Hong Kong may not immediately come to mind when thinking of beautiful pools, but there is certainly no shortage of breathtakingly beautiful ones! Our city boasts the world’s highest swimming pool, an infinity pond on a mountainside and many public water parks to make your summer pool days extra memorable.
Even though many pools are exclusive to hotel guests, their beauty can still be appreciated by the general public. For an enjoyable and luxurious staycation, head to The Ritz-Carlton Hong Kong rooftop pool; its breathtaking views of Hong Kong’s skyline can be enjoyed while its mirrored ceiling and LED wall displays create interesting illusions. In the lounge area guests can also enjoy cocktails, snacks, and high-speed internet service.
For something truly exotic, check out the seaside Kennedy Town Swimming Pool located in Kennedy Town district. Terry Farrell and Partners designed this triangular-shaped pool, making it one of the more photogenic projects in Hong Kong and beyond. With its triangular shape and distinctive zinc roof that evokes shell shape, this project serves as an iconic symbol for its community. The design of Victoria Harbour Outdoor Pool maximizes views of Victoria Harbour and surrounding cityscape, while protecting swimmers from noise pollution from main roads and tram entrance. A natural zinc finish that gradually develops its own patina over time was selected, providing optimal conditions for exposure to weather elements.
W Hong Kong boasts an indoor pool that will leave any visitor speechless. Adorned with marbled Roman columns and striped lounge chairs reminiscent of 1920’s luxury, guests can unwind in this pool while sipping cocktails or sip in peace while taking in stunning Victoria Harbor views from its terrace.
Swimming is an immensely popular sport in Hong Kong, boasting more than 10,000 competitive swimmers and millions of leisure swimmers alike. But the coronavirus scare has had unexpected repercussions for Hong Kong’s swimming scene; though swimming itself has not been identified as a mode of transmission for this virus, its local amateur swimming association fears closing public pools will have devastating repercussions for elite swimmers in a few years’ time.
Even amid these fears, some pools have opened and seen a significant upswing in visitors from mainland Chinese tourists, who flock to Hong Kong’s public swimming pools primarily due to their affordability and higher-than-shenzhen standards for affordability and quality facilities. Some have even taken to comparing Hong Kong public pools with their home countries’ versions, noting the high standards of cleanliness and water quality here; hopefully this increase in mainland swimmers will ensure Hong Kong pools remain in top condition in years to come.
