Hong Kong Zoological and Botanical Gardens

Open since 1864, the 5.4 hectare Hong Kong Zoological and Botanical Gardens have been perching on a slope to overlook Central. Its view of the harbour disappeared years ago. This is, however, replaced by the picturesque view of the upper storeys of the Bank of China Tower and the HSBC Main Building. The gardens are located on the northern slope of Victoria Peak with a highest point of 100 m and lowest point of 62 m above sea level. They are divided into 2 parts by Albany Road but connected by a subway. The eastern part is known as the Old Garden where a children's playground, aviaries and a fountain terrace garden are found. The New Garden of the west side is mainly the home of wild mammals and reptiles. The ornamental flora of the botanical gardens and a small range of faunas kept in the zoological section render the garden a good learning place for school kids and rendezvous for friends. It is also a popular place for families on Sunday outings and a favourite venue for people who practise Tai Chi early in the morning. There is also a bronze statue of King George VI erected, in commemoration of the 100th anniversary of British colonial rule over Hong Kong (1841 - 1941). Bird collection includes mandarin duck, American flamingo, palawan peacock pheasant, Rothschild's mynah; botanical collection includes camellia, Hainan elaeocarpus, pincushion tree, large flowered magnolia, Chinese tamarisk, Jamaica sagotree; and zoological collection includes ruffed lemur, Chinese or Yangtze alligator, Goodfellow's tree kangaroo, siamang, jaquar, Bornean orang-utan etc.