Hong Kong is finally introducing a campsite booking system by National Day

Hong Kong’s countryside is one of those places where you can escape the city completely, pitch a tent, listen to the waves or the wind in the trees, and feel completely switched off. But over the past few years, especially during long weekends and holidays, some of the most loved spots have started feeling more like overcrowded festivals than peaceful getaways – too many tents squeezed into small areas, litter piling up, or even occasional illegal fires. In response, the government is preparing to launch a pilot campsite booking system no later than the National Day Golden Week in October.

The initiative came after this year’s Lunar New Year break. Places like Ham Tin Wan, Sai Wan, and Long Ke Wan in Sai Kung saw massive crowds – Greenpeace counted over 500 tents at just a couple of hotspots alone. The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department ended up taking action against 32 people during that period for littering, spitting, or lighting fires.

Currently, almost all of Hong Kong’s designated campsites run on a first-come, first-served, free-for-all basis. The one exception is Twisk Campsite in Tai Lam Country Park, which has already been running an advanced booking setup through the Enjoy Camping site as a pilot since 2022.

The new system will likely start small, first focusing on the busiest Sai Kung beaches and campsites like Ham Tin, Sai Wan, Long Ke, before rolling out to other high-demand spots. Officials are still working through the details on how bookings will work, how to collect fees, and whether extra facilities or enforcement might be needed.

For those of us who camp, this probably means a shift in planning for those impromptu weekend camping trips. Instead of racing out at dawn hoping to beat the rush, you’ll book ahead, secure your spot, and know exactly where you’re sleeping. It might feel like one more thing to organise, but it also means no more turning up exhausted only to find every patch of ground already claimed.

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