Hong Kong Island is packed with skyscrapers and busy roads, but there are also plentiful paths where runners can enjoy their run.
I lived in Hong Kong Island for many years and run throughout the limitless trails. 5 trails are particularly beginner-friendly with breath-taking views along the way.
These paths can be extended or shortened to suit your needs. They also have good access to facilities and public transportation, which I will list below.
If you happen to be in Hong Kong Island, I highly recommend you check these 5 routes out!
I tested these routes during daytime, nighttime, and even in the rain. They are safe, well lit, and well paved for most weather conditions.
1. Central and Western Waterfront Promenade
5km | Flat
Arguably the most spectacular running route in the city. The most famous parts of Hong Kong can be viewed on this flat scenic waterfront run.
It’s easy to follow, just stay on the path closest to the water. Start from any point along the path.
From the east, start your run by the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre and run along the waterfront for great views of Kowloon across the Victoria Harbour.
After about 1km on your left, you’ll start seeing some of the most famous landmarks in Hong Kong: the Government Headquarters, the Bank of China Tower, the HSBC Main Building, and the Hong Kong Observation wheel.
Next to the Observation Wheel is the Central Ferry Pier (2km) for the famous Star Ferry to Kowloon and ferries to outlying islands. On the left, you’ll also see a tall shaver-like building (International Finance Centre or IFC) where Batman jumped down from in The Dark Knight.
Continuing on, you’ll approach twin red and black buildings – Shun Tak Centre (3km). You’ll see hydrofoils zipping to Macau from here.
Run along the double-laned one-way road under the building by the water (the only sketchy part of the path) to the other side. (about 200m long)
The well-paved path continues via Sun Yat Sen Park (4km) to end at the highly-instagrammable Western District Pier, aka Instagram Pier (5km). A great place for watching the sunset with plenty of good backgrounds for your Instagram to end your run.
Western District Pier is a working pier in the daytime through early morning. It is open to the public when their work is done, usually from late afternoon.
Run in the afternoon or evening and enjoy the sunset in the west.
From 10pm-7am, a fence is closed by the Western Wholesale Food Market at the final kilometre of the route. Just take the red alternative path (one street in)
This route can be extended both ways and can form a 57km loop around Hong Kong Island.
Facilities
Plenty (almost excessive) public bathrooms scattered along the path.
Convenience stores or vending machines available every few hundred metres along the route.
Cafés and an outdoor bar for your after run drink available at the Central Ferry Pier No. 3.
Public Transport Access
The whole route is in the centre of Hong Kong. At any point of the route, you are within 500m to public transportation.
Trams: 2-3 streets inland, there are trams that can take you to any point along north HK Island from Kennedy Town to Shau Kei Wan.
Bus: Routes throughout Hong Kong Island, Kowloon, and New Territories run along this main corridor. Download the CitybusNWFB App (Android , Apple) for the dozens of selections available. (Alternatively, you can use this site.)
Minibus: Central Ferry Pier has minibus services to mid-levels
Ferry:
Central Ferry Pier has regular ferries to outlying islands, and the famed Star Ferry to cross the Victoria Harbour to Tsim Sha Tsui.
Wan Chai Ferry Pier, next to the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, also is a stop for the Star Ferry to Tsim Sha Tsui.
Shun Tak Pier has regular high-speed ferries that take you to Macau in one hour. (Unavailable during COVID-19 travel restrictions)
MTR: You are running along stations between Hong Kong University and Wan Chai.
2. Bowen Road Fitness Trail
4km | Mostly Flat, slight uphill westbound
A popular route on Hong Kong Island with views over Wan Chai, Admiralty, and Central.
It is built over an aqueduct that carries water from Tai Tam Reservoir into the city, so it has a very slight downslope from east to west. The intersections are subtle so it is not difficult to stay on the main path.
Starting from the east at Stubbs Road, a path through trees takes you away from vehicles for a zen run in the middle of the city.
At 1.4km, the famed Lovers’ Rock (well signed) is up some stairs on your left.
At 2.5km, you will run right next to a brown circular skyscraper called Hopewall Centre. From there, you can have a great skyscrapper view of Hong Kong.
At 3.5km, the road becomes accessible to one-way vehicle traffic but here is plenty of space for runners to continue.
