at HKD2488 a night, each accommodates up to two adults and two kids, give you the option of kid-friendly designs such as pirate, outer space, safari and dinosaur themed rooms. They also come with breakfast, afternoon tea, special gifts, artistic workshops, access to all facilities and free shuttle buses. Not bad.
Airbnb
If you’re absolutely adamant to find somewhere else, Airbnb holds a number of alternate options in the neighbourhood. You can rent everything from a tiny flat in one of the many housing complexes, to an entire boat for the night (for only the same price as an average month’s rent). The choice is yours!
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