Shek O Beach & Village

Shek O is a lovely beach about a 20-minute cab ride and a world away from bustling downtown Hong Kong. The beach is a long, fat crescent of sand wedged between lush hills and a clear, calm sea. (The city is completely out of sight.) Though you shouldn't expect seclusion – on weekends the beach is popular with families, expats and groups having barbecues – it does remarkably retain a mellow aura. The vibe is low-key, slightly scruffy and urban chic. A few very casual beach bars and grills (with picnic tables and plastic chairs) line the back of the beach and serve beer, coconuts and cheap, delicious skewers of grilled pork, pineapple and shrimp. Neighboring Shek O Village is tiny and charming, a surprising hodgepodge of a colorful Brazilian beach town and a small European fishing village, with a few great seafood restaurants. The beach and village make a pleasant afternoon stop for lunch and a swim after a morning hiking the nearby Dragon’s Back.