It might never snow in Hong Kong, but it doesn't mean you can't ice skate! Junior reporter Veronica Lin compares six skating rinks around town just waiting for you to lace up and get on the ice
It can be tough to get into a winter frame of mind when the weather barely calls for a jumper. But for those of you looking for a frozen fix, here are some great icy options where you can glide hand-in-hand or practise your figure-8s.
Mega Ice
The largest ice rink in Hong Kong is on Level 10 of MegaBox, which offers a free shuttle bus service from Kowloon Bay MTR Station. Conveniently, the food court is right next to the rink, so you can take a break for a snack. The mall also has an Imax cinema, so you could do a one-stop super-date with someone special. And if you prefer to just watch the action, the Olympic-standard rink also hosts hockey games.
Address: Level 10, MegaBox, Enterprise Square Five, 38 Wang Chiu Road, Kowloon Bay, Kowloon
Tel: 2709 4023
Opening hours: daily from 10am to 10pm (subject to change due to ice hockey events)
Cost: HK$65-HK$75/session
Riviera Ice Chalet
Want to take your figure-skating skills to the next level? It's a little smaller than some of the other rinks, but the Riviera Ice Chalet in Tsuen Wan is packed with world-class coaches and gifted students who are often taking part in international competitions such as Skate Asia and ISI Skate. The rink offers private, semi-private and group lessons.
Address: 3/F, Riviera Plaza, 28 Wing Shun Street, Tsuen Wan
Tel: 2407 1100
Opening hours: 10am to 10pm
Cost: HK$50/3hrs during holidays
Festival Walk Glacier
Take the MTR to Kowloon Tong to enjoy a skate at Festival Walk Glacier. The ice rink is quite spacious, so beginners won't feel like they are going to be run down by NHL stars. The mall often has workshops and activities, to make your day on the ice even more fun, plus there's a view of Lion Rock and a cinema next door.
Address: Shop UG-21, Festival Walk, above Kowloon Tong MTR Station
Tel: 2844 3588 or 5500 3588
Opening hours: daily from 8am to 10pm
Cost: HK$55-HK$75/session
Ice Palace
One of the city's oldest rinks, the Ice Palace in Cityplaza is the only one on Hong Kong Island. It has a well-stocked pro shop, excellent facilities and an interesting design, which includes some natural lighting to brighten your fun. It's not for the Olympic hopefuls, though, as practising certain spins and jumps are forbidden for safety reasons.
Address: 1/F, Cityplaza, above Taikoo Shing MTR Station
Tel: 2844 8625
Opening hours: daily from 9.30am-10pm
Cost: HK$45-HK$70/session
Frozen Ice Rink
An outdoor ice rink in Hong Kong? Yep, at the AIA Great European Carnival. Until February 16, skaters can enjoy the sort of frozen treat you see in the movies. And for beginners, there are dozens of helpful seal skate aides dressed in orange coats to get you gliding.
Address: Central Harbourfront Event Space, 9 Lung Wo Road, Central, Hong Kong Island
Tel: 2524 6433
Opening hours: daily 11am to 11pm
Cost: children (3-11)/adults HK$125 (to get into the carnival, including 10 games tokens; skating costs seven tokens)
The Rink
The Rink is the first eco-friendly ice rink in Hong Kong, and uses state-of-the-art technology imported from Europe to reduce its energy consumption. This includes Engo, its zero-emission ice resurfacing machine from Italy. The rink offers a "pay as you skate" concept, where you can swipe in and out with your Octopus card to just pay by the minute. The technology is great, but the big winner here is the panoramic view of Victoria Harbour!
Address: G/F, Elements, No 1 Austin Road West, above Kowloon MTR Station
Tel: 2196 8016
Opening hours: Mon-Thu, Sat-Sun from 10am to 10pm, Fri from 10am to 10.30pm
Cost: HK$50/day or HK$20 admission fee + HK$1/min