The Hong Kong Wetlands is ecotourism attraction northeast of Yuen Long in the New Territories. It includes an indoor education centre with exhibition halls, displays and informative learning opportunities as well as a 61 hectare wetland reserve for birdwatching and spending time outdoors. It is a good place for families to spend a few hours outdoors especially when the weather is nice.
Opening hours are 10am to 5pm daily (closed on Tuesdays). Entry fee is $HK30 per adult (free for children). There are public toilets, eatery, gift shop in the main centre. Presently, visitors are required to register with the Leave Home Safe mobile app. to enter and spend time in the Park.
The indoor exhibition area at the HK Wetlands is fun for children. There are a handful of zones and education areas of focus. Some displays are interesting and a good way to entertain the little ones, especially if visiting on a hot or rainy sunny day.
However, the main reason most visit the Wetlands is to spend time in the outdoor reserve area which is nicly laid out around natural water sources which serve as a wetlands for migratory birds, similar to the nearby WWF Mai Po Reserve just north of here.
You'll find a handful of bird hides some with multiple levels where you can watch for migratory birds. Expect to see lots of egrets, heron, sandpipers and the likes. During winter months, you'll likely see black-faced spoonbills and with a keen eye, there are a fair number kingfishers. Unfortunately, the hides are often overrun by families with loud and active children. This is unfortunate but a reality with having bird hides in a family-friendly wetland parks. For more serious birdwatchers, you may prefer to book a permit and tour into the Mai Po Reserve with the WWF instead.
In addition to the bird hides there are wooden bridges, mangrove boardwalks, artificial streams and butterfly gardens to enjoy as well. Keep your eyes open for mudskippers, fiddler crabs, turtles as well as dragonflies and butterflies. During our recent visit we spotted a common Changeable Lizard with a bright orange head in the tall grasses near the Fishpond Hide.
Note: Visit the Hong Kong Wetlands website to learn more about this ecotourism park. This is a comprehensive site with plenty of general information and maps you can print and use while exploring the outdoor reserves.
Note: To visit the Hong Kong Wetlands using public transportation, you can use light rail circular lines (705 or 706) from the Tin Sui Wai MTR Station. The park is a 6-7 minute walk from the Wetlands Park or Tin Sau stops. Direction signs are easier to follow from the...
Read moreSometimes an escape from the hustle and bustle of city life is needed, but with time being a premium for most people it can be difficult to know where to go to relax and unwind. Well there’s an option very near Shenzhen that provides peace and quiet, as well as beautiful nature, without taking too much time and effort to get there. And that place is the Hong Kong Wetlands Park. Now at first look it may not seem that impressive. It’s not pristine and uber green in colour, but what it does have is a rugged, untamed natural look. Exactly what a nature reserve or wetlands should be.
Many people, when they think of Hong Kong, think of a sprawling urban landscape with a vibrant nightlife. While this is true of one aspect of this fascinating place, there’s also a side to Hong Kong that’s focused more on natural beauty, and on preserving the beautiful wetlands that are Hong Kong’s natural habitat. The Hong Kong Wetland Park is dedicating to showing people the beauty of Hong Kong’s wetlands and educating them about the ecological importance of preserving this beautiful area. Not only is it a conservation facility, but it also focuses on education and tourism. There is much to see and do here. Sprawled out over 61 hectares, this place is truly enormous and is a testament to Hong Kong’s eco and nature mindset. It makes for a peaceful and beautiful walk, through a cornucopia of vibrant nature. There is an abundance of flora and fauna around you, a vast range of bird species to spot (if you’re lucky) and even a crocodile!
Upon entry you’ll be greeted by the visitor information centre. Here you’ll get to read about the wetlands, and the ecosystem. There are interactive exhibits for the kids and some fish and insects in tanks to look at. As you go outside you can see PuiPui the resident crocodile. There are many areas you can walk through; the paths and direction are up to you. There is a stream walk, mangrove boardwalk, and a butterfly garden. Each path has its own unique nature to observe, and lots of information about them. There are several ‘huts’ where you can sit quietly and try to observe some of the many birds which frequent these wetlands. Of course, there is no guarantee which ones, if any, you’ll see. Just have to be patient. Please be quiet if you’re in these areas as any noises will scare away the birds. There are telescopes there to view up close, or you can use your camera, perfect for any nature lover or...
Read moreHong Kong Wetland Park is located in the northern part of Tin Shui Wai. The land on which it is located was originally intended to be used as an ecological mitigation area to make up for the wetland lost due to the urban development of the new town of Tin Shui Wai. In 1998, the former Agriculture and Fisheries Department (now renamed the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department) and the former Hong Kong Tourist Association (now renamed the Hong Kong Tourism Board) launched a project to expand the ecological relief area into a wetland eco-tourism attraction The feasibility study is called "International Wetland Park and Visitor Center". The conclusion of the study is that a wetland park can be developed in the ecological mitigation area without weakening its ecological mitigation function. The development of the Hong Kong Wetland Park can even upgrade the ecological relief area into a world-class attraction integrating nature conservation, education and tourism. The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government later listed the Hong Kong Wetland Park Project as one of its millennium development projects. The Hong Kong Wetland Park officially opened on May 20, 2006.
The 61-hectare Hong Kong Wetland Park showcases the diversity of Hong Kong's wetland ecosystems and highlights the importance of protecting them. In addition, opportunities are provided to set up educational and leisure venues with the theme of wetland functions and values for local residents and...
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