Park Island vs Discovery Bay

[kombuchahk]

We will move back to HK soon and are considering renting a apartment in Park Island or Discovery Bay.

When I look at the official website of Park Island, Park Island is like Discovery Bay but with better transportation and club houses. Rent is also pretty reasonable.

Still seems most expats (from geoexpat) prefer Discovery bay or Tung Chung above Park Island, is there any specific reason?

[Hokuto]

There are tons of (Singaporean, Taiwanese, Korean, and Japanese) expats in Park Island, rather than European and American expats. A number of Mainlanders as well. Perhaps this is the difference.

Park Island is on Ma Wan, which is more convenient for some -- close to the airport should you need to travel, regular ferry into Central, and ferries/buses into the western NT. It links to the Tsuen Wan, Tung Chung, and West Rail lines along with many bus options. However the island itself is perhaps not as much of a self-sufficient community as DB, and unless you like Japanese food, Cantonese food, or Cantonese-style Western diner food, then there are not many options. (The grocery is, however, much better these days.) Perhaps it is also not as English-friendly -- I speak Mandarin and enough Mandarin-influenced Cantonese to get by easily, but some English-only friends mentioned some linguistic barriers. (My English and French-speaking mother, however, had no problem making herself understood on Ma Wan or anywhere else in Hong Kong, so perhaps this is not the case for everyone.) Additionally there is now the awful, awful Noah's Ark (and thus many more tourists). (This is the reason that we left Ma Wan.)

We did not live in the Park Island complex when we were there, choosing instead the village houses (which were larger and, with a rooftop, over double in size for the same price); however we had/have many friends in the complex. The club house facilities are all decent.

[kombuchahk]

Thanks Hokuto, I have to work in Kwai Chung sometimes, don.t know if it will be very difficult from DB, we will visit both when we are in Hk .

[Hokuto]

Kwai Chung couldn't be more convenient from Ma Wan -- there's a direct shuttle bus that takes 10-15 min. From DB

From DB, you will have to take a bus to Tung Chung and either transfer to another bus or train (which will require two transfers). Otherwise you could take the ferry to Central and then take the bus to Kwai Chung (relatively quick ride, but there's a 10 minute walk to the nearest stop). DB's quite inconvenient if you're not working along the TC line or in the immediate Central area.

[Fiona in HKG]

I recently looked at both locations before moving from the Mid-Levels. I settled on DB mainly because PI seemed soulless to me, when I visited for a general orientation it felt deserted and lifeless (Saturday afternoon). There we signs warning not to make loud noises at night, warning owners not to let their dogs urinate on certain objects, etc.

Within the residential area, there is precious little greenery and even some of the large rocks are fake. It just felt very contrived. DB on the other hand is very green and has beautiful natural open areas which are easily reached. PI had a feeling of being very built up in a small area while DB feels more spread out.

As I was looking for somewhere to live which is dog-friendly and by that I mean grass, open spaces, a beach or two, I settled on DB. But I do believe PI is cheaper and more convenient with more transportation options. Clubs don't interest me so that was not a factor.

Good luck wherever you end up and I hope you enjoy Hong Kong, it's an awesome place

[carang]

actually you dont' take the bus from DB to tung chung, you take it to sunny bay, that cuts about 20 minutes off of the journey.

my husband, a local chinese, calls park island a "poor man's DB"... i don't know how acurate this is if at all. i find that the buildings are closer together. i don't know about the club houses at PI, but in DB they are very good, although expensive.

i lived in db for over 6 years and miss it terribly. i would move there in a heartbeat if finances allowed.

[John.westhk]

Park island is like a Discovery Bay for locals. PI has no bars and in general is less friendly. I’d stick to DB

[chingleutsch]

@shri - does the above post get some kind of award for advanced necroposting?

[hullexile]

Park island is like a Discovery Bay for locals. PI has no bars and in general is less friendly. I’d stick to DB

The post was 12 years ago so I am guessing he has already made his choice

[shri]

@shri - does the above post get some kind of award for advanced necroposting?

Wonder if this is another reappearance of Randy...