Hong Kong is in the top 5 most densely populated countries in the world with small homes size, narrow aisle at stores and crowd is everywhere. People look for good public transport, schools network, shops/ facilities, air quality or areas with less crowd in different parts of the country; Island, Kowloon, New Territories and Outlying Islands.
*Air Quality Index (AQICN) – Higher number represents more serious pollution.
Wan Chai/ Central (HK Island)
Wan Chai. Photo: tripsavvy.com
The busiest parts of Hong Kong (Central, Wan Chai) offers plenty of shopping, entertainment and dining options, public transport, government/ corporate offices are easily accessible, pollution is bad comparatively. Other than the main roads, sidewalks are pretty narrow. Here you can find specialty shops frequented by locals, nightclubs and bars, notably Lan Kwai Fong. Residential buildings; old and new are among the hustle and bustle of the city where you can experience Hong Kong’s true vibrancy and noise.
Schools | Estates for Rent | Bad Air Quality
Tseung Kwan O (TKO), New Territories
Tseung Kwan O Waterfront Park and bike track. Photo: fso-createhk.gov.hk
An amazing network of malls connected to the TKO MTR Station and residential buildings with bicycle tracks and lovely promenade overlooking the bay (Junk Bay), convenience commuting to the HK Island via the Tseung Kwan O Line, TKO is a great but densely populated residential area in Hong Kong. The LOHAS Park residential project in the southern part will become the largest single residential enclave in Hong Kong in 2025, with skyscraper residences up to 76 floors high, connected to The Lohas Shopping Mall and Lohas Park MTR Station through covered elevated walkways.
Schools | Estates for Rent | Good Air Quality
Taikoo Shing, East HK Island
Cityplaza/ Taikoo Shing. Photo: greenbuilding.hkgbc.org.hk
Taikoo Place, together with adjacent Cityplaza and Taikoo Shing, form an integrated residential, business, commercial and entertainment hub with 13 interconnected office towers and 61 residential blocks in Quarry Bay, developed by Swire Properties. Towers are connected by a system of sustainably-designed air-conditioned walkways one level above the street, creating a fluid transition to the urban gardens and nearby amenities.
Schools | Estates for Rent | Good Air Quality
Kai Tak, Kowloon
Kai Tak Feb 2021
A massive urban development on the old airport site is well under way to make Kai Tak a vibrant community and HK’s second CBD with a comprehensive network of parks, commercial and entertainment spaces, sports complex, elevated walkway across the Kai Tak River, underground shopping street around Kai Tak MTR Station, to be completed in 2025 (source: Kai Tak Development). Now it offers many new residential options with great facilities, wide, beautiful sidewalks and trees on its grid neighborhood, while shops and restaurants are popping up gradually following the influx of new residents. Interconnectivity has been improved tremendously with the opening of the Kai Tak MTR station in 2020.
Schools | Estates for Rent | Moderate Air Quality
Lantau Island (Outlying Islands)
Tung Chung
Photo: swireproperties.com
Located about 40km away from Hong Kong Central, travelling is not too bad with the rapid MTR Tung Chung Line which has relatively fewer stops for long distance. It takes 33 minutes to travel from Tung Chung Station to Hong Kong Station. Tung Chung is a new town which is still undergoing expansion. Many of its housing estates are built around Tung Chung Town where the Citygate Outlets, MTR Station, shopping centres, hotels are centered on. Tung Chung is famous for its beautiful nature, country parks and easy access to major transportation points like the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge, HK International Airport, and tourist destinations; Ngong Ping 360 Cable Car, and HK Disneyland.
Schools | Estates for Rent | Low/ Moderate Air Quality
Discovery Bay
Discovery Plaza next to Tai Pak Beach
Discovery Bay is popular among the expats for its peaceful and relaxing environment. Private vehicles entry is restricted. Just right outside the Ferry Pier is the Discovery Bay Plaza where residents can shop and dine at the open-concept shops. The Tai Pak Beach, located next to the Plaza offers fun beach activities and a beach playground. There is also the pet friendly Central Park and beautiful promenade at Discovery Bay North. Discovery Bay <-> Central Ferry Service costs $46 per adult and takes 25 minutes. (Fee & Schedule)
Schools | Estates for Rent | Good Air Quality
Mid-Levels, Hong Kong Island
Photo: engelvoelkers.com
Mid-Levels is a popular neighborhood among the affluent expatriate and local community. Located on the steep roads leading to Victoria Peak with narrow sidewalks, people pay a premium price to live here due to its close proximity to the Central Business District as well as the nature and better air quality. The Mid-Levels Escalator connects Central Market (Queen’s Road Central) all the way up to Conduit Road in Mid-Levels, an elevation of about 135 meters. You can get a great view of the Victoria Harbour from higher floors of apartments here. Many shops and eateries are located on the main roads like Caine, Robinson and Bonham Road.
