10 wellness and outdoor activities in Hong Kong to help you slow down and pause

Hong Kong holds a lot of promise for first-time and seasoned travelers.

From famous attractions like Disneyland, Ocean Park, and Victoria Peak to the nightlife of Lan Kwai Fong in Central, and the manifold malls and markets that just might prove shopping as a sport, there's no dearth of things to do and explore.

For Filipino travelers, it's a popular destination given its accessibility: it's only about two hours away from Manila by plane and is visa-free for Philippine passport holders. In fact, in November 2024, the Hong Kong Tourism Board recorded its millionth Filipino visitor for the year, breaking its previous record of 930,000 Filipino visitors in November 2018.

A bustling hub of commerce and mixed culture as it is, Hong Kong surely gives justice to its title as Asia's World City. And then it ups its ante with its magnificent outdoors and its wellness scene.

There are many wellness sanctuaries in Hong Kong that encourage one to slow down and pause, and just as many nature activities both challenging for outdoors enthusiasts and forgiving of those reluctant to rough it up. And Hong Kong unravels these offerings to anyone curious enough to search, and always to those who need them.

If your agenda is to disengage from the hustle of city life and relax for some necessary grounding, consider these 10 wellness and outdoor activities in Hong Kong.

1. High Island Geo Trail Trek in Sai Kung

If you're daunted by hiking, fret not. The High Island Geo Trail in Sai Kung welcomes everyone to take in the gorgeous sights of Hong Kong's UNESCO Global Geopark with relative ease (leisurely pace allowed).

Situated just beside the High Island Reservoir East Dam a short trail that includes a part of the winding MacLehose Trail leads hikers to the Biu Tsim Kok viewing point, which offers picturesque views of Long Ke Wan bay's crisp blue waters and Po Pin Chau island.

The hexagonal rock columns in the geopark's Sai Kung Volcanic Rock Region, which were formed 140 million years ago by volcanic eruptions, can also be sighted from this point.

Location: Sai Kung High Island Reservoir East Dam

2. Cycling at Plover Cove Reservoir Dam

Cycling enthusiasts will enjoy biking through Plover Cove Reservoir Dam in Shuen Wan. The way up to the dam features a bit of a slope through Plover Cove Country Park — something to take note of for bikers wary of uphill and downhill rides. The effort to get to the dam, however, makes it all worthwhile. The man-made dam, which measures about two kilometers, rests on layers of sand and gravel and offers uninterrupted views of the vast lake – made even more beautiful during magic hour.

Biking not your thing? Consider walking in solitude or with company or sitting by the seawall overlooking the lake is just as enjoyable. Rental bikes for solo and group riders are available in the park.

Location: Plover Cove Reservoir, Shuen Wan

3. Forest Bathing in Tai Mo Shan Country Park

Forest bathing doesn't actually entail bathing in a forest. A practice that originated in Japan, forest bathing or "shinrin-yoku" involves a series of intentional invitations that prod or suggest participants to ground themselves in the natural environment.

Unlike a hike where one has to go from one point to another, Amanda Yik, founder of Shinrin Yoku Hong Kong, emphasized the "pleasure of presence" in forest bathing: simply be here and exist.

Why not sit on the grass or walk slowly, if not backwards? Why not befriend a tree and choose it the way you would a partner at a crowded dance party? Forest bathing in Tai Mo Shan Country Park, located on the highest peak of Hong Kong, brings the experience to another level with its verdant sceneries and calming atmosphere. Cap off the experience by having tea at the nearby Twisk Campsite at Tai Lam Country Park.

Location: Tai Mo Shan Country Park, Tai Mo Shan

4. Gong Bath Sound Meditation at Red Doors Studio

Red Doors Studio, nestled on the 21st floor of an office building on Hong Kong Island, transports you to a different dimension upon stepping in.

Welcome to the enclave of Martha Collard, a certified sound therapist and founder of Red Doors Studio.  The studio is the first dedicated medication gong center in Asia and also holds the largest collection of medication gongs in the continent. Martha puts her clients, supine on the floor, in a state of meditation and relaxation through an immersive gong bath. Her Paiste gongs, hand-forged by gong masters based in Germany, help calm and rejuvenate the mind and body through its distinct sounds, tones, and vibrations. After the session, partake in some spiced hot tea and delicious brownies baked by Martha herself.

