Summer in Hong Kong can be hot, and while there are air-conditioned places to find relief, nothing beats swimming as an effective form of relaxation and exercise. Swimming offers numerous health benefits including relieving stress and depression while increasing metabolism levels for improved energy and weight loss. Plus it’s an enjoyable way to soak in some fresh air and take in panoramic city views!
However, Hong Kong’s public and government pools don’t always provide the ideal atmosphere or facilities to swim in; during hotter temperatures they may become overcrowded with swimmers trying to cool off in them. But hotel pools in Hong Kong boast some of the finest (and most picturesque) swimming facilities to help refresh and cool you off when temperatures soar.
Some Hong Kong pools provide stunning city and harbour views, while others feature excellent facilities and are located conveniently. We’ve curated some of our favorites so that you can spend an enjoyable day splashing about in the water with a refreshing beverage in hand!
As well as offering multiple pools, this complex also features an outdoor cinema, yoga studios and gyms – the ideal setting to unwind while taking in some culture!
Design by Terry Farrell and Partners, this spaceship-like complex took eight years to come to fruition but was finally finished this February. Constructed using zinc to minimize glare, and serving as the first pool in China using translucent insulated tensile membrane from Birdair sister company Tensotherm – its construction took up an entire city block.
The swimming pool at Victoria Dock features both a circular pool and 50m Olympic-size lap pool for Olympic swimming events, along with an underwater tunnel and diving platforms to pay homage to its maritime history and surrounding waterfront environment.
Initial pool closures due to coronavirus pandemic were lifted on 15 September this year, surprising many swimmers as no cases have been reported of transmission through swimming in Hong Kong, while pools remain open elsewhere despite far greater transmission rates.
HKASA has asserted that pool closures will seriously hamper training of elite swimmers as it is impossible to practice for competitions without access to an indoor facility. They have called on pools to reopen as soon as possible as shutting them will only serve to lower swimmer morale further.
Public pools in Hong Kong are managed by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, with adult admission costing HK$17 on weekdays, weekends and public holidays – seniors, people with disabilities or children aged 3-13 can take advantage of discounted admission prices at either 8HK$ for weekday visits and 9HK$ on weekends and public holidays respectively; full-time student cards allow access for free. You can view a complete list of public pools here.