Ending at 4.1km on the west, a few extra steps will take you under the Peak Tram rail line. You can follow the stairs downhill along the tram line (Tram Rail Path) for some tram spotting.
Continuing down for 1km and 100m descend will take you to Admiralty and Central – The hub of Hong Kong.
Starting and ending from both sides is okay with easy access to main roads afterwards. Many people do a out-and-back and exit through one of the many exit points back into the city. The path is adequately lit even at night.
Facilities
Public bathrooms at 2km (Wan Chai Gap) and 3km (Bowen Road Garden) from the east, and another public bathroom in the park across the street from the western end of Bowen Road.
There aren’t any convenience stores along the route. However, there are plenty of access points downhill and you are only a few hundred metres away from the city with plenty of stores.
Public Transport Access
From the east, there are exits downhill to the city at 0.5km, 1.5km, 2km, 3km, and 3.5km. These exits will get you down to busy areas from Wan Chai to Admiralty, with public transport access to most parts of Hong Kong
Bus:
Bus Stops on the eastern end (Hong Kong Adventist Hospital Stop) has the following routes:
Route 6 that runs between Central and Stanley via Wan Chai and Repulse Bay
Route 15 that runs between Central Pier and The Peak via Wan Chai
Route 19 that runs to Siu Sai Wan via Happy Valley, Causeway Bay, North Point and Chai Wan
Route 41A that runs between North Point and Wah Fu Estate via Tai Hang Road and Aberdeen
Route 63 that runs between North Point and Stanley via Victoria Park and Repulse Bay
Route 76 that runs between Causeway Bay and Aberdeen
The bus stop on the western end is a 500m walk westbound along Magazine Gap Road down to a big messy junction with overpasses in multiple directions. You can access the following routes from there:
12, 12M that runs through the mid-levels, Central, and Admiralty
23 that runs between North Point and the University of Hong Kong via Causeway Bay, Wan Chai, Admiralty, and across the mid-levels along Robinson Road.
40 that runs between Wan Chai Pier and Wah Fu via Admiralty, Robinson Road, and Pok Fu Lam Road.
3. Quarry Bay to Shau Kei Wan Promenade
2.8km | Flat
For those on the eastern district, this waterfront path is my favorite for getting an uninterrupted vehicle-free mostly flat run with a relaxing view.
Starting from the west next to the Hong Kong Funeral Home is Hoi Yu Street. Follow the street under the highway and stay on the outermost trail throughout the run. You’ll see great views of East Kowloon on your left.
At 1.2km, you’ll pass the Fireboat Alexander Grantham, a bridge is next to the Fireboat that takes you into Tai Koo that has a shopping mall with plenty of shops and restaurants.
At 1.6km, you’ll arrive at Lei King Wan where you’ll see bars with an ocean view. This area is SoHo East.
At 2km, you’ll see the Sai Wan Ho Pier and a big bus terminal under Grand Promenade (a tall residential building). You’ll continue sticking with the water and run along the Shau Kei Wan Typhoon Shelter where you see many boats and junks.
Continue to the end of the park (2.8km) and exit to Oi Lai Street under the big highway. You can turn back or walk along the bottom of the main highway to Shau Kei Wan MTR Station.
This route can be extended both ways and can form a 57km loop around Hong Kong Island.
Facilities
There are public bathrooms at 0.6km, 1km, 1.6km, and 2.8km from the west.
There’s a convenience store at 2km. Many shops are less than 500m inland from the path.
Public Transport Access
Tram: The whole route is parallel to the tram line between Quarry Bay and its Shau Kei Wan terminus. The line is a few hundred metres inland from the running path. The tram can take you to Causeway Bay, Wan Chai, Admiralty, Central, and all the way to Kennedy Town with HKD$2.6.
Bus: Routes throughout Hong Kong Island and Kowloon run along this main corridor. Download the CitybusNWFB App for the dozens of selections available.
MTR: The whole route is parallel to the Island Line stations between Quarry Bay and Shau Kei Wan. The line follows the tram line and is only a few hundred metres inland from the running path.
4. Ocean Park to Repulse Bay Seaview Promenade
4km | Mostly Flat
To experience the quieter southern part of Hong Kong Island, this is a great route along the shoreline with beautiful beaches and an open view of the Pacific Ocean.
