Name(English): Hong Kong Park
Name(Chinese): 香港公園
Category: Culture and History
Phone Number: +852 2521 5041
Address(English): 19 Cotton Tree Drive, Central, Hong Kong
Address(Chinese): 香港中區紅棉路19 號
Address Google Map Link: https://goo.gl/maps/G1skaQJghXTEccVU6
Address longitude and latitude: 22.277417060038037, 114.16082938702101
Nearest MTR Station: Admiralty MTR Station Exit C1
Nearest MTR Station Google Map Link: https://goo.gl/maps/j2V33wEGZuqKkTbCA
Nearest MTR Station longitude and latitude: 22.2794632775128, 114.16457581026594
How far from the nearest MTR Station: 5 mins from Admiralty MTR Station Exit C1
Opening Hours:
MON 06:00 – 23:00
TUE 06:00 – 23:00
WED 06:00 – 23:00
THU 06:00 – 23:00
FRI 06:00 – 23:00
SAT 06:00 – 23:00
SUN 06:00 – 23:00
Recommended Time to Visit: 09:00-17:00
Accessibility Note: need to walk up staircases
Strolling through winding paths with running water and ponds of Hong Kong Park, you will come across some historical buildings dating back to the 19th to early 20th centuries. These are the remaining historical buildings from the Victoria Barracks, the very first barracks built in the territory by the British Army when Hong Kong was ceded to Britain in 1840s. Imagine all the skyscrapers are gone, the location provided a good view point to overlook the Victoria Harbour. Together with Murray Barracks, Wellington Barracks and Admiralty Dock, the barracks formed a strong garrison to establish order and stability in the remote island off the China coast.
Due to the rapid economic growth in 1970s, the military were asked to move out and most buildings have been demolished. The Murray House, where the current Bank of China Tower stands, has been relocated to Stanley. The Central Government Complex is built on the reclaimed land from the Admiralty Dock, dockyard for HMS Tamar which was scuttled during WWII.
While the upper part of the Victoria Barracks has been transformed into an award-winning park opened to the public in 1991, a few historical buildings have been revitalised. Flagstaff House, residence of the Commander-in-Chief of the British Armed Forces, has been converted into the Flagstaff House Museum of Teaware. The Rawlinson House is currently accommodating the Park Management Office and the Cotton Tree Drive Marriage Registry. New features have also been added to the park. The Edward Youde Aviary which featured 550 birds of 70 species and also the Conservatory which displays a number of popular cultivated plants, jungle foliage plants and plants of arid areas.
Having located near the financial district and surrounded by a few 5-star hotels, Hong Kong Park provides a great spot for people to escape from the hustle and bustle. One may say the Hong Kong Park has successfully transformed from an obsolete garrison into a beautiful garden inside the Financial Centre, but isn’t this every bit of Hong Kong one expects? A city that cares little about heritage and happily replace it with modern skyscrapers, we are not sure if Hong Kong Park is still a worthwhile spot for anyone to visit.
At noon, as the great pied hornbill expertly catches a snack tossed by its keeper, office workers gather on park benches to lunch on take-away sushi beneath the shade of tropical trees…
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