If you’re looking to cool off, Hong Kong has you covered – and not just with its blazing summer sun. From swimming pools with stunning views of the city skyline to relaxing hotel oases, there’s plenty to choose from. Here are our picks for the best hongkong pools to visit this summer.
Hong Kong is a world-class cosmopolitan city with an astounding array of dining options, shopping malls and stunning natural beauty. And while Hong Kong’s beaches may be a tourist draw, the city’s many gorgeous public and hotel swimming pools provide an even more refreshing and enjoyable way to cool down and soak up the scenery.
The swanky InterContinental Grand Stanford is home to one of the city’s most famous pool complexes. With three outdoor infinity pools that overlook Victoria Harbour, the hotel offers guests a dazzlingly beautiful setting to swim, relax and unwind. The hotel also has a tea deck dining area, so you can enjoy drinks and snacks poolside.
While a stay here isn’t cheap, you can always book a package with Klook to save money. You’ll need an Octopus card on arrival, which is a must for any Hong Kong traveller, as you can use it to ride the MTR and access all of the city’s public swimming pools that require a fee at the gate.
Located on the 118th floor of the International Commerce Centre (ICC), The Ritz Carlton’s pool is a breathtaking sight to behold. With mirrored ceilings, floor to ceiling windows and LED walls that showcase the illusion of coral reefs, this is truly an out-of-this-world experience. Plus, its proximity to the skyscrapers in this part of the city makes it a must-visit if you’re looking for the most stunning pool in Hong Kong.
In the 1960s and 1970s, many of the city’s public swimming pools were built to standardised designs. The Kwai Shing Swimming Pool complex in Sai Ying Pun is typical of this era, with two 50-metre pools, changing rooms and a lobby located mostly underneath the grandstand and several smaller teaching pools. The pool was named after Yue Kong Pao, who donated funds toward the building of the facility.
During the coronavirus pandemic, the LCSD stepped up inspections of all its pools to ensure that water quality was safe and there were no visible signs of contamination with vomit or faeces. The inspections also included a review of the cleaning procedures. The results showed that all the pools complied with LCSD’s cleanliness standards. As a result, the CDC lifted the ban on swimming in the pools for both local and mainland swimmers in August. However, the CDC warned that the risk of infection remains high and it recommends that people should continue to exercise proper hygiene when visiting pools. The CDC also advised that visitors should contact the pool management for more information.