A Bridge Too Far...

Beaches and Bridges. Lido Beach.

Today, I decided to head to Tsuen Wan, then take transport to the nearby beaches. These are located very close to the Ting Kau Bridge and in the distance they look onto the Tsing Ma Bridge, too. I have been meaning to do this for a while, ever since my trip to The Gold Coast. On that trip my bus went on a flyover, high above these beaches and with only a limited view of them through the surrounding tall buildings. Today, I took a different bus, number 234B from the bus station in Tsuen Wan West, which goes along the coast and stops at several different beaches.

My main aim was to visit Lido Beach, but I noticed that the stop after it was also a beach, Hoi Mei Beach, so I decided to go there and walk back the way. Right from the moment I got off the bus, I had great views over the Tsing Ma Bridge and the Ting Kau Bridge.

The Tsing Ma Bridge from next to the Airport Core Programme Exhibition Centre.

Looking down at a beach near the Airport Core Programme Exhibition Centre.

I didn't realize that Hoi Mei Beach was right next to the The Airport Core Programme Exhibition Centre. To be honest I had never heard of this. The building the exhibition is housed in was originally called Homi Villa. It was built in the early 1930's by a private developer called, Jehangir H. Ruttonjee. For a while it was used as staff quarters for British army officers. Between 1971 and 1982 this building was the residence of Sir Philip Haddon-Cave, the Financial Secretary. It was converted into the Airport Core Programme Exhibition Centre in 1995. I didn't go in, but apparently there are five exhibition areas, displaying models, photos and descriptions of several airport-related projects.

The Airport Core Programme Exhibition Centre.

To get to Hoi Mei Beach I walked down lots and lots of steps, only to discover that the final few steps were taped off with a 'Danger, do not cross' sign. I momentarily considered just turning round and going back up, but then decided to climb over the danger tape and go onto the beach. There were several beach workers watching me, but no-one told me off. I'm still not sure if the beach was closed, or it was just that the last couple of steps were badly damaged. Either way, aside from the workers, I was the only person on this beach. It was sandy with nice views, and some barbecue pits.

Hoi Mei Beach Sign.

A view of both bridges from Hoi Mei Beach.

After looking at the beach, I climbed up a different flight of steps. I went past several buildings that seemed to belong to a sort of closed beach side campsite.

When I was back up on the road, I headed towards the next two beaches - Lido Beach and Casam Beach, which are next to each other. There were more wonderful bridge views on the way, as well as a lovely view back the way over Hoi Mei Beach.

Hoi Mei Beach from above.

The Ting Kau Bridge.

Casam Beach and Lido Beach from above.

There weren't as many steps to get down to Lido Beach, thankfully. I had not passed anywhere in Tsuen Wan to buy water on my way to the bus. There are a million shops in Tsuen Wan; they just weren't next to me. I thought: "No problem. I'll buy a drink at the beaches." However, there was nowhere to buy anything. I was already very thirsty when I reached Lido Beach. The snack kiosk there was shut. There was a drinks vending machine, but to my disappointment I couldn't get it to work.

Lido Beach and Casam Beach Sign.

I started off by walking to the smaller Casam Beach which is right next to Lido Beach. On the way I passed some war remains and a shrine. Casam Beach looked very pleasant and peaceful, at least on a weekday.

War remains between the beaches.

Shrine.

Many years ago the water here was clean, then it became very polluted and most of the beaches here closed. Nowadays things are improving again.

Tsing Ma Bridge from Casam Beach.

Casam Beach.

I then walked back to Lido Beach. This was bigger and a bit busier. It had beautiful silvery sand. There were people swimming here and life guards wandering around. There was also a volleyball court.

Welcome to Lido Beach.

The view from Lido Beach.

Lifeguard rowing away from Lido Beach.

Boat on Lido Beach.

Selfie on Lido Beach.

Lido Beach in the shadow of the Ting Kau Bridge.

Lido Beach.

Although it is beautiful, Lido Beach has had its share of problems. On the 2nd of July 1997 there was a landslide here. This would have been the day after the handover. I remember the torrential rain and that several landslides occurred at this time. There was a fatal landslip at the Ten Thousand Buddhas' Monastery in Sha Tin. We lived close to this at the time. In the landslide at Lido Beach, eight people, including two lifeguards, had to be rescued after being buried in mud. They were injured, but no-one died. Facilities here include volleyball courts, toilets, changing rooms. There's a winter swimmers' club building. There are some shady spots to sit in amongst some trees.

At the end of Lido Beach is the Ting Kau Sitting Out Area. Part of it is directly below the Ting Kau Bridge. There were several people fishing here and there were lovely views. I took some zoom photos of the views and of some of the boats bobbing around in the water. The end of the sitting out area was a dead end, so I had to double back and go back up the same steps I had come down.

Ting Kau sitting out area sign.

View from the sitting out area.

Fishing from the sitting out area.

View from the sitting out area.

View from the sitting out area.

Boats.

Boats.

Boats.

Tsing Ma Bridge and flowers.

Under the Ting Kau Bridge.

Ting Kau Bridge.

As I walked along the road above Lido Beach there were some fantastic views out across the sea. Despite being too hot, I was glad of the sunny weather to see blue skies and seas.

Views between Lido and Approach Beach.

Views between Lido and Approach Beach.

However, I really was starting to feel very hot, thirsty and sunstruck at this point. I was tempted to just get on a bus and get out of the sun, but I didn't, I ploughed on to the last beach I wanted to visit. This is called Approach Beach. The walk there took me past several posh buildings. I could not see them well as they were behind high walls, but I could see some of the beautiful flowers in their gardens. Some of the places I passed seemed to be guest houses.

The Haven.

Flowers.

Flowers.

Eventually I reached a stairway with a sign in Chinese, which I could not read. Thinking it might lead to Approach Beach, I followed the stairs down. They led to a pretty little beach, where lots of locals were playing board games at a table. I think this was probably Ting Kau Beach. I say that because it was so close to Ting Kau Village. This beach had shady seating areas and exercise machines. It also had several small shrines. I would guess not many people from outside the village come here, which actually made it a very local and interesting place. After taking a look around, I climbed back up to the road. I passed some Chinese paintings on the rocks on my way up.

Looking over Ting Kau Village.

Ting Kau Beach.

Ting Kau Bridge.

Ting Kau Beach.

Playing board games.

Shrine.

Chinese painting.

Chinese painting.

When I finally reached Approach Beach, I climbed down the steps and was absolutely delighted to see a drinks machine, as I was dying of thirst by this time. To my frustration I couldn't get it to work. Fortunately a very kind Chinese gentleman noticed my problem and came and helped me work the machine. It didn't have water, so I had to have pocari sweat. I've never tasted that before, to be honest. I was surprised that it was quite sweet. It wasn't even cold, but I was so thirsty by this stage, it was like nectar from heaven. I wandered along the beach for a while. A lady was busy cleaning the roof of the main beach building using a hose. She just missed soaking me. Part of me regretted that she missed as I was so so hot by this stage. After looking around, I then climbed back up to the road.

Approach Beach Sign.

Approach Beach.

Approach Beach.

Approach Beach.

Swimmer at Approach Beach.

I really wanted to continue on to the Tsuen Wan Waterfront Promenade which I had passed on the bus on my way in, but I knew I had already had too much sun, so I jumped on a number 53 bus and headed back to Tsuen Wan Station. On the walk to the bus stop I was surprised to see a long line of Macau type ferries.

A line of Macau type Ferries.

Views on the way to the bus stop.