Hong Kong / Hong Kong Island / Stanley & Repulse BayStanley & Repulse Bay
Beaches, Stanley Market and the Dragon's Back Ridge Walk
The beaches and seaside villages of Hong Kong Island's south coast, 30-45 minutes by bus from Central over the hills. Repulse Bay is the island's best-known beach, with a shrine to Kwun Yam and Tin Hau at its eastern end; Stanley has its covered market, a waterfront of restaurants, the Victorian Murray House (moved here stone by stone), an 18th-century Tin Hau temple and the main beach where dragon boats race at Tuen Ng. The Dragon's Back, a grassy ridge walk above Shek O with the sea on both sides, ends at Big Wave Bay's surf beach: about 8.5 km and three hours, hot and exposed in summer. Stanley and Repulse Bay have few hotels, so most visitors come for the day; a night here is priced at the south-side hotels round Wong Chuk Hang and Ocean Park, 15-20 minutes away by bus.
Highlights
- Dragon's Back ridge walk to Big Wave Bay
- Repulse Bay Beach
- Kwun Yam shrine at Repulse Bay
- Stanley Market
- Murray House and the Stanley waterfront
- Tin Hau Temple, Stanley
- Shek O village
- Bus ride over the hills from Central
Things to do
- Dragon's Back hike from To Tei Wan to Big Wave BayMorning · 3h 30m
- Repulse Bay Beach and the Kwun Yam shrineMorning · 2h
- Stanley Market, Murray House and the waterfrontAfternoon · 2h 30m
- Tin Hau Temple and Stanley Main BeachAfternoon · 1h 30m
- Sunset and dinner in Shek O villageEvening · 2h
Tours & tickets
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When to go
Best time: October – November
Worth knowing
Typhoon Season
July to September is the height of the typhoon season. When the Hong Kong Observatory raises the No. 8 signal, almost everything shuts for hours to a day or two: ferries stop, the cable car, Disneyland, Ocean Park and most shops close, buses thin out, the MTR runs a reduced service and flights are cancelled. Watch the Observatory's app, keep a spare day before your flight home, and book refundable rooms and tickets.
Heads up
Typhoon Risk
Typhoons can reach Hong Kong from May to November, less often than in high summer. If the No. 8 signal goes up, ferries, theme parks and most sights close until it comes down: keep plans flexible and check the Hong Kong Observatory's app.
Worth knowing
Heat and Storms on the Trails
Summer days are 31-34 °C and very humid, and the Dragon's Back, Lantau Peak and Sai Kung's trails have little shade. Start at dawn, carry two litres of water a person, and turn back if the Observatory issues a red or black rainstorm warning or a thunderstorm warning: hill paths flood and landslips happen.
Heads up
Chinese New Year Closures
Over Chinese New Year (6 February 2027) small shops and family restaurants close for a few days, and the theme parks, the cable car and the islands are busy with holiday crowds. Book tickets ahead.
Heads up
Golden Week Crowds
From 1 to 7 October, mainland China's National Day holiday fills Hong Kong with visitors and lifts hotel prices across the city. Markets, ferries and the busiest sights are crowded all week.
- Tin Hau Festival — The birthday of Tin Hau, goddess of the sea and of fishermen. Thousands go by boat and bus to the great temple at Joss House Bay, south of Sai Kung, and the Tin Hau temples round the territory, Stanley's among them, hold lion dances and offerings.
- Tuen Ng (Dragon Boat Festival) — Dragon boat races at Stanley Main Beach (the biggest, with crowds and stalls on the sand), Aberdeen and many other harbours, and in Tai O on Lantau a traditional water parade of the fishing community's gods. Rice dumplings wrapped in leaves are eaten everywhere.