Hong Kong is known to dazzle visitors with its neon skyline and urban canyons. But don't let that glittery cosmopolitan facade fool you.
The territory is home to more than 260 outlying islands, 100-plus beaches and endless miles of raw coastline.
Sunseekers may already be familiar with popular sandy spots such as Repulse Bay, Stanley and Shek O. But it's worth seeking out farther-flung crescents for cleaner sand and clearer water, too.
Here are some of Hong Kong's more hidden beaches, which you might even have all to yourself when you travel:
Long Ke Wan
The sandy stretches of Sai Kung East Country Park could be straight out of the Philippines, especially the stunning soft white sands of Long Ke Wan.
Backed by forested hillsides and overlooking clear water, this beach isn't easy to reach but it's well worth the journey.
Hiking over the first hill from the nearby High Island Reservoir, travelers are rewarded with sweeping views of the South China Sea and a picture-perfect crescent sweep of sand, all surrounded by mountains.
The remote location in Hong Kong's northeastern corner protects the beach from overuse. Long Ke Wan is just the beginning of a string of beautiful beaches along Tai Long Wan bay.
Getting there: From Diamond Hill MTR , a 30-minute taxi ride reaches the High Island Reservoir. From there it's another 30-minutes on foot.
Tung Ping Chau
Located in the northeast corner of Mirs Bay -- closer to Shenzhen, China, than to Hong Kong -- Tung Ping Chau is the city's most remote island.
The sunny speck in the sea features curious rocks formations along the coastline, great snorkeling, clean water and soft, sandy beaches.
To break up the day, follow the island's three-hour-long walking trail through the Hong Kong UNESCO Global Geopark to explore the many natural formations and rock pools.
Along the way, you can stop in Tai Tong Village for refreshments, though we'd recommend coming prepared with your own supplies.
Getting there: Ferries to Tung Ping Chau depart from Ma Liu Shui Ferry Pier, in northeastern Hong Kong, and take roughly 1.5 hours each way. As ferry services are limited, it's wise to check times before the journey.
Ham Tin Wan
A discussion about Hong Kong's most beautiful beaches never fails to include a mention of Tai Long Wan.
The remote bay is home to four beaches -- Sai Wan, Ham Tin Wan, Tai Wan and Tung Wan -- each separated by hills.
You'll need to set aside an entire day to hike from beach to beach. But if you prefer to focus on just one of the four, we'd recommend Ham Tin Wan.
Not only does the beach offer clear water and rugged mountain scenery, but there's more infrastructure here -- think a snack stall, bathrooms and water sport rentals.
Along the trek from Sai Wan beach to Ham Tin, you'll come across Sheung Luk Stream, which branches into the woods. Follow this stream for about 15 minutes until you reach tiered waterfalls and a series of rock pools.
It's the perfect place for a quick swim, picnic or bout of cliff jumping (at your own risk) before continuing on to Ham Tin.
Getting there: Departing from Central, make your way to Sai Kung Village. From there, you can either take a kaito ferry or minibus No. 29R to the trailhead at Sai Wan Pavilion. If hiking, the journey takes about 40 minutes to reach Sai Wan.
Lo So Shing
On the western coast of Lamma Island, this quiet beach is oft overlooked in favor of the more popular Powerstation or Hung Shing Ye beaches.
But after a short hike, you'll be rewarded with exceptionally clean water and, quite possibly, a cove all to yourself.
The facilities are pretty bare bones here -- there's a refreshment stand, some water sports vendors and bathrooms -- but the powdery sand is hard to beat.
After hitting the beach, visitors can wander up to Yung Shue Wan village for a leisurely lunch or sunset drinks.