How to spend summer in Hong Kong like a local

A highlight of the summer in Hong Kong, the Dragon Boat Festival returns to the region this June. Bringing frenetic boat races to the water, and celebratory food to the spectators lining the shores, the festival continues to be a big event in the calendar, with roots dating back over two millennia. There are plenty of other reasons to head to Hong Kong this summer. Among them, a newly completed waterfront promenade on Hong Kong Island provides art installations and killer views; a new ferry service whisks visitors to a cultural district in Kowloon; and sampan boat rides open up peaceful islands for snorkelling and swimming.

Walk the promenade

A waterfront promenade along the Hong Kong Island side of Victoria Harbour has been under construction for much of the past decade. The last parts of the pathway have now finally been completed. Join athletic locals jogging the entire route, which stretches over eight miles from Kennedy Town in the west to Shau Kei Wan in the east. Or opt for a shorter leg, taking advantage of outdoor seating, observation decks and exercise equipment. The 1.3-mile East Coast Boardwalk section has light projections in the evening.

Sunbathe in Sai Kung

To escape the city throngs, Hongkongers are heading to Sai Kung Country Park and hitching rides on sampans (traditional boats) to peaceful islands, snorkelling pools and tiny, empty white beaches. For HK$50 (£5), you can be dropped at tucked away Trio Beach or visit the island of Yim Tin Tsai, a former salt pan and Catholic enclave. Alternatively, Goofy Waves Watersports Club can arrange private Fiat 500 car-boat charters and picnics on out-of-the-way beaches.

Eat fresh pastries

You’ll find Hongkongers queuing around the block at every red-brick branch of Bakehouse. They’re waiting for just-out-the-oven artisanal pastries, including the classics (croissants, doughnuts, cookies) and local favourites such as chicken curry pie and sourdough egg tarts.

Drink TCM blends

Leung cha is a traditional medicinal brew made from a blend of flowers, roots and herbs. The often bitter-tasting beverage is now being reimagined as a range of botanical liqueurs by producers Magnolia Lab. Taste them straight or in cocktails at bars such as Clan & Company, Argo and Sugar.

Dance to Cantopop

Long before K-pop, there was Cantopop. From the 1980s to the early 2000s, musicians like Eason Chan, Joey Leung and Anita Mui filled the airwaves with their poetic love songs, rocking choruses and colloquial Cantonese lyrics. Two decades on, the music is back in the mix, with DJing trio Beat Friday throwing pop-up parties everywhere from The Murray hotel’s garden terrace to Boomerang nightclub and the M+ art gallery. “We try to perform at venues that capture the unique essence of Hong Kong,” says music producer and Beat Friday member INK. Dressed in bespoke suits, ties and sunglasses, the threesome whip up crowds with their catchy mashups.

Sail to West Kowloon

Home to the M+ Museum, the Hong Kong Palace Museum, the Xiqu Centre’s Cantonese operas and large waterfront gardens lined with food trucks and picnic areas, the WestK cultural district has bedded in to become one of the city’s top attractions – with locals and visitors alike. And it’s now easier to reach than ever thanks to the launch of a new ferry service, criss-crossing Victoria Harbour between Central Ferry Pier No.9 and WestK. The 10-minute journey costs HKD20/£2 each way and runs from 8am until 10pm (11pm at the weekends), meaning you can catch the gorgeous harbour views day and night.

Hang out on Peel Street

Lan Kwai Fong is for the kids. Grown-ups hang out on Peel Street. Tumbling through the heart of SoHo, this vertiginous thoroughfare is lined with hip bars and restaurants, with punters spilling out onto the stairs and pavements giving the whole place the feel of a neighbourhood party. Start your bar crawl by fueling up on top quality bar snacks – carbonara toast, short rib burgers, duck leg and fries – at Right Side Up before veering towards Bourke’s wine bar, Cantonese cocktail salon Kinsman and craft beer joint Yardley’s Taproom.