September 13, 2023
This is in connection with my previous visit to the Hong Kong Zoological Garden located in Central. After seeing different resident animals in the zoological garden, I headed to find the greenhouse and botanical garden.
I passed through the Time Tunnel which connects the Zoological and Botanical Gardens. The tunnel shows a collection of photographs and postcards about the timeline of the park, how it was before, and its transformation.
As mentioned in my recent post about the zoo, this park is the oldest in Hong Kong founded 152 years ago, and it is also one of the oldest zoological and botanical centers in the world.
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Before this was turned into zoological and botanical gardens, this site was the former site of the Government House with a beautiful garden.
The fountain in the photo above still exists, of course, has been revamped, and is now one of the main attractions in the park. The Government House was removed though and transferred to another site.
After traversing the time tunnel, this scenic view appeared at sight. An array of old banyan trees with trunks covered with wild vines and moss on both sides serve as birds' sanctuary and provide sheds to visitors against the scorching sun on sunny days.
After passing through this site, I came across this area which I thought was the way down to the subway station. But when I peeked inside, I found out that it was the Greenhouse I was looking for.
The main entrance was on the other side, but I took the spiral staircase down to the greenhouse that was almost closing. I felt grateful upon knowing that it still allows visitors to go in.
This allowed me to see plants inside the greenhouse. There are different kinds of orchids, vines, ferns, flowers, medicinal plants, and even some wild plants.
Animal sculptures decorated with plants are also part of the attractions. If you want to see real animals, go check my blog about the Zoological Garden. There are beautiful flamingos in this park.
The greenhouse is divided into two areas: outdoor and indoor. From the entrance is the outdoor part. Well, not literally outdoor because it is still a close area, but plants receive air and sunlight directly passing through the open roof rails.
The indoor part is air-conditioned and houses different species of orchids. The moth orchids, which dominate the place, are the main attraction. You most likely see this kind of orchid in markets around Hong Kong as many Chinese truly love this flower. It has many symbolism in Chinese beliefs depending on the color.
These kinds of orchids don't need much sunlight and relatively need protection against humidity, warmth, and ventilation, so they are usually placed indoors. It was quite cold inside this room due to the air conditioner.
It was my first time seeing fuchsia before my eyes. Indeed, the color is fuchsia, haha. What else then? Lol.
The butterfly orchid looks like a dancing lady in a yellow ballet dress. But I guess it's more like a yellow grasshopper, isn't it?
There are beautiful sunflowers too. I thought this flower needed more exposure to the sun. But well, yeah, the roof is glass, anyway, so it can still receive enough sunlight.
There are cute succulents and cacti too. Some are arranged in stone pots and old tree barks decorated with pebbles.
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I'm not sure of the name of this plant, but it reminded me of fragrant tropical leaves, pandan, or screwpine. It's actually the cute Buddha figurine on it that caught my attention.
There were quite a lot of orchid species in this conservation room. Some were potted, some were hung on wooden plates and coconut husks. Even though I don't know the names of the majority of them, looking at them was truly relaxing. The wonder of nature.
Some decorations are made from old tree trunks and branches. There are Chinese historical relics like jars, plates, and others displayed in this area too.
The whole park is so vast and is surrounded by trees and different plants. You can see trees, flowers, medicinal plants, and even wild ones around this park and also in some areas in the zoological garden. They are truly eye candies and great subjects for photography.
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Before heading to the next spot, I stopped by the fountain area where the kiosk was located and bought a drink to quench my thirst. It was truly a fun and exhausting afternoon roaming around the five-hectare park.
A bronze statue of King George VI is located up the staircase near the fountain. To commemorate the 100th anniversary of British colonial rule over Hong Kong, this monument was built.
It was almost five in the afternoon and I was supposed to just leave the place but I saw the Bamboo Trail, so I opted to check it. It has a bamboo gate with a Japanese design.
As its name implies, the trail is surrounded by bamboo trees with concrete winding footpaths and some benches to rest.
I sat on the bench at one side and rested for a while. The monkey design is cute, isn't it? The place is tranquil and somehow provides more private spaces that make one relax and contemplate.
After resting on the bamboo trail, I opted to leave the park. I never thought I'd see more attractions near the area. You'll see them on my next travel blog.
Thanks for stopping by.
(All photos are mine)
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