New Territories, Hong Kong

During the winter months, the wetland is home to over 50,000 migratory water birds, including some 20% of the world’s population of the endangered Black-faced Spoonbill. The area is also home to such other wildlife as otters, leopard cats, butterflies, and dragonflies.

Visitors can visit Mai Po on their own any day of the week including public holidays but must call in advance to get a HK$100 one-day visitor pass.

There are a limited number of daily passes and they are given out on a first-come, first-served basis. The pass allows visitors to walk around Mai Po on their own, including restricted areas. Mai Po can also provide visitors with a map of suggested walking areas.

To get to Mai Po, take the MTR to Nam Chong, change to the West Rail to Kam Tin, then take a taxi to Mai Po.

The Miu Fat Monastery was built in 1950. It features a Main Worship Hall housing three gold-plated statues of the Buddha Sakyamuni. Inside are thousands of Buddhist images and paintings.

It is open seven days a week from 9am to 5pm. They also serve vegetarian meals.

Take the Light Rail Transit (LRT) at the Tuen Mun Ferry Pier and alight at the Lam Tei stop. It's about a five-minute walk from there.

Tai Mo Shan Country Park is one of the most popular places for barbecues in the territory for Hong Kong people.

The park also includes Hong Kong's highest mountain called Tai Mo Shan Know locally as Big Hat or Big Mist Mountain.

Take the number 51 bus from Tsuen Wan MTR station.

This temple is not to be confused with the one on HK Island. This one located in the New Territories.

Located on Fu Shin Street, the temple was built nearly a century ago by the Tsat Yeuk Community of Tai Po to mark the founding of Tai Wo Shi (Tai Wo Market). The temple serves as a major centre of worship for the Tai Po area.

Directions
KCR East Rail to Tai Wo station. Walk about 10 minutes through Tai Wo Estate, towards Tai Po Market station. Then cross Tai Wo bridge, turn on to Yan Hing Street, then walk along Fu Shin Street.

Hoi Pa Village was originally a Hakka settlement. The site, together with the adjacent area, has now been developed into a park.

Directions
MTR to Tsuen Wan station. Follow the pedestrian bridge, then walk along Shiu Wo Street and Tsuen Wan Market Street to reach the park (about 20 minutes).

It is a rare treat to find so many ancient buildings still standing in the Yuen Long district. the best of these relics have been connected by the Ping Shan Heritage Trail.

The Trail is about 1km long and meanders through the erstwhile villages of Hang Mei Tsuen, Hang Tau Tsuen and Sheung Cheung Wai.

One of the first sights is Hong Kong's only historic pagoda, the Tsui Shing Lau, which was built about 1486 by Tang Ying-tung, a seventh-generation member of the Tang Clan. Originally there were seven storeys but a severe storm some centuries ago badly damaged the upper floors and today only the lowest three remain. The building is hexagonal, and constructed of green brick and granite.

Directions
Take Bus No 68X from Jordan Road Ferry Pier or Bus No 68M from the Tsuen Wan MTR Station to Yuen Long, then change to the Light Rail Train and alight at Ping Shan Station. Or take Bus No 69M from Kwai Fong MTR Station to Tin Shui Wai, alight at Tin Yiu Estate and walk along Tin Fuk Road (about five minutes).

The Institute was founded in 1950 and occupies 10 acres in the tranquil, beautiful environment of Sam Dip Tam. One of its many attractions includes a replica of Beijing's magnificent Temple of Heaven (Tian Tan). The Hall of Rocks Collection features rocks with interesting natural shapes, including those of the 12 animals of the Chinese zodiac.

Take the Mass Transit Railway (MTR) to the Tsuen Wan Station; take the exit to Shiu Wo Street and catch Green Minibus No. 81 to the Yuen Yuen Institute.

Here you can spend an hour walking through orchards and rows of cultivated blooms, and receive a charmingly conducted lecture tour of the apiary to see how their honey is made. It will be an hour well spent.

The FanLing Apiary is located near Fung Ying Seen Koon at No.8, Butterfly Mountain Road, FanLing.

Getting there :
Take the KCR train and alight at the FanLing Station.

Ma On Shan is a great place to go hiking. There are some great views once you get up there. One of the trails is over seven mountains. There is a legend about the seven mountains being brothers who were immortalized as mountains. You do require a fair level of fitness to go up and down the hills. Also make sure you take plenty of water and food along as there is nothing up there unless you make your way back down.

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Having quite an adventurous father is an advantage for a child. He decided that we needed to explore the New Territories one day so off we went, out of the city by bus, train, boat and into the jungley wilds where we came across friendly boat people, rice fields, 30 foot tall bamboo, and we found a preying mantis! Fabulously exciting stuff!! :))