“Man, where’s the running around here?” The sidewalk suddenly ended and I’m standing on a three-story freeway interchange. Six lanes of busy traffic below, and skyscrapers above, stacked so tightly that they resemble a giant anthill. It has just dawned. The stifling morning chill makes me feel like I’m in a sauna. Running is hot and sticky and hard. Good morning, Hong Kong!
About the city.
Hong Kong is a lot like other Asian megacities. At first glance, it looks like a complete madhouse, but then you realize that it’s an organized madhouse.
The huge number of people and cars, the noise from early morning until late at night, the mixture of smells, super-modern buildings, shopping malls, traditional Chinese eateries, street food, perfectly maintained parks, narrow double-decker streetcars, noisy Chinese – the city is like a separate organism. To survive in it, you need to relax, forget about what is “right” and “comfortable” in our view, just go with the flow and watch.
At first, Hong Kong seems totally unsuited to running. The sidewalks are narrow or non-existent, with pedestrians moving through upper levels consisting of endless overpasses and escalators that dive into shopping malls now and then.
Parks are well-maintained, but completely microscopic; there are almost no green spaces in the urban development areas. On the embankment is a huge renovation, and on the streets, even at night and early in the morning, there is a lot of traffic. GPS clocks are useless here – the density of the skyscrapers makes them wrong. The gyms are full, especially in the evenings – many people prefer to work out in an air-conditioned room.
Where to run in Hong Kong
The Strava Global Heatmap clearly shows that the most popular routes for running in Hong Kong are trail runs.
Getting to any of them is no problem. The public transport system works perfectly: everything is convenient, easy, and on schedule. Here are a few popular jogging routes.
Lugard Road – Severn Road.
A scenic route in a popular tourist spot, about 6 km.
Points of interest along the way: great views of Hong Kong, luxury real estate on Severn Road.
Victoria Road: From Kennedy Town to Pok Fu Lam Road.
A hilly route on the west side of Hong Kong Island, about 6 km one way.
Considered the best promenade for jogging in Hong Kong, it is located on the Kowloon Peninsula. The route is about 6 km long.
Hong Kong’s largest park, located in the Causeway Bay area. Only suitable for short jogging since the circular route is only 0.6 km long.
Hong Kong Trail is a 50-kilometer hiking trail that runs across the island, from Victoria Peak to Big Wave Island. Some of its segments are quite good for trail running, and other than that, it’s just beautiful. The trails are well marked, with maps and signage.