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HK Zoological & Botanical Garden

The HK Zoological and Botanical Garden can be traced back to 1876 for exhibiting animals.  Further expansion in the 70s enables the garden to cater for more animals, including endangered species. 

Most children in HK have been to the Botanical Garden, no matter as a family outing or school outing.  It's because it's the only place that exhibits animals and birds for free.  In the 70s, there was an entertainment park called "Lai Yuen" in Kowloon side which had standard zoo animals like tiger, giraffe and bear but it's very basic and in a way the animals were quite cruelly placed in  small cages.  With the opening of Ocean Park in 1977, people have more choices but then Ocean Park shows mostly sea animals.  Thus, the Zoological and Botanical Garden still has its own attractions.

Nowadays, the Garden is home to over 600 birds and 70 mammals and 40 reptiles.  There is also a greenhouse which displays over 150 species including orchids, insect eating plants, water plants and house plants.

Pick up a copy of "Tree Walk at the Garden" at the entrance.  It shows you the various kinds of trees and where you can find them in the garden.  This includes Araucaria heterophylla, Chorisia speciosa, Cinnamomum camphora and Michelia alba, to name a few.

How to get there:

From Central: bus no. 3B, 12, 13
From Admiralty: bus no. 12A, 12M, 40M, 40P, 40
From causeway Bay: 23A, 23B

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