If you are a first time visitor of Hong Kong, I’m sure that you would have the usual tourist spots included in your travel itinerary.  Friends would recommend that you visit amusement parks like Hong Kong Disneyland or Ocean Park.  For your shopping sprees, you can visit any of Hong Kong’s huge malls like Harbour City, Times Square, Pacific Place, etc.  For adventures, you would definitely want to visit the Ngong Ping 360 adventure or the Peak Tram.

During my recent trip to Hong Kong while touring some friends, we decided to pass through the Pacific Place on our way to the Peak Tram Terminus to reach Victoria Peak.  It was the first time for me to go through that route as I would usually commute to the Star Ferry Terminal and catch a ride in one of the open top buses that travel from the Star Ferry Terminal until the Peak Tram Terminus.

So we asked for directions and we were told that we had to go up the long elevators of Pacific Place and look for signs that will lead us to the base of the Peak Tram.  When we went out the door of Pacific Place, we were surprised to find ourselves in the middle of a lovely park that is simply called Hong Kong Park.

But there is nothing simple about Hong Kong Park.  It is a park enjoyed by the public that prides itself in bringing both a touch of nature and a touch of modernism to its visitors.  Thousands of people spend long hours at the park each and every day to enjoy the cool breeze, spend time with their loved ones or simply get inspiration for their hobbies like photography, sketching or painting.

A leisure stroll in the park is enough to recharge you after a week long battle with city life and it is also the perfect way to bring peace and relaxation to your system when you feel that there is a need for you to take it slow.

The Hong Kong Park also introduces visitors to amazing architectural structures with historical significance.  These ancient buildings include Cassels Block, Rawlinson House, Wavell House, etc.  That’s not all.

You must visit the Aviary which at 3000 square meters is considered the largest in Hong Kong and one of the biggest in the whole world.   You will really have the chance to get to know these birds up close and personal as they fly freely in the Aviary and not just exhibited in cages.   Feast your eyes on  600 birds that belong to 90 species.  In order to maximize the experience, you can make use of the elevated walkways to give you a better look at the birds.  Artificial trees complete the mood and will make you feel as if you are in the middle of a tropical forest instead of in the middle of a park.  The Aviary opens at 9:00 am and closes at 5:00 pm.

After the Aviary, you can also check out the 1, 400 square meter Conservatory.  This conservatory is divided into three areas namely the Display Plant House, the Dry Plant House and the Humid Plant House.  At the Conservatory,
visitors get to experience different simulated environmental conditions.  The Conservatory opens at 9:00 am and closes at 5:00 pm.

There is a specific section at the Hong Kong that will truly appeal to kids.  I’m referring to the Children’s Playground. In this area, kids can play on six different platforms wherein each platform has a different theme. Parents can also be assured of the kids’ safety as the playground is monitored by security cameras.

Sport buffs need not fret.  At the Hong Kong Park they can go to the Sports Center and join a game of Squash.  The air-conditioned sports hall can actually fit two basketball courts.  There are other facilities like a multi-purpose hall and a training room.  The Sports Center opens at 6:45 am and closes at 11:15 pm.

If you get hungry, you can go to the restaurant which is at the center of the park and beautifully framed by towering trees.  Other food kiosks can also be found all over the park where visitors can purchase some drinks, snacks, and ice cream.

You will notice that the refreshing feeling that you get out of your visit to this park is caused mainly by the visibility of different bodies of water.  You will find waterfalls, ponds, streams, fountains, etc.  It is as if everything is connected by water.  I truly enjoyed hanging out at the Fountain Plaza and just stare at the dancing water.

You can reach Hong Kong Park through a number of ways.  You can take the MTR and get off the Admiralty Station then take the C1 exit.  Several buses also pass by the park.  You can simply visit the official website of the Hong Kong Park for the specific bus numbers.  Unfortunately, there are no available parking spaces within the park.  Visitors who will bring their cars would have to utilize several public parking lots that can be found at the Queensway Government Offices car park area or at the Murray Road multi-level car parks.

There are nearby hotels as well.  You can choose to stay in any of these three posh hotels:  JW Marriott Hotel Hong Kong, Conrad International Hotel Hong Kong, or the Island Shangri-la Hotel Hong Kong.  These are all conveniently located in the heart of Hong Kong’s shopping area.  These hotels are even connected to Pacific Place.

Don’t be surprised when you suddenly realize that you ended up spending too much time at the Hong Kong Park that you gotta run to make it to the next item in your itinerary.  That’s exactly what happened to us!

HELPFUL INFORMATION:
Address: 19, Cotton Tree Drive, Central, Hong Kong
Contact Details:  +852 2521 5041
Operating Hours:  6:00 am up to 11:00 pm
Website:  www.lcsd.gov.hk

Posted in Attractions, Hong Kong

This entry was posted on Tuesday, January 20th, 2009 at 5:12 pm and is filed under Attractions, Hong Kong. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.