From Ocean Park MTR Station Exit C, follow Wong Chuk Hang Road eastbound (turn right away from the MTR tracks). Run along the sidewalk.
At about 0.7km, a staircase takes you away from the road down to a pedestrian-only pathway over the water.
At 1.5km, you will arrive at the first beach – Deep Water Bay. Follow the busy Island Road behind the beach. This part is narrow for runners. Be aware of traffic and stay safe on this 500m stretch.
At 2km, you will see a concrete barbecue site on your right, enter the barbecue site and you will continue on a pedestrian-only pathway over water. This is the Seaview Promenade you will enjoy for the next 1.3km.
At 3.3km, you will arrive at Repulse Bay, a popular beach to escape from the city. Run along the concrete path behind the beach. On the other end of the beach, you will find a Kwun Yun Statue as the end of this route.
This route can be extended both ways and can form a 57km loop around Hong Kong Island.
Facilities
There are public bathrooms and showers at Deep Water Bay (1.5km) and Repulse Bay (3.5km from the West).
There are convenience stores at Ocean Park MTR Station, Deep Water Bay, and Repulse Bay.
Bars and Cafes are also available by the beach at Repulse Bay for your post-run meal/drink.
Public Transport Access
Bus:
Bus stops on the western end has access to routes throughout Hong Kong Island.
107 to Kowloon Bay, 170 to Sha Tin, 171 to Lai Chi Kok, and 671 to Diamond Hill are options if you want to travel to Kowloon and the New Territories. They can be taken from the northbound bus stop of Aberdeen Tunnel Toll Plaza.
The following bus routes run alongside the running path:
6, 6A, 6X, 260 runs between Central and Stanley via Admiralty.
73 runs between Cyberport and Stanley via Aberdeen.
973 runs between Tsim Sha Tsui and Stanley via Jordan, Sai Ying Pun, Pok Fu Lam Road, and Aberdeen.
MTR: Ocean Park MTR Station at the west end of the route, one stop to Admiralty.
5. Victoria Peak Loop
3.4km | Light Incline and Decent
This is the signature running route of Hong Kong with access to the signature postcard view of Hong Kong. You run a loop at 400m elevation around Victoria Peak. It starts and ends at The Peak Tower.
Running clockwise will place the rewarding view closer to the end of your run. There is a very mellow climb and decent throughout the path.
A clockwise run at 500m, you will see The Lugard Waterfall on your right. At 1.1km, you will arrive at a park and an intersection. To continue the loop, stay right on the concrete path.
Optionally, you can add High West Peak to your run from here. It is through the other (southwest) side of the park down some hidden stairs. It is a 600m extension that includes a 100m climb of stairs. The panoramic view to the west is well worth it, especially during sunsets.
Continue on Lugard Road and you’ll start seeing glimpses of the cityscape. Run slightly uphill on the path and the best views can be found at the highest point of the path (2.4km).
I think this view on Lugard Road is better than the view on top of the Peak Tower, which costs you HKD$52. Take your time and enjoy the impressive view of Hong Kong.
From here, it’s a 1km downhill back to the Peak Tower.
This path is adequately lit at night.
There are many trails to extend your run throughout Hong Kong Island.
One option is to run down the steep Old Peak Road, through the Hong Kong Zoological & Botanical Garden to Central (2km 400m descend from The Peak Tower).
Another option is to run along Barker Road and Coombe Road to Wan Chai Gap Park (2.8km 150m descend from The Peak Tower), then down to Wan Chai (1km 250m descend from Wan Chai Gap Park) or Aberdeen (3km 250m descend from Wan Chai Gap Park).
Facilities
Public bathroom and water fountain at the park under High West Peak (1.1km Clockwise)
Shopping Mall at the Start/Finish
Public Transportation
The Peak Tram: $37 Single $52 Return. 7-8min ride every 20min. Takes you down near Admiralty on Garden Road
Bus: $7.60. Route 15 to Central Ferry Piers via Wan Chai Gap Park, Wan Chai, and Admiralty
Green Minibus: $10.2. Route 1 to Hong Kong Station MTR via HK Zoological and Botanical Gardens
Let me know if you have run these routes!
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