Hong Kong Park

 

Essentials of the Hong Kong Park

Chinese Name: 香港公园 Pronunciation: xiāng gǎng gōng yuán

Admission Ticket Fare: Free

Park Area: 8.16 hectares

Building Time: 1991

Best Visiting Time: All year round

Suggested Visiting Hours: 1-3 Hours

Address: No. 19 Cotton Tree Drive, Central District, Hong Kong.

 

Opening Hours

Places	Opening Hours
Park Gate	6:00 - 23:00
Squash Center	7:00 - 23:00
Sports Center	7:00 - 23:00
Conservatory	9:00 - 17:00
Aviary	9:00 - 17:00
Park Restaurant	11:00 - 22:30

 

Introduction of the Hong Kong Park

Hong Kong Park is located at No.19 Cotton Tree Road in the Central District of Hong Kong Island. It occupies an area of about 8 hectares and was officially opened in May 1991. The current site of the Hong Kong park was formerly Victoria Barracks. It is an outstanding example of the integration of modern design and facilities with the natural environment.
 

In the center of the park, visitors can see an artificial lake and waterfall transformed from an old barracks tennis court. Climbing up the stairs along the lakeside path towards Central, you will arrive at the Olympic Square, Hong Kong Park Office, and Cotton Tree Drive Marriage Registry. In the middle of the park, there are two large modern facilities, including a Conservatory and an Aviary, adjacent to the Tai Chi Garden, which forms the unique building complex of Hong Kong Park.
 

This park has an aviary that stimulates the environment of tropical rainforest and houses more than 150 species of birds. There is also a 200-meter long wooden bridge, as tall as a tree crown, winding its way through the park, allowing visitors to stroll and visit.
 

Hong Kong Park is a rare large leisure place in the central business district of Hong Kong Island. There are lush trees and colorful flowers, as well as the Museum of Tea Ware. This is a good place to relax.

 

History of the Hong Kong Park

From 1842 to 1910, many garrison buildings were built, which are well preserved in the Hong Kong Park.
 

In 1979, the government decided to allocate the barracks near the foothills for commercial development and government buildings, while the mid-level area was handed over to the former Urban Council and the former Royal Hong Kong Jockey Club for joint development of the park.
 

In 1991, Hong Kong Park was officially opened to the public.

 

Must-visit Attractions at the Hong Kong Park

 Central Garden

There is a passage with extensive trees and fountains at the entrance to the central garden. In the Central Garden, there is a fountain square. Visitors will be surrounded by fountains and have a good time.


 The Edward Youde Aviary 

The Edward Youde Aviary is named after the late Sir Edward Youde, the Governor of Hong Kong (1982 – 1986). The aviary of Hong Kong Park has been open to the public since September 1992.
 

There is an elevated walkway in the aviary. Visitors can walk through the canopy through this walkway. They can enjoy the birds, trees, and plants in the park from different angles, and they can also enjoy the panoramic view of the valley from different angles. Besides, the elevated walkway is also designed for wheelchair users. At the entrance of the aviary, there are display panels with both pictures and texts for explaining the structure and ecology of the tropical rainforest and the bird communities in the garden.
 

The stainless steel fence that covers the entire bird garden is supported by four giant arches to shield obtrusive pillars in the garden. The fence covers an area of approximately 3,000 square meters with the highest point 30 meters above the bottom of the valley.
 

The aviary features around 550 birds of 70 different species. Ground dwelling birds include pheasants, partridges, pigeons, and thrushes. Some like the crowned pigeons and golden pheasants are spectacularly beautiful. 
 

The Edward Youde Aviary is located in a natural valley in the south corner of Hong Kong Park. There are three exhibition cages on the platform of the valley as auxiliary facilities of the aviary. Hornbills and a variety of birds from Malaysia are kept in the cages for visitors to watch closer.
 

 Children’s Playground

The Children’s Playground is located on six platforms at different levels with an area of 1,000 square meters. The design concept of the playground not only encourages children to actively participate in games, but also encourages children from preschool to school age to use their imagination and creativity.
 

The playground is covered with safety mats and closed-circuit televisions are also installed to ensure safety. The Children’s Playground is a good choice for your children, and all your family will have a wonderful time here.
 

 Forsgate Conservatory

The Forsgate Conservatory has an area of 1,400 square meters, which comprises three sections, namely the Display Plant House, the Humid Plant House, and the Dry Plant House. The Conservatory is equipped with adjustable environmental control equipment to simulate different climatic conditions for displaying plants in arid and tropical regions.
 

The Display Plant House is specially designed for exhibits of plants. Throughout the year, over 30 groups of these plants are on display so visitors can appreciate the beauty of various types of plants at the Display Plant House in different seasons.
 

