Repulse Bay

Repulse Bay

Repulse Bay

Repulse Bay is a popular bay found in southern Hong Kong Island. It gets its name from British troops who arrived at the bay in 1841 and repulsed all the pirates living in a base at the bay.

What makes this bay popular is the beach that was built here in the early 1900s. This beach, named the Repulse Bay Beach, is the most popular beach in Hong Kong. Both tourists and locals enjoy visiting, making it one of the most popular tourist attractions as well. In the summer the beach is packed with people swimming in the ocean, sun tanning and enjoying the view from the sand. A net is set up in the ocean to avoid swimmers coming into contact with sharks, jellyfish, and other dangerous sea life.

The sand at the beach is mostly coarse, with some finer sand found closer to the water. These two different types of sand is the result of the beach being extended many years after the beach was initially made.

This part of Hong Kong is one of the most expensive locations for real estate in the city. With such a great view, it’s easy to understand why it’s so expensive to live here. The most well known building here is called “The Repulse Bay”. You’ll notice it right away by the giant hole that goes through the middle of the building. It’s famously known as the “building with a hole.”

The Repulse Bay
The Repulse Bay. Also known as the “building with a hole.”

This building was made with a giant hole in the middle of it to promote good feng shui. It consists of half apartments and half hotel rooms, making it even more unique.

Kwun Yam Shrine
Kwun Yam Shrine

Travel down to the eastern end of the beach and you’ll see the Tin Hau Temple and the Kwun Yam Shrine. The temple and shrine are very colourful and have lots of statues that include dragons, Tin Hau and Kwun Yam. The Kwun Yam Shrine has a bridge and a pier that goes out into the ocean.

Tin Hau Temple
Tin Hau Temple

There’s no MTR line that goes into southern Hong Kong Island, so you’ll have to get here by taxi, car or bus. The bus route that goes here from Central is one of the oldest bus routes in Hong Kong.

I recommend making time to see Repulse Bay for yourself when you’re in Hong Kong. If you like beaches and swimming, this is the beach to go to. It’s a very iconic spot in Hong Kong and well worth the trip to see the tourist attractions at the beach.

If you want to avoid huge crowds of people, visit on weekdays and any season except summer.

You’ll probably see everything here in a couple of hours, so I would recommend visiting Stanley, Deep Water Bay and Tai Tam Country Park and Reservoir. All these places are located close by and can make your day trip to southern Hong Kong Island a lot of fun. Ocean Park is also fairly close as well.