Hong Kong Park (Admiralty), Hong Kong

Flagstaff House is one of the oldest colonial-style building remaining in Hong Kong, having been built in 1846. It has been a long-time residence of the Commander of the British forces in Hong Kong during colonial times until 1978 and was called Headquarter House until 1932. Today it houses the Museum of Tea Ware, which has been housed here since 1984.

Open: 10am-5pm daily. Admission is free.

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The aptly named Hong Kong Park is one of the islands largest parks covering an area of 80,000 m². It is located off Cotton Tree Drive near the Admiralty MRT station and was opened in 1991. Like other parks in Hong Kong, it is surrounded by skyscrapers but this doesn't distract from just how nice the park is. It features a few historical buildings such as Flagstaff House which dates from 1846 and is now home to the Museum of Teaware, Rawlinson House which used to be the former house of the British Deputy General and Wavell House, former quarters for married British officers as well as Hong Kong's largest aviary - the Edward Youde Aviary. The park is also very popular for married couples to have their pictures taken against flower borders and water features whilst wearing their white wedding outfits.

Open: 6am-11pm.

We visited Hong Kong Park which was really nice. Check out all the tropical fish in the water and the terrapins. It's a great landscape to take photos as well with the sky rises in the background. It's free and well worth a visit.

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Hong Kong Park was also not very far from my hotel. It was absolutely gorgeous there. Lush green foliage, plants and ponds and the largest aviary I've ever seen. There is a wooden footbridge of which is located above the aviary and allows you to see all the bird species below. I love it here. I sort of went crazy with all of the photos but I just couldn't stop - it was too beautiful. Below a poem I wrote about Hong Kong park during my March 2008 visit.

The Aviary
Hong Kong Park

Birds harmonize
Cantonese tales
weaving heirlooms
among lotus flowers.

Nicobar pigeon
rests upon bamboo planks
while orange leafbird
poses for photos.

White crested hornbill
the virtuoso of dance
pirouettes across
rippling ponds.

And the chorus
through pond spice
and tree cotton
echo against bamboo clumps.

Tai chi garden
sits calm, serene
against a backdrop
of kapok and candlenut trees.

The air warm, humid
the sky grey, misty
as I revel within nature
amongst a bustling metropolis
of tree fern and
the feathered chorus line.

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This was an unexpected treat. While walking through Hong Kong Park I came across the arts center. I didn't know beforehand that it was even there. I walked up to the door and saw a guard there with no one else around so I thought it was closed. He then opened the door and motioned for me to go inside which I did. I'm so glad I went inside. There was a poet/artist, K.C. Chow who was exhibiting his artwork in the gallery. We were the only two there and though I speak only a couple of words in Chinese and he a little more in English we were able to carry on a conversation. His art pieces were so creative and he welcomed my taking photos of some of the pieces. He was such a kind and gentle soul and I so enjoyed meeting him. He gave me his book of essays which I didn't realize until I left was completely in Chinese. The only thing I could read was the ISBN number. I'll have to have it translated.

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In the centre of Hong Kong Park is the bird aviary. The park is a great place to just amble around, climbing, as it does, the hillside (some great views over the city). The aviary is just that - a huge covered man-made 'forest' where exotic birds fly around and where you can get pretty close to them as a result of the elevated walkways. The whole can be quite hard work - some of those slopes are pretty steep!

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The $390 million cost part covers an area of 8 hectares and features a host of new and unique facilitiies.
Most area of this park have been designed in a manner that the natural landscape can be preserved as far as possible, in particular the existing vegetation.
The area srounded by many skyscrapers that gave the well-designed green area its unique look.
Fountains plaza, artificail waterfalls, sport center, olympic square, museum, conervatory, and arts center are among other things in this park.
The park is free to enter, and its doors are open daily from 6 am to 11 pm.

The oldest colonial building in Hong Kong, situated in Hong Kong Park and housing an exhibition on tea and tea ware. It leaves the impression that to the Chinese, preparing and drinking tea is indeed a form of art.