Hong
Kong Park
 Shopping
and high-rise modern architecture can only
hold your attention for so long, which makes
Hong Kong's principal park a welcome and
rather unexpected relief from the city's
many urban distractions. Spread over 10ha,
the park opened in 1991 on the site of the
old Victoria Barracks, and in its layout
deliberately avoided a strictly naturalistic
appearance in favour of a partially artificial
approach to landscaping (much of the area's
original vegetation had long-since vanished
in any case). Skilful design work has artfully
folded the park into the contours of the
surrounding hillside, dramatically juxtaposing
the ranks of skyscrapers on one side with
almost open hilly slopes on the other.
Among the park's many features
are lakes, artificial waterfalls, numerous
plants (look out for the giant bamboo in
particular), a visual arts centre, children's
playground, restaurant, viewing tower, tai
chi garden and the outstanding Museum of
Tea Ware in Flagstaff House at the park's
northern tip. Museum aside, the park's highlights
are its many peaceful corners, a large aviary
and a modern conservatory, the last - the
largest in Southeast Asia - home to 200
plant species divided into tropical and
semi-arid varieties. The still more impressive
aviary repli- cates a tropical rainforest
habitat, tree-high walkways bringing you
into close contact with some 150 species
of (and 500 individual) exotic and brightly
coloured birds as you drop down through
the complex.
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