[INCIDENTAL] “The Sea of Sai Kung” by Liang Xuyu

If you are in a bad mood, go and see the sea in Sai Kung, as I did last year. At Sai Kung Waterfront Park, you will find not only the azure sea and clean beach but also the warm, friendly, and interesting locals.

If you start from Kowloon Tong, take the MTR to Choi Hung Station, then take either Bus 1 or 1A to the Sai Kung Pier Terminal. After arriving at the waterfront, you can either take a boat to the other islands or simply walk around the area.

The sea of Sai Kung was blue and clear in the sunlight. This surprised and delighted me. The water was very shallow, with many ships passing by, and numerous tourists were swimming or gliding across the water in rubber boats. Under such circumstances, it was remarkable that the sea of Sai Kung could remain so beautiful. Even in Malaysia’s Langkawi or Singapore’s Sentosa, the near-shore waters are not as well preserved.

The weather in Hong Kong in September was still very hot, and the sunlight remained intense. Yet, as soon as you stepped into the shade of the trees, you would suddenly feel cool. At that moment, the sea breeze would drift in, sweeping away the troubles in your heart.

The colour of the sea varied with the intensity of the sunlight. The shades of blue changed gradually, like flowing sapphire, radiant and dazzling. The small green islands in the distance looked like pieces of jade. The sky was a clear blue, dotted with only a few small clouds. So cute!

To hear the sound of the waves, I had to leave the pier and the crowd behind and walk towards the beach. Suddenly, I came across three charity stalls. As my footsteps slowed, a volunteer girl immediately noticed my interest. She greeted me warmly and enthusiastically introduced the charity activities. Appreciating her friendliness and kindness, I showed an interest in what they were doing. I quickly realised that the activity was indeed both interesting and meaningful. She told me that they wanted to make the most of old clothes by turning the fabric into hair clips, hair ties or keyrings. Cheerfully, I decided to try making a hair clip.

The volunteer teachers were very patient, guiding me step by step through the handicraft. First, I rolled the fabric into petal shapes. Then, I stuck the petals onto the hair clip one by one. Finally, I attached a sparkling gem in the centre. When I had finished, they praised me enthusiastically, saying, “Wow! What a beautiful job you’ve done!” When I put the hair clip in my hair, they exclaimed, “Wow! You really support us!”

I continued walking briskly towards the beach. The sunlight shone on my skin, making me feel warm from the inside out. The children’s laughter, the conversations of dog walkers, the volunteers’ greetings, the singing from the distant corridor and the salespeople calling out to customers all merged together, making me feel completely present in the moment.

The farther I moved away from the crowd, the clearer the sound of the waves became. The sea breeze swept past me, carrying the fresh scent of nature. Suddenly, I saw an unusual kite, shaped like a fish or perhaps a jellyfish, with two long tails trailing behind it. Its red, blue, white and black colours stood out vividly against the azure sky. The kite belonged to an elderly man who seemed to possess a playful and laid-back spirit. Influenced by him, I involuntarily slowed my pace, trying not to disturb the peaceful atmosphere.

As I walked, I noticed rubber boats arranged in the shape of flowers, which looked exceptionally beautiful. There were two blue-and-white “boat flowers” and one yellow, green and blue three-coloured “boat flower”. Many tourists were rowing rubber boats nearby. Renting one was not expensive. On an ordinary day, it cost HK$100 per person for one hour, while at weekends, the price rose to HK$150. I resolved to bring suitable clothes and try it myself next time.

Finally, I arrived at the beach. It was remarkably clean, with no rubbish at all. In the sunlight, my shadow and that of the railing were sharply reflected on the sand. I quickly pressed the shutter, capturing myself, the brilliant sunlight and the pristine beach together.

I gazed intently at the blue sea once more and listened carefully to the waves breaking upon the sand. I fully immersed myself in this visual and auditory feast. A life connected with love and nature is truly wonderful!

^{How to cite: Liang, Xuyu. “The Sea of Sai Kung.” Cha: An Asian Literary Journal, 3 Sept. 2026. chajournal.com/2026/09/03/sai-kung.}

Liang Xuyu was born in Guangzhou in 2003 and has had a passion for literature and art since childhood. In 2026, she received a Master’s degree in Creative Writing for Cultural Professionals from Hong Kong Baptist University. She specialises in creative writing and English-Chinese translation. A First Prize winner in the National English Translation Competition and HarvardX-certified in persuasive writing and public speaking, she is trilingual in English, Mandarin, and Cantonese. Beyond reading and writing, she enjoys photography, crystal design, plant dyeing, Cantonese opera, and travelling. Her dream is to travel the world and live by the sea. [All contributions by Liang Xuyu.]