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The LCSD manages more
than 1 300 parks and gardens of different
sizes, including 22 major parks.
Hong Kong Zoological
and Botanical Gardens
The Hong Kong Zoological
and Botanical Gardens, the oldest public
gardens in Hong Kong, occupy an area of
5.6 hectares overlooking Central. The
gardens were established between 1861
and 1871. Divided by Albany Road, the
eastern garden houses an extensive bird
collection while the western garden, opened
in 1871, is home to mammal and reptile
exhibits. The botanical section is mainly
in the eastern garden.
Despite the urban environment,
the gardens provide a viable conservation
centre for endangered species, and in
2005 accommodated 18 endangered species
of mammals, birds and reptiles. The bird
collection is one of the most comprehensive
in Asia, with about 440 birds of 160 species.
Fifteen out of the 160 have reared offspring.
The mammal collection, consisting mainly
of primates, has 65 animals representing
20 species. More than 750 species of trees,
shrubs, creepers and foliage plants thrive
in the gardens. The medicinal plant collection
established in 1987 and a new greenhouse,
built in 1993, have generated particular
interest. These facilities contain about
500 species of herbs, orchids, ferns and
indoor plants.
Hong Kong Park
Opened in 1991 Hong
Kong Park is on the site of former military
barracks in Central and covers an area
of about eight hectares. The park, which
blends modern design into the natural
landscape, features flowing water as its
central motif and has artificial waterfalls,
streams and ponds.
Major facilities in
the park include an aviary, conservatory,
vantage point, garden plaza, squash centre,
sports centre, children's playground and
restaurant. The aviary is designed to
imitate a tropical rainforest environment
in which over 700 birds of 100 different
species are kept including the three Australian
pelicans which arrived in September. The
conservatory has three sections: the Display
Plant House, Dry Plant House and Humid
Plant House. Adjustable environmental
control equipment is installed in these
houses to simulate climatic conditions
in areas such as tropical rainforests
and deserts. The vantage point, a 30-metre
tower in the Tai Chi Garden, gives visitors
a panoramic view of the park and surrounding
area. The memorial to the fight against
SARS, Rainbow after the Rain, at the southeastern
corner of the Tai Chi Garden, was opened
in June.
The 1 100 square metre
Olympic Square was opened in July. It
has a seating capacity of 880 and is designed
for staging major activities related to
sports and the East Asian Games. Visitors to the park
can also use the facilities in the sports
and squash centres. The Hong Kong 2009
East Asian Games Gallery is on the second
floor of the sports centre. |