Hong Kong Zoological and Botanical Gardens

Hong Kong Zoological and Botanical Gardens

The Hong Kong Zoological and Botanical Gardens is one of the oldest zoological and botanical centres in the world. Founded in 1864, its first stage had been opened to the public in 1871.[1] It is the oldest park in Hong Kong.

English Name: Hong Kong Zoological and Botanical Gardens

Chinese Name: 香港动植物公园

Attraction Type: Plants, Animals, Park, Zoological and Botanical Gardens

Best Time to Visit: whole year

Recommended Visiting Time: about 1 hour

Admission Fee: Free

Address in English: Mid-levels, Victoria Peak, Hong Kong

Address in Chinese: 半山区, 太平山, 香港

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Why is Hong Kong Zoological and Botanical Gardens so Special?

The Hong Kong Zoological and Botanical Gardens is one of the oldest zoological and botanical centres in the world. It occupies an area of 5.6 hectares (14 acres) at Mid-levels, on the northern slope of Victoria Peak in Hong Kong. Founded in 1864, its first stage had been opened to the public in 1871. It is the oldest park in Hong Kong.

Where is Hong Kong Zoological and Botanical Gardens ?

Hong Kong Zoological and Botanical Gardens is located on the Albany Road in the Central District of the Hong Kong Island. It is surrounded by Robinson Road, Glenealy, Upper Albert Road and Garden Road.

How to Get There?

MTR Admiralty Station, Exit B. Walk along Garden Road for 15–20 mins uphill to Hong Kong Zoological and Botanical Gardens.
Take bus 12, 12m, 23, or 40 to HK Zoological & Botanical Garden, Garden Road.
Take bus 13, 103, 103p, 23b or 40m to Government House, Upper Albert Road, and you will see the garden.

History of Hong Kong Zoological and Botanical Gardens

The park was previously named Bing Tau Fa Yuen. “Bing Tau” literally means “the head of the soldiers” or the “Commander-in-Chief”. According to Hong Kong’s Leisure and Cultural Services Department, it was nicknamed as such by the city’s Chinese community, as it was the former site of the city’s Government House. Others said Bing Tau was just the phonetic transliteration of the first two syllables of the word botanical. In the old days, many lovers liked to go there on a date.

Plants

There are more than 1000 kinds of plants in the garden, most of which are unique to tropical and subtropical areas. It includes some rare species, such as dawn redwood and local Ailanthus altissima. In addition, some species, such as orchids, that can bloom all year round can be found in Hong Kong.
Different species grow in the theme gardens of Hong Kong Zoological and Botanical Gardens, such as Bamboo Garden, Camellia Garden, Magnolia Garden, Greenhouse, Palm Garden, Bauhinia Garden, Azalea Garden and Herb Garden.

Animals

The size of the garden hinders the breeding of large mammals such as giraffes. However, there are many kinds of primates, including Golden Lion tamarind, gibbon, orangutan, ring tail lemur and black and white wrinkled lemur. Besides plants, there are more than 400 kinds of birds, 50 kinds of mammals and 20 kinds of reptiles.