Cheung Sha Beach is, without a doubt, the best beach on Lantau Island. In fact, it’s one of the best beaches in Hong Kong in my opinion!

It often reminds me of the beaches at Tai Long Wan in Sai Kung. It may not have blue waters thanks to the black rock sediment in the area, but it does have soft white sand and peaceful surroundings! And with Sunset Peak towering in the background, it feels so raw and cut off from civilisation!

And at 3 km long, it also happens to be the longest beach in Hong Kong with plenty of space to accommodate large crowds. No wonder it’s such a popular spot for weddings, parties, surfing, or simply chilling on a warm summer day.

About Chueng Sha Beach

Located on the south coast of Lantau Island, Cheung Sha Beach is the longest beach in Hong Kong. It is divided into two unequal parts, Lower Cheung Sha Beach and Upper Cheung Sha Beach. The beaches are divided by a headland, as seen below.

As counterintuitive as it sounds, Lower Cheung Sha Beach is located in the north. It is the smaller but more commercial and popular part of the beach because of all the restaurants, bars, and camping and glamping sites.

Upper Cheung Sha Beach is located on the south side and is much longer and more spacious. However, as there are no commercial establishments on this side of the beach, it’s usually less crowded but more peaceful.

And in case you were wondering, it is possible to walk from one side of the beach to the other via a hidden trail behind the headland.

How To Get To Cheung Sha Beach

Cheung Sha Beach is easily accessible by bus, taxi, or car via South Lantau Road. Whether you’re headed to the Lower or Upper part, the beach is right next to the main road.

From Hong Kong Island by ferry

If you plan to take the ferry from Central, follow these directions:

1. Catch the ferry to Mui Wo from Pier 6 at Central Ferry Pier.
2. Once you arrive at Mui Wo Ferry Pier, take either bus numbers 1, 2 or 4 to Cheung Sha Ha Tsuen (for Lower Cheung Sha Beach) or Cheung Sha Beach (for Upper Cheung Sha Beach).

For Lower Chueng Sha Beach, once you alight at Cheung Sha Ha Tsuen, walk down the road towards the ramp and follow the signs for Lower Cheung Sha Village. It’s a short, one-minute walk to the beach.

From Tung Chung

If you’re coming from Tung Chung, you can catch

1. Bus number 11 from the Tung Chung Town Centre to Cheung Sha Ha Tsuen or Cheung Sha Bridge, or
2. Bus number 23 from Tung Chung Tat Tung Road Bus Terminus to the same bus stops.

Alternatively, you can always take a taxi from Mui Wo or Tung Chung. And in case you plan to drive, a reminder that parking spots are limited next to the beach.

Hike from Pui O

And if you prefer to hike, you can also reach Cheung Sha Beach via Lantau Trail Section 11 from Pui O.

The hike is easy and scenic and is quite a good option if you’re looking to build up an appetite before reaching Cheung Sha Beach.

Now you’re probably wondering what’s there to do on the beaches. So, let’s talk about that.

Lower Cheung Sha Beach

As mentioned earlier, Lower Cheung Sha Beach is the more commercial and happening part of Cheung Sha Beach.

As you step off the road towards the beach and village, you’ll be immediately greeted by numerous restaurants on the beachfront.

Lower Cheung Sha Beach Restaurants

We’ve been to Cheung Sha Beach over the years and have eaten at almost every restaurant. Our day usually involves lunch, followed by relaxing on the beach. But a good lunch is crucial!

So, if you’re looking for a place to eat, here are our recommendations.

Long Island

Long Island is the second restaurant on the beachfront and our favourite!

It offers a variety of dishes from Indian curries to nasi goreng and fish and chips. And surprisingly, all their cuisines taste pretty good! The views are incredible and so are the drinks!

I do sometimes find their service to be curt, but I’ve come to expect and love that in Hong Kong. So, if you’re looking for a wide selection of offerings, check out Long Island.

Lantana

If you’re craving delicious pasta and pizzas, then Lantana is the place to go!

Don’t expect a wide variety of dishes on their menu as they specialise in pasta, pizzas, and salads. And with their recently renovated deck, eating good comfort food on your beach day is epic!

Bathers

Bathers is the first restaurant on the beachfront and perhaps for that reason, always crowded.