The Dry Plant House has displayed Cacti, succulents, and plants from arid areas. The house is always hot and dry with a maximum temperature of 33℃ and sixty percent (60%) relative humidity. Besides, to make the environment of the Dry Plant House more interesting, artificial rockery and mini canyons are built to simulate the habitats of plants in arid areas.
 

The Humid Plant House is maintained at a year-round temperature ranging from 23℃ to 33℃ through the automatic heating and cooling system. The exhibits in the Humid Plant House comprise a wide variety of Ferns, Palms, Bromeliads, Carnivorous Plants, and Jungle Foliage Plants from South Africa, Southeast Asia, and America.
 

 Museum of Tea Ware

Museum of Tea Ware is a branch of the Hong Kong Museum of Art and exhibits various cultural relics of Chinese tea sets. The main work of the Museum of Tea Ware is to preserve, display, and study the cultural relics of teaware and related tea art culture. The basic collection of the Museum of Tea Ware was donated by the late Dr. K.S. Lo (1910-1995), among which Yixing teapots are the most representative.
 

The Museum of Tea Ware was originally the office and official residence of the former British Army Chief with a history of more than 150 years. It is also called Flagstaff House. It was converted into the Museum of Tea Ware in 1984, and the K.S. Lo Gallery was added in 1995. Apart from exhibitions, the Museum of Tea Ware also regularly organizes pottery demonstrations, tea art activities, and lectures to promote ceramic art and Chinese tea drinking culture.
 

 Squash Center

The Squash Centre in Hong Kong Park is an indoor sports center and it is also the largest squash center in Hong Kong. There are 18 air-conditioned squash courts. One of them is a performance court with an auditorium for matches and performances. Many international competitions are held in the Squash Center, and there are snack bars that provide catering services.

 Visual Arts Center

The Hong Kong Visual Arts Center is a professional art study center for ceramics, sculpture, and printmaking. It provides excellent equipment for artists to create and hold various art activities.
 

It is an open and multi-directional art space centered on art learning, research, and communication. Whether you are a full-time artist, amateur, or general public, you can absorb the nourishment of art here and enjoy the opportunity to create art and make it change your life.
 

The center also organizes a variety of art activities, including courses, exhibitions, demonstrations, lectures, artist residency programs, and art exhibitions, etc., to promote art exchange and cultivate young talents, and to promote the development and training of art in Hong Kong.
 

 Sports Center

The air-conditioned Sports Centre has a multi-purpose area that can provide the following facilities: 8 badminton courts, two basketball courts, two netball courts, or two volleyball courts.
 

Other facilities of the gymnasium include a multi-purpose activity room, three table tennis tables, and a fitness room.
 

 Olympic Square

The Olympic Square, with an area of 1,100 square meters, has approximately 880 seats. This square is specially set up for holding events, such as sports promotion activities, outdoor exhibitions, puppet shows, concerts, and other cultural and recreational activities. It is also a good place for the public to rest on weekdays.

 

How to Get to the Kowloon Park

 By Bus

If you want to take bus to Hong Kong Park, you can choose bus 1, 5B, 6, 6A, 6X, 10, 12, 12A, 12M, 15, 15C, 23, 23B, 26, 37A, 37X, 40, 40M, 66, 75, 90, 90B, 97, 101, 103, 104, 109, 111, 113, 115, 590A, 601, 603P, 619, 629, 681, 681P, 690, 720A, 789, 905, 930, 934, 935, 960, 961, 962, 962B, 962x, 967, 968, 969, 969A , 969B, 978.

 By Subway

If you want to take the subway to Hong Kong Park, you can take MTR Tsuen Wan Line, Island Line, or South Island Line, and get off at Admiralty Station and go out from Exit C1. Then go into the Pacific Place Mall and walk along the directions shown in road signs. Finally, take the escalator inside the mall directly to Hong Kong Park.
 

 By Taxi

Chinese: 请带我去香港公园。English: Please take me to Hong Kong Park.

If you go to Hong Kong Park from Causeway Bay, it takes about 14 minutes (293 yuan).

If you go to Hong Kong Park from Central, it takes about 10 minutes (293 yuan).

If you go to Hong Kong Park from North Point, it takes about 25 minutes (293 yuan).

If you go to Hong Kong Park from Shau Kei Wan, it takes about 24 minutes (293 yuan).

If you go to Hong Kong Park from Cheung Sha Wan, it takes about 30 minutes (349 yuan).

If you go to Hong Kong Park from Diamond Hill, it takes about 34 minutes (381 yuan).

If you go to Hong Kong Park from Kowloon Bay, it takes about 31 minutes (381 yuan).

If you go to Hong Kong Park from Tsim Sha Tsui, it takes about 30 minutes (349 yuan).

If you go to Hong Kong Park from Sha Tin, New Territories, it takes about 27 minutes (340 yuan).