overview
In most people's impression, Hong Kong is full of high-rise buildings and every inch of land is expensive. As everyone knows, Hong Kong's green coverage rate is as high as 70%, in addition to the vast country parks, even the bustling business districts of Causeway Bay and Tsim Sha Tsui, you can find a large area of parks and green spaces, which can be described as a quiet place in the bustling city. The urban planning principles of Hong Kong's 7 points of green space originated during the British rule and continue to this day.
Each of these urban parks has its own characteristics, and the parks featuring flora and fauna, flowers and birds, and historical exhibitions are more suitable for tourists. In addition to the fact that the Park is a spacious event venue for occasional events, guided tours of the Park are also a major feature of Hong Kong's urban parks, where visitors can visit the park and its special areas under the guidance and explanation of the docents. Most of the park tours are on-site and free of charge.
It is worth mentioning that Hong Kong parks generally do not restrict pets from entering, and pet parks will be opened in each urban area, which provide pet entertainment facilities, dog toilets, handwashing facilities, rest areas, etc.
In order to avoid repeated recommendations, this list only recommends urban parks, and readers who are interested in Hong Kong country parks can refer to the country walking list.
Hong Kong Zoological and Botanical Gardens
The Hong Kong Zoological and Botanical Gardens is the oldest park in Hong Kong, established in 1860 and fully opened in 1871. Originally known as the Botanical Garden, the park was renamed the Hong Kong Zoological and Botanical Garden in 1978 due to the increase in the number of animals raised in the park.
The Hong Kong Zoological and Botanical Gardens is divided into two sections, east and west, separated by Albany Road, which allows visitors to access the east and west areas through a pedestrian tunnel. The eastern part of the park is a flower and bird plant area, and a children's playground and fountain are also set up in the eastern part. The western part is mainly home to animals, with mammals such as Bornean orangutans, red-cheeked black apes, emperor marmosets and raccoons, and reptiles such as Burmese tortoises and shield arm turtles. In the park, there are also three historical attractions, a memorial archway, a bronze statue of King George VI and a pavilion.
The Park offers a free guided tour every Sunday at 10:30 a.m., which usually lasts about two hours and is limited to 40 people in Cantonese. In addition, the park also has lectures on animal and plant knowledge from time to time. For specific activities, please refer to the website of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department of Hong Kong.
Tour time: 60-120min
Reference ticket price: Free admission
Opening hours: 5:00-22:00
Address: Albany Road, Central
Hong Kong Park
Hong Kong Park is now located in the old Victoria Barracks, and some of the historical buildings left over from that time are still preserved in the park, such as the official residence of the Commander-in-Chief of the three armed forces, the Flag House, the Lo Lin Shun Building, the Wah Fuk Building, the Kasu Building, etc. These buildings have been remodeled and revitalised into the Heritage Museum of Tea Ware, the Hong Kong Park Office, the Cotton Tree Road Marriage Registry, the Education Centre and the Hong Kong Visual Arts Centre. Hong Kong Park was officially opened in May 1991.
Located in Central, Hong Kong Island, Hong Kong Park covers an area of about 8 hectares and is full of beautiful greenery. A large modern facility, a greenhouse, and an aviary, are built on the hill, and several historic buildings form a characteristic architectural complex of the park. The greenhouse, the aviary, the tea ware museum, the Hong Kong Visual Arts Centre, and the indoor sports field are all for visitors to visit or use.
The "Hong Kong Park Early Morning Bird Watching" event is recommended, which is held every Wednesday morning and is free of charge by a dedicated docent. There are more than 80 birds in the Hong Kong Park Aviary, and there will be a different experience from watching the flowers and flowers with the docents. There is also a guided tour of the aviary on Saturdays, but it is not as convenient as on-site registration on Wednesdays, and you need to fax it in advance. In addition, guided tours on Saturdays are also available in the Park Conservatory, which also requires fax reservations. The booking form can be downloaded from the website of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department of Hong Kong.
Duration: 60min
Reference ticket price: Free admission
Opening hours: 6:00-23:00
Address: No. 19, Cotton Tree Road, Central District
Phone: (852) 25215057/25215059
Fax: (852) 25374169
Kowloon Walled City Park
The Kowloon Walled City Park was built on the site of the Kowloon Walled City, which was once the world-famous "dark city". Today's Kowloon Walled City Park has a beautiful environment, neat and clean, and a wide field of vision. The only thing that can appreciate the style of the Kowloon Walled City is the restored model of the walled city at the entrance of the park, the cross-sectional view of the walled buildings, and the exhibition hall located in the former site of the Yamen.
The main entrance of Kowloon Walled City Park is engraved with the "Kowloon Walled City Park Inscription", which records the past and present life of the park. On the back of the wall is a section of the Kowloon Walled City before its demolition in 1993, which is said to have been drawn by a Japanese expedition before the demolition. The cross-sectional view vividly reproduces the living conditions of the residents of the Kowloon Walled City, which was in a harsh environment at that time, and is worth seeing. After the wall is the restoration model of the city wall before the demolition in 93 years, the model is made of copper, and the degree of restoration is quite high.
The Qing Dynasty Yamen in the Kowloon Walled City is the only building that has been preserved. Today, the Yamen has been transformed into an exhibition hall that tells the history of the Kowloon Walled City, which is free for visitors to visit. There are six exhibition galleries in the Yamen, mainly introducing the life and style of residents in the Kowloon Walled City before the demolition. The leading direction of the exhibition is relatively positive, the description is objective, and there is no excessive deification or over-exaggeration, and visitors who come with the mood of worshipping legends may be slightly disappointed.
Tour time: 60-120min
Reference ticket price: Free admission
Opening hours: 6:00-23:00
Address: East Orthodoxy, Kowloon City
Victoria Park
Victoria Park is the most famous park in Hong Kong, and its 19-hectare site makes it the largest park on Hong Kong Island. The bronze statue of Queen Victoria stands at the southern entrance to the park, which is a landmark of the park.
Victoria Park is fully equipped with recreational facilities such as swimming pools, tennis courts, lawn bowls, basketball courts, children's play equipment, public fitness facilities, a 600-meter jogging track and a pebblestone reflexology garden. Therefore, Victoria Park is one of the most popular parks for Hong Kong residents. Victoria Park is home to a wide range of events, with the annual Lantern Festival, the largest in Hong Kong, and the Mid-Autumn Festival, which transforms into the best place to see the moon. In addition, many large-scale entertainment and international events are held here.
Aside from the fact that large-scale events are worth visiting, Victoria Park's role as an attraction is not very obvious to visitors. However, as a well-known park in Hong Kong, you might as well take a walk.
Duration: 60min
Reference ticket price: Free admission
Opening hours: All day
Address: 1 Hing Fat Street, Causeway Bay
Other recommendations:
Kowloon Park