Location: Flat A, Floor 21, Lee Fund Centre, 31 Wong Chuk Hang Road, Hong Kong Island

5. Hatha Yoga at The Hideout

The Hideout looks so nondescript from the outside that you'd risk missing it if you weren't paying attention. Walk past the walls of the hideaway, though, and you'll understand why such a spot is kept away from prying eyes.

The retreat boasts of a serene pond, lush greenery, and an airy, grassy open space designated for sound baths, retreats, and yoga classes, such as Hatha yoga.The Hideout also has a coffee shop that specializes in a wide range of single-origin beans, and serves delicious vegan food that nourishes both the body and soul.

Location: Ngan Kwong Wan Road, Mui Wo, Lantau Island

6. Tea Appreciation at Song Cha Xie in Nan Lian Garden

Nan Lian Garden in Kowloon houses the Song Tea House where guests can sign up for tea appreciation. Sample traditional Da Hong Pao tea and discover why this fragrant tea is called the "King of Wuyi Rock Tea" and popular among Hongkongers. There is a specific art to brewing tea, as you'll see from the elegant tea master's lightness of hand: from the manner she transfers the delicate tea leaves in cups to the way she pours hot water and serves the tea in tempered, calculated movements.

Aside from tea appreciation, the public park is also the spot to be for a tranquil stroll, with its evergreen trees, man-made water features like the Lotus Pond and Blue Pond, giant sedimentary rocks, and grand timber structures all around.

Location: Fung Tak Road, Diamond Hill, Kowloon

7. Hike the Dragon's Back

The short trek in Sai Kung's High Island Geo Trail is only a glimpse if not a gateway to Hong Kong's other iconic trails. If you're up for an adventure that's a bit longer and a bit more challenging but not dauntingly so, hiking the Dragon's Back mountain ridge within Shek O Country Park should be top of your list.

Dragon's Back, which measures about eight kilometers, would take about two to four hours to conquer depending on your pace. The hike is accessible for most and not that tiring, but do watch out for the rugged terrain as the trail will test your sense of balance more than anything. Dragon's Back provides hikers dramatic sceneries throughout the entire hike, from rolling hills to sweeping uninterrupted views of Big Wave Bay and Tai Tam  Bay.

Location: Hong Kong Trail Sec. 8, Shek O, Hong Kong

8. Tai Pan Reflexology Parlour

A reflexology session after a hike? Sounds apropos. After hiking Dragon's Back or the High Island Geo Trail, head to Tai Pan Reflexology Parlour to give your soles and toes some love.

The massage parlour is tucked beneath busy Nathan Road. The noise of the thoroughfare is immediately shut out once you enter its doorway, which leads you down a grand wooden staircase to the waiting area and massage room. In a foot reflexology massage, the masseuse targets specific pressure points on the feet using the fingers and thumb; this helps relieve physical tensions in the area and promotes relaxation.

Location: 83 Nathan Road basement, Tsim Sha Tsui

9. Wing Chun by Master Robin

Martial arts like Wing Chun offers practical self-defense techniques in the face of conflict or threat, but it can also help promote a healthy body and mind through physical activity and breathing exercises. Perhaps most famous for being the fighting style of Ip Man and Bruce Lee, Wing Chun is an inclusive martial art that welcomes all kinds of learners, no matter one's sex, age, or physical shape, strength. In fact, according to Master Robin, the founder of Leung Ting WingTsun on Ashley Road, Wing Chun was designed for physically smaller individuals who want to learn to defend themselves.

Head to Leung Ting Wing Chun to learn the history and fundamentals of this martial art, have the chance to spar with fellow students and the shifu himself, and experience training with a wooden dummy.

Location: Unit B, 16/F, Astoria Building, 34 Ashley Road, Tsim Sha Tsui

10. Tai Chi by Master Cheung

If Wing Chun isn't up your alley, Tai Chi is another martial art to explore. Cordis Hotel in Mong Kok offers daily Tai Chi classes led by its resident Master Cheung. Although Tai Chi techniques are also utilized in self-defense, the martial art is characterized by its gentle, fluid motions done by relaxing the muscles. It promotes flexibility, strength, and balance without being hard on the joints, making it suitable for those recovering from injuries, the elderly, beginners in fitness, and anyone looking for a slower, meditative physical practice.

Location: 555 Shanghai St, Mong Kok

— LA, GMA Integrated News

This story was produced with support from the Hong Kong Tourism Board.