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The 6 Best Gardens in Hong Kong Worth Exploring
While many may think of Hong Kong as a concrete jungle filled with skyscrapers, you’ll be surprised by the network of public gardens and parks we’re spoiled with.
These green spaces boast various gorgeous blooms and scenic locations, offering a tranquil respite no matter the season. Whether you’re looking for a photo-worthy spot or a place to enjoy picnics, you’ll find it here.
Today, we’ll share our favorite picks so you can check them out as well!
1. Hong Kong Zoological and Botanical Gardens
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Website: https://www.hkzbg.gov.hk/en/visit
Address: Albany Rd, Central
Contact information: +852 2530 0154
Operating hours: Monday to Sunday – 9 AM to 4:30 PM
Admission fee: Free
Best features: Botanical gardens, aviaries, zoo
Set amidst the bustling streets of Central and Mid-Levels is the 150-year-old Hong Kong Zoological and Botanical Gardens. It boasts 5.6 hectares of gardens sectioned into eastern and western parts, so there are plenty of areas to explore.
Located on the eastern part of the park is The Old Garden that showcases fountain terrace gardens, greenhouses, and various aviaries. Its botanical and herb collections contain more than 1,000 plant species, including exotic varieties from all over the world.
If you time it right and visit around spring, you can catch the colorful blooms of lovely azalea, honeysuckle, and passion flowers. The beautiful foliage of bald cypress and sweet gum is also a must-see in autumn!
Meanwhile, the New Garden on the western part is home to animal sanctuaries. Here, you can meet a range of adorable mammals like tamarins, orangutans, and gibbons. You might even spot a diverse range of birds and reptiles!
However, some facilities inside have different opening and operating hours. To make the most of your visit, make sure you note the schedule below:
| Fountain Terrace Garden | 5 AM to 10 PM |
| Green House/ Education & Exhibition Centre | 9 AM to 4:30 PM |
| Mammals Section | 6 AM to 7 PM |
| Other areas | 6 AM to 7 PM |
2. Kadoorie Farm and Botanic Garden
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Website: https://www.kfbg.org/en/
Address: Lam Kam Rd, Lam Tsuen
Contact information: +852 2483 7200
Operating hours: Monday to Sunday – 9:30 AM to 5 PM
Admission fees:
- Below 4 years old – Free
- 4 to 11 years old – HKD 25
- 12 to 59 years old – HKD 50
- 60 years old and above – HKD 20
- Registered disabled person/groups – HKD 20
Best features: Botanical gardens, greenhouses, animal sanctuaries, scenic trails
If you love the outdoors, you’ll enjoy exploring Kadoorie Farm and Botanic Garden. This 148-hectare wildlife and botanical sanctuary is nestled at the top of Tai Mo Shan, so you’ll really feel like you’re in nature’s lap.
If you’re feeling extra adventurous, you can explore the self-guided trails they feature.
We recommend the 1.82-kilometer Woodland Loop for beginners. It’s an easy and short hike with panoramic views of Rainbow Pavilions and Great Falls.
For something more challenging, we suggest the 2.7-kilometer Sky Trail Loop. The path is quite steep and rough, but the views from T.S. Woo Memorial Pavilion and Kwun Yum Shan’s summit are totally worth capturing.
This garden is also a nice spot to see stunning cherry blossoms in spring and a vibrant palette of foliage in autumn. It’s truly a sight to behold, so don’t miss it.
Plus, visiting the garden’s sanctuary is also a great chance for the kiddos to appreciate nature and interact with rescued and rehabilitated animals.
And, good news! Government groups, whole-day schools, and charities can get a special deal. If you’re coming with a group of 20 or more people, you only need to pay HKD 25 per person.
3. Nan Lian Garden
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Website: https://www.lcsd.gov.hk/en/parks/nlg
Address: Fung Tak Rd, Diamond Hill
Contact information: +852 3658 9366
Operating hours: Monday to Sunday – 7 AM to 9 PM
Admission fee: Free
Best features: Chinese gardens, Pavilion Bridge, Buddhist temples and halls, lotus ponds
Nan Lian Garden is a tranquil escape featuring 3.5 hectares of well-manicured Chinese gardens. Its original layout is designed using the Tang Dynasty-style landscape and has a distinct one-way circular route.
