Hong Kong is one of the most vibrant cities in Asia with towering skyscrapers, crowded markets, and a deep multicultural history, but at the same time, it hides many beautiful national parks. Apart from the modern features it offers, these parks offer beautiful greenery, beautiful trails for trekking, and beautiful beaches for the nature lovers. Here you can find out about the mountain of Tai Mo Shan and the beautiful coast of Sai Kung – places that a tourist might never see. From those who love nature, hiking or wildlife, there is no better place to spend your time and enjoy your freedom from the concrete jungles.
Before you go out to discover the beautiful natural sites in Hong Kong, you need to make sure your papers are well arranged. If you wish to come from another country, then you might need a Hong Kong visa depending on your country of origin. Hong Kong offers many facilities for travelers to obtain the visa and it has several types of visas for travelling to the country and explores the beautiful national parks. As soon as you get your visa in order, you will be prepared to visit one of the top national parks in Hong Kong.
Here are the five best national parks in Hong Kong that you should not omit from your list.
1. Sai Kung East Country Park
Sai Kung East Country Park is one of the most beautiful places in Hong Kong. Situated in the eastern of the Sai Kung Peninsula, this park covers beaches, mountainous, and crystal sea views. Among the attractions, there is the High Island Reservoir which is a kind of miracle with several geological structures and nice paths for hiking. Two other beaches – Ham Tin Wan and Tai Long Wan are also ideal for surfing and sunbathing. There are several challenging trails through the park’s steep cliffs which provide great views of unspoiled coastline.
Top Attractions:
- High Island Reservoir
- Tai Long Wan beach
- MacLehose Trail (Stage 2)
2. Tai Mo Shan Country Park
This park is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Hong Kong because it is home to the island’s highest mountain, the Tai Mo Shan. Tai Mo Shan Country Park is well-known for its scenery of the mountain veiled by mist and excellent scenic beauty. The peak has an altitude of about 957 meters and affords beautiful views of the city, harbour and distant islands on a clear day. This park also has diverse wildlife features such as Ng Tung Chai Waterfalls and other natural resources of plant and animal species. Due to the cool weather in the highlands it is an ideal place for people to visit when they are avoiding the scorching sun weather in the city.
Top Attractions:
- Tai Mo Shan peak
- Ng Tung Chai Waterfalls
- Tai Mo Shan Rotary Park
3. Lantau South Country Park
Lantau South Country Park occupies almost half of Lantau Island and is the biggest park in Hong Kong. It is well known for its mountains, valleys and the coast. The park also has the highest mountains in Hong Kong; Sunset Peak and Lantau Peak hence attracts many hikers. The Shek Pik Reservoir is perfect for a leisurely stroll and for the more daring the Lantau Trail stretching 70km through various terrains is available. Tourism lovers may also sight some of the wild animals such as the barking deer and there are also beautiful butterflies.
Top Attractions:
- Lantau Peak
- Sunset Peak
- Shek Pik Reservoir
4. Ma on Shan Country Park
Ma On Shan Country Park is situated in the New Territories and got its name from Ma On Shan, a famous mountain in Hong Kong. The park is characterised by steep ridges and spectacular mountain topography. It is especially liked by experienced hikers, especially the serious Ma On Shan trail that offers spectacular views of Tolo Harbour and beyond. This park is also a natural reserve and tourists will be able to see a variety of plant life some of which they may not have seen before. It also has easy accessible trails such as the Ma On Shan Family Walk where visitors can explore the park but with less actions.
Top Attractions:
- Ma On Shan peak
- Ma On Shan Family Walk
- Tolo Harbour views
5. Kam Shan Country Park
Informally called Monkey Hill, Kam Shan Country Park is popular with the wild troop of macaque monkeys that inhabit the area. It is situated close to Kowloon and therefore is among the easiest parks to access in Hong Kong. Besides the macaques, there are several scenic reservoirs, nature walks, and lots of opportunities to watch other birds. The Kam Shan Family Walk is a great opportunity to take a leisurely stroll through the park and for those with an interest in military history the park contains some Second World War military bunkers and gun positions.
Top Attractions:
- Wild macaques
- Kam Shan Family Walk
- WWII historical relics
Conclusion
National park of Hong Kong is an amazing gifts of nature and is a welcome change from the congested cities. Whether you are a hiking freak, wild life lover or only a nature lover who wants to spend some time away from the busy city life these five national parks are the best to visit Sai Kung East, Tai Mo Shan, Lantau South, Ma On Shan and Kam Shan. Therefore on the next visit to Hong Kong do not just stick to the conventional tourist attractions but take some time to visit these natural wonders.
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