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Anchors Academy
Hong Kong, China
Ages 3–12
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A self-contained car-free community on Lantau Island, beloved by expat families for its safe, resort-like environment with beaches and cycling paths.
Monthly temperatures, rainfall, and sea conditions
Monthly family budget estimates (USD)
A family in a 2-bedroom apartment (550-700 sq ft) in an older phase like Amalfi or Bijou, using the ferry for commuting, children at Discovery Bay International School.
A family in a 3-bedroom apartment (900-1200 sq ft) in Siena or Chianti, children at GSIS or an ESF school, active use of recreation club, live-in helper.
A family in a 4-bedroom penthouse or low-rise house in Headland Village or Greenvale, children at top-tier schools, golf club membership, weekend sailing.
Discovery Bay offers a suburban lifestyle at a slight premium for the ferry commute trade-off. Rent is lower than Hong Kong Island but groceries and dining cost more due to limited local competition. All figures in USD; 1 USD is approximately 7.8 HKD.
Average monthly AQI (US EPA scale)
Yearly average AQI is 48. Best air quality Jan–Dec (best: Jul at 35).
Discovery Bay is Hong Kong's most concentrated expat family community. The resident mix includes a large contingent of British, Australian, European, and North American families alongside a significant number of Hong Kong Chinese families who prefer the suburban lifestyle. The typical DB household is a dual-income professional couple with young children, often with one parent commuting to Central and a live-in domestic helper managing the household.
Discovery Bay's defining feature is its long crescent beach, a safe swimming spot with lifeguard services from April through October. The Tai Pak Beach promenade is where families gather on weekends for sand play, paddleboarding, and evening strolls. Yi Pak Beach to the north is quieter and popular with dog walkers. The DB waterfront plaza has a small amphitheatre used for community events and seasonal festivals.
Discovery Bay is connected to Central by a 25-minute ferry operated by Discovery Bay Transportation Services, running every 20-30 minutes throughout the day and into late evening. This is the primary commute route for working parents heading to Hong Kong Island. Buses connect DB to Tung Chung MTR station (roughly 20 minutes), providing access to the wider MTR network, Citygate Outlets, and Hong Kong International Airport, which is only 15 minutes away.
D'Deck and DB Plaza form the commercial heart, with a large Wellcome supermarket, 7-Eleven, various restaurants, a pharmacy, and essential retail shops. An organic store and several specialty food shops cater to Western tastes. However, selection is more limited and prices higher than urban Hong Kong — many families do a weekly top-up shop at Tung Chung Citygate or order online via HKTVmall and deliveries from Park N Shop.
Summers in Discovery Bay are hot and humid, with temperatures reaching 31-33C and humidity consistently above 80%. The coastal location provides some sea breeze relief compared to urban Kowloon. Typhoon season runs from June through October, and DB is relatively exposed to storm surges — the ferry service suspends during Typhoon Signal 8 and above, which can strand commuters. Heavy rainstorms can cause localised flooding on lower paths.
