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Hong Kong Park

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Hong Kong Park (香港公園) is located in Central on Hong Kong Island and was opened in 1991. Set amongst the modern highrises and skyscrapers the park covers 80,000 m2.

Features of Hong Kong Park

  • Aviary – a large walk-in aviary featuring the ecology of a rainforest with tree canopy and streams and home to 550 birds of 70 different species, mostly indigenous to Malesia. Open from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
  • Children’s Playground – large play area
  • Central Garden – featuring a tree-lined promenade and fountains
  • Olympic Square – for events
  • Vantage Point – a 30 metre lookout tower over the park
  • Tai Chi Garden – courtyards for exercise
  • Conservation Corner – a dragon fly habitat and thai squirrels
  • Conservatory – 3 displays of plants including a humid and dry plant house and display plant house featuring flowers/herbs.
  • Sports Centre – with basketball courts, volleyball courts, netball courts, and badminton courts. Open from 7:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.
  • Squash Centre – Open from 7:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.
  • Park Restaurant – Open from 11:00 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.

Admission to Hong Kong Park is free and hours are 6:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. Some facilities have different hours as listed above, and there is a fee for use of the sports centre and squash centre which can be booked here.

You can download a map of Hong Kong Park which shows trails, facilities, entry and exit points here.

Dine and drink at Hong Kong Park

  • LockCha 樂茶軒 – upscale Chinese Tea House with premium tea and dim sum, upstairs from KS Lo Gallery
  • Park Restaurant – located near the conservatory, there are also two other kiosks

Also inside Hong Kong Park

Nearby Hong Kong Park

  • Pacific Place (太古廣場) – a large modern mall with eateries, cafe, cinema, and hotels.
  • The Peak Tram (山頂纜車)
  • Bank of China Tower (中銀大廈)

Hotel pick near the Hong Kong Zoological and Botanical Gardens

The Murray, Hong Kong – The five-star hotel offers spacious suites and rooms across 25 stories with 5 dining destinations including a glamorous rooftop restaurant and bar with panoramic views. The hotel’s terraces around the arches, an architectural signature of the building also showcase views of the city, Hong Kong Park and Hong Kong Zoological and Botanical Gardens.

Wikipedia Says

History

Part of the site was known as Cantonment Hill in early colonial days in 1841. At the upper part of the former location of the Victoria Barracks, built between 1867 and 1910, the barracks were handed to the government in 1979. Glenealy Junior School occupied part of this site up until 1988. After the school vacated the site, the area was turned into the present park. Hong Kong Park was officially opened on 23 May 1991 by Sir David Wilson, the Governor of Hong Kong at that time. It covers an area of 8 hectares and is an outstanding example of modern design and facilities blending with the natural landscape.

The construction of the park was a joint project by the Urban Council (dissolved in 1999) and the Royal Hong Kong Jockey Club (renamed the Hong Kong Jockey Club in 1996).

Historic buildings

Flagstaff House (1846), since 1984 housing the Flagstaff House Museum of Teaware.

A few historic buildings of former Victoria Barracks were also conserved in the park, including:
Cassels Block (early 20th century), former barracks for married British officers. Now housing the Hong Kong Visual Arts Centre since 1992.

Rawlinson House (early 20th century), former house of the British Deputy General, converted in the 1980s into Cotton Tree Drive Marriage Registry and the office of the park.

Wavell House (early 20th century), former quarters for married British officers, converted in 1991 into the aviary support centre (Education Centre).

These historic buildings are graded as Grade II Historic Buildings.

Facilities

Hong Kong Park captures the natural landscape in the busy and crowded business centre. Its main feature is Edward Youde Aviary which is Hong Kong’s largest aviary while the Vantage Point is another great place to see the “bird exhibition”. There is also a greenhouse (Forsgate Conservatory) which holds “plant exhibition” such as “Orchid Exhibition” temporarily. There are also many modern gardens, including Garden Plaza and Tai Chi Garden. To suit the sport-lovers, a sport centre and a squash centre were also built in Hong Kong Park.

Awards

The design of the park won Honour Award for Urban Design (1998) of Hong Kong Chapter, the American Institute of Architects.

The park was awarded as one of the Top Ten Buildings of the 90s by a building journal in March 2000.

Source: Wikipedia

Map

29 Cotton Tree Dr, Central, Hong Kong

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