The restaurant is known for its modern British cuisine and has an extensive breakfast and lunch/dinner menu. It’s also a very popular spot for large private events, such as weddings.

Coffee Bay

If you’re craving your caffeine fix after a meal, Coffee Bay offers a variety of teas and coffees, both hot and cold.

This little roastery also sells doughnuts and does its own cold brew! I highly recommend them!

Natural Plus Beach Club and Restaurant

Although we haven’t personally eaten at Natural Plus, we’ve heard good reviews about it.

Located next to Lantana, this brightly coloured restaurant is slightly off the beachfront. They serve homemade Macanese food, and farm-to-table salads, and are known for their home-brewed enzyme drinks. If you’re craving something healthy, we would recommend Natural Plus.

Lower Cheung Sha Beach Activities & Facilities

The appeal of the beach is its white sand and swimmable waters.

We usually grab a sun umbrella and make ourselves comfortable on the beach with a book or some music. There are a couple of shops behind the beach facilities’ building from where you can rent a sun umbrella for the day.

The beach also has a couple of nets for the public to use for beach volleyball or other similar games.

In terms of facilities, there are changing rooms, showers and toilets on the beach. And for those wondering, Cheung Sha Beach is dog friendly.

Kayak and paddleboard

So, if you’re more active on your beach day and are looking to rent equipment such as kayaks, then you can do that too. From my visits, I know of one rental establishment for kayaks and paddleboards at the north end of Lower Cheung Sha Beach.

Unfortunately, I’ve never rented any equipment from them, so I’m not sure what the rates are like.

Surfing

You can rent surfing equipment and even learn to surf at Cheung Sha Beach.

The surf lessons and rental shop is located beside Coffee Bay cafe. I’ve never seen strong waves at the beach, so I would imagine it’s good for beginners. If you’re looking for a more surf-friendly beach, then head to Big Wave Bay.

But it is worth knowing that between November and March, Cheung Sha Beach is one of the best windsurfing locations in Hong Kong.

Camping and glamping

Lower Cheung Sha Beach is also camping-friendly. There is a designated camping area to the north of the beach.

But if you prefer a slightly more glamorous version of camping, aka glamping, there is a pretty nice glamping site next to Cheung Sha Beach.

It’s called the Long Coast Glamping, Caravan and Water Sports Experience in Lantau Island Cheung Sha Village, and is located right next to the village. Be sure to check if they’re open as we’ve often found them temporarily shut.

Beach weddings and parties

I would also like to point out that Cheung Sha Beach is a very popular spot for large parties, including weddings.

We’ve often found restaurants reserved for private events, or weddings happening on the beach. So, if you’re planning a large private event, Cheung Sha Beach is a nice location!

Upper Cheung Sha Beach

Upper Cheung Sha Beach is the longer of the two beaches. And in my opinion, it is also the prettier of the two beaches. The lack of commercial establishments makes it more tranquil and less crowded.

But even if it gets crowded, it’s big enough to accommodate everyone!

Facilities at Upper Cheung Sha Beach

There is a light refreshment kiosk, 7 barbecue pits, changing rooms, shower facilities and toilets located on Upper Cheung Sha Beach. Yes, the bbq pits are located on this side of the beach.

A quick reminder that it’s easy to go from one side of Cheung Sha Beach to the other. During low tide, you can walk in front of the headland or take the hidden path behind the headland during high tide.

Guide to Cheung Sha Beach, Lantau Island

I remember the first time we visited Cheung Sha Beach, we were enamoured by its beauty. We couldn’t believe we had such an expansive and beautiful beach here in Hong Kong! And our thoughts have been echoed by friends and family who we’ve taken to the beach over the years.

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Other than being a dog-friendly beach, it’s also a cattle-friendly beach. After sunset, the cows (feral buffaloes of Lantau Island) literally return home to claim the beach as their own.

Lantau is definitely our favourite island in Hong Kong. It has amazing hikes, including the Lantau Peak Hike, Mui Wo to Pui O, Lo Fu Tau Country Trail, and the Sunset Peak Hike. And it also has other amazing beaches such as Pui O, Tong Fuk, and Silvermine Bay Beach. You can always keep returning to explore a new part of the island!

We hope you enjoyed our guide to Cheung Sha Beach on Lantau Island. As always, feel free to drop us a comment below or share this post on the social media channel of your choice.