Recharge your body and soul, Hong Kong style
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Having a strong resolve to focus on health and wellness is one of the best ways to start the year. And if you find yourself in Hong Kong at the start of 2026, you've just ticked the first item off your self-care to-do list.
The vibrant city offers opportunities to nurture your body and soul with its mountain trails, beaches, islands, and open parks. Hong Kong's great outdoors is the perfect backdrop for an active lifestyle, even if that means just strolling through a public garden.
Locals should know. PhilSTAR L!fe spoke to three of them, all of whom gave us a good idea of how it's possible to live in the city yet stay healthy thanks to accessible outdoor destinations.
The call of the sea
Although Hong Kong is relatively small, its coastal areas boast beautiful beaches that offer magnificent views and plenty of ways to enjoy the surrounding islands. You can kayak or stand-up paddle in Sai Kung or Yung Shue O, and even explore sea caves in the UNESCO Global Geopark.
Chris Boughton, a retiree who lived in Hong Kong from 1984 to 1998 and returns for vacations regularly, is a sailing enthusiast who recalled many happy times spent in and around Hong Kong's harbors and islands.
"Hong Kong is wonderful for sailing. There is an active sailing community with different clubs and marinas around the islands. There are so many places to explore by the sea," said Boughton, who worked in financial services while living in Hong Kong and used to race every Saturday.
For sea-loving tourists, the iconic Victoria Harbour offers day and night cruises. Visitors can also hop on a ferry or private yacht and discover the outlying islands of Lamma and Cheung Chau.
On the weekends, tourists can take a ferry to Tang Lung Chau, a mostly uninhabited island renowned for its ancient rock carvings, century-old lighthouse, and rock-climbing spots.
"There's something special about watching the sun go down behind Lantau Island from a boat," Boughton said. "I love being on the water; it is my happy place. The feeling of the wind, the beautiful scenery of Hong Kong, seeing the wildlife, such as the pink dolphins. After a sail, I feel refreshed and content. It is one of the great ways to alleviate stress."
Soul stillness with a view
Twenty-nine-year-old Josh Go has been working in Hong Kong's BPO industry for the past three years and spends most of his weekends on the beach. His idea of holistic wellness is soaking up all the vitamin D he can get, kayaking at least once a week, and going camping on the beach.
"My favorite time of the day is at dawn, when I take a kayak out at Pak Lap Wan in Sai Kung. There are no crowds yet then. And those times when I do that are the most peaceful I've ever felt," said Go.
For those seeking soul-soothing escapes like Go, Hong Kong also has coastal hikes that lead to stargazing spots, like the Tai Hang Tun trek in Clearwater Bay Country Park, as well as 'forest bathing' experiences at Lung Fu Shan, a serene retreat from city life.
Designed for calorie burns
"The wonderful thing about Hong Kong is how easy it makes it for anyone to embrace an active lifestyle," said Ryan Maniago, 50, a Hong Kong local for the past 25 years.
A professional in the executive search industry, he extolled the city's multiple public basketball courts.
"I've probably played more basketball here in Hong Kong than I ever did back in my basketball-crazy home country, the Philippines. That's because public basketball courts are everywhere in Hong Kong. In Hung Hom, where I live, there are easily three to five different public courts I regularly visit two to three times a week...and all are within a five-minute walk from my place," Maniago said.
While basketball is his go-to sport, Maniago sometimes likes to also slip in some hiking, island-hopping, swimming, and kayaking.
Between October and March, when the weather is cooler, he likes to join his friends for regular hikes. He went on his first hike in 2000 up Victoria Peak.
"Hong Kong offers dozens of picture-perfect trails and country parks to suit all levels of ability and your preferred views, [including] exotic rock formations, waterfalls, [and] awesome sea views," Maniago said.
"Among my favorites is Dragon's Back, a scenic route from Shek O to the white-sand beaches of Big Wave Bay. Lion Rock and Pat Sin Leng are also epic hikes, as is Tai Mo Shan, the highest peak in Hong Kong," he added.
There are family-friendly trails, too, said Maniago, around Lamma and Cheung Chau.
"These walks typically take just an hour or two, and are perfect for beginners or families with children. After your hike, you can treat yourself to a sumptuous seafood lunch at a local 'dai pai dong' (al fresco food stall)," Maniago said.
"Apart from its beautiful nature, the best part about hiking in Hong Kong is how accessible the trails are. For most hikes, you can simply hop on the MTR, a bus, a minibus, a taxi, or even a ferry, and reach the trailhead in less than an hour," he added.
Maniago loves that Hong Kong effortlessly combines nature with city living, and enriches both with world-class public facilities and infrastructure, making wellness attainable for anyone.
"On any given day, I can literally hike up a mountain trail, kayak or swim in the sea, enjoy dim sum or a seafood lunch in a quaint fishing village—all in one day—and still have the time and energy to play a basketball game or go to the gym in the evening," he said. "That's the magic of Hong Kong. It makes staying active not just possible but genuinely enjoyable."
Ready to plan your adventure this 2026? Explore more at Discover Hong Kong's Great Outdoors.
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Editor’s Note: BrandedUp is designed to provide you with insightful, inspiring, and educational content created by PhilSTAR L!fe in collaboration with brands like Hong Kong Tourism Board.
