When you think of Hong Kong, a lot of things come to mind: shopping, dim sum and, surprisingly, great swimming. From the world’s highest pool to a natural infinity pond on a mountainside, the city is loaded with beautiful places to cool off. Here are a few of the best.
Swimming offers a host of health benefits, including reduced stress and depression, higher energy levels and improved mental clarity. It also helps boost the metabolism and improve bone density, so it’s no wonder that it’s the ideal exercise for any age or fitness level. So, if you’re looking to take the plunge this summer, consider booking one of these hotels with pools in Hong Kong. From dazzling infinity pools overlooking Victoria Harbour to kid-friendly water zones, they’re the perfect places to soak up the sun (and the poolside drinks) during your next staycation.
Despite a gloomy start to the day, eager swimmers flocked to many of the city’s public swimming pools on Thursday. Some opened fully, with others operating partially as staff shortages caused by a strike by the Hong Kong Recreation and Sports Professionals General Union continued to limit the number of available lifeguards.
In addition, many private pools opted to remain closed in the wake of the strike and the government’s warning that they may be forced to shut this month due to the lack of qualified lifeguards. This could be the first time that a large proportion of private pools were shut down in the same year, according to the Hong Kong Pool Association.
The HK Pool Association has warned that around 20 of its members will only be partially open this summer, while up to 500 licensed private pools may not open at all. It is feared that the shortage of lifeguards will cause a number of pools to close early, while other facilities, such as paddling pools and water slides, will be shut down in order to divert lifeguards from the affected pools.
There are currently 45 public pools and 1,371 licensed private pools in Hong Kong. The public pools are operated by the LCSD, while private pools are privately owned and operated. Private pools are not required to adhere to the same health and safety standards as the LCSD, which means that they do not have to employ trained lifeguards.
There is also a Kowloon Park public pool, which has outdoor leisure and training pools as well as a children’s pool and large diving pool. However, they are not open from November to March of the following year for maintenance.