You should check out the Pavilion of Absolute Perfection if you want to walk around and see a beautiful pond with lotus flowers and golden-colored Buddhist pines.
As for iconic spots like The Blue Pond and the Pavilion Bridge, they’re perfect if you’re after Insta-worthy locations.
Now, if you’re feeling a bit peckish, just head to the Silver Strand Falls.
While you admire the majestic waterfall, you can grab a bite at Chi Lin Vegetarian. It’s a Chinese tea house and vegetarian restaurant.
Another thing we like about this garden is that it’s connected via a footbridge to another famous attraction in the city – Chi Lin Nunnery. It’s where you can see elaborately designed Buddhist temples, halls, and lotus ponds.
4. Victoria Peak Garden
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Website: https://www.hk-victoria-peak.com/peak-garden
Address: Mount Austin Rd, The Peak
Contact information: +852 2853 2605
Operating hours: Monday to Sunday – Open 24 hours
Admission fee: Free
Best features: Victorian garden, pagodas, picnic spots
Don’t forget to drop by Victoria Peak Garden if you’re visiting The Peak! This photogenic 1.8-hectare garden was once the site of the historic governor’s summer residence – the Mountain Lodge.
Even after various renovations, its layout and structures didn’t change that much. You can still marvel at elaborately designed Victorian-style pagodas, stone-pillared pavilions, and wooden tables.
Along with these, you can also find benches and green spaces that are ideal for cute picnics. Plus, most of the landscaped gardens here are accessible to the public, so the kiddos and the fur babies can run around to their hearts’ content.
However, this destination is more focused on the scenery and landscape design rather than the plants and flowers.
Nonetheless, the stunning hydrangea and golden trumpet are truly worth seeing when they’re in season. Aim to visit between March and May to see them in full bloom!
5. Lingnan Garden
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Website: https://www.lcsd.gov.hk/tc/parks/lckp/
Address: Lai Chi Kok, Kowloon
Contact information: +852 2307 0429
Operating hours: Monday to Sunday – 7 AM to 11 PM
Admission fee: Free
Best features: Lingnan-style garden, waterscape area, pebble path
Lingnan Garden is a 1.25-hectare green space that offers a captivating glimpse into traditional Lingnan-style landscaping and architecture. It features a combination of courtyards, water features, and winding paths.
You can find a central pool at the heart of it surrounded by 10 scenic spots. These are connected by bridge corridors, so you can easily explore a myriad of vistas.
From tranquil lakes and ponds to picturesque architecture and landscaping, this garden offers excellent spots for photoshoots.
Meanwhile, its extensive plantation area is a botanical haven filled with majestic trees and beautiful bonsai arrangements.
Many of the plants here are native to China. A particular highlight you might want to see are the colorful loquat and bayberry trees.
Another spot we recommend is The Rockery. It’s a serene place filled with unique stone mountains and interesting rocks from Tai Hu or Lake Tai in China.
For a more interactive experience, visit the Pebble Path. They also call it the “Healthy Pebble Path Zone” because walking barefoot here helps stimulate the reflex areas on the feet and promote blood circulation!
6. The Forsgate Conservatory
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Website: https://www.lcsd.gov.hk/tc/parks/hkp/specialties/forsgate
Address: 19 Cotton Tree Dr, Admiralty
Contact information: +852 2521 5059
Operating hours: Monday to Sunday – 9 AM to 5 PM
Admission fee: Free
Best features: Display Plant house, Humid Plant House, Dry Plant House
Forsgate Conservatory is a botanical garden inside the 8.16-hectare Hong Kong Park. It holds over 2,000 plants, ranging from floral displays and aquatic plants to towering trees and rare herbs!
The garden features three themed and climate-controlled greenhouses: the Display Plant House, Humid Plant House, and Dry Plant House.
The Display Plant House, as its name suggests, is famous for its thematic displays of various cultivated plants. What we love about this spot is its rotating annual exhibits featuring stunning botanical specimens like roses, orchids, and begonias
Meanwhile, at the Dry Plant House, you can see different species of cacti and other drought-tolerant plants. It’s also designed with artificial rockeries and canyons to mimic the arid landscape of a desert.
Another part you shouldn’t miss is the Humid Plant House. It’s like a tropical paradise filled with lush jungle foliage from different parts of South Africa, America, and Southeast Asia.
