HONG KONG ZOOLOGICAL AND BOTANICAL GARDENS

Description

Essentials about the Hong Kong Zoological and Botanical Gardens in brief

As the name suggests, the Hong Kong Zoological and Botanical Gardens are a mixture of a zoo and a botanical garden. Built in the 1860s, it is the oldest park in all of Hong Kong and is one of the oldest animal parks in the world. For plant and animal lovers, and of course for families with children, the Hong Kong Zoological and Botanical Gardens are definitely worth a visit.

The zoological part of the Gardens

The 5.6-hectare park is located in the Mid-levels district on the northern slope of Victoria Peak. It is divided by Albany Road into an east and a west part, but they are connected by a pedestrian underpass. The eastern part is also called the “Old Garden.” It is home to a children’s play palace, aviaries, a glass house, and the Fountain Terrace Garden. The Old Garden is home to a variety of bird species, such as the American flamingo, Bali mynah, Hawaiian goose and red-crowned crane.

The western part of the park, also called the “New Garden”, is home to some mammal species, such as orangutans, calicoes, gibbons and tamarins, as well as some reptiles, such as tiger pythons, turtles and Chinese alligators. The zoo is certainly not the most beautiful or animal-friendly in the world. The Hong Kong Zoological and Botanical Gardens have come under increasing criticism in recent years for its outdated enclosures.

The botanical part of the Gardens

The special attraction of the Zoological and Botanical Gardens is certainly rather its botanical part than its zoological one. The garden’s diverse flora consists of over 1,000 species of plants from tropical and subtropical regions, including conifers, fig trees, palms, eucalyptus trees, Chinese redwood and the tree of the gods. The theme gardens are particularly popular: there is a bamboo garden, a camellia garden, a magnolia garden, a palm garden, an orchid garden, an azalea garden and a herb garden.