HONG KONG GOES GREENHong Kong Launches "Green Guide."Hong Kong’s undiscovered natural wonders are now more accessible than ever with the launch of the new "Green Scene Guide." The Hong Kong Tourist Association (HKTA) and the Agriculture and Fisheries Department (AFD) introduced a new guidebook, "Exploring Hong Kong’s Countryside - A Visitor’s Companion," that allows vacationers to explore Hong Kong’s countryside, parks and preserves.
The guidebook is available in three languages, including Chinese, English and Japanese and is priced at US$10.25 (HK$80) and may be purchased at HKTA Visitor Information and Services Centres, located in the basement of Jardine House, Central, and at the Star Ferry Concourse, Tsim Sha Tsui. It's also available at the following AFD outlets: The Sai Kung Country Park Visitor Centre; Lions Nature Education Centre; Tai Mo Shan Country Park Visitor Centre; Shing Mun Country Park Visitor Centre, and the Country Parks Management Office at Canton Road Government Offices, Tsim Sha Tsui. Schools and students enjoy the guidebook at the discounted price of US$5.12 (HK$40) from all AFD outlets with a bulk purchase of 10 copies or more. For information on traveling to Hong Kong, call 1-800-282-HKTA (4582) or visit http://www.hkta.org courtesy of Hong Kong Tourist Association Edited by: Autumn Rhea Hong Kong Tourist Association |
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“Travelers may be surprised to learn that nearly 70 percent of Hong Kong’s total area is open parkland, with 40 percent of the territory officially conserved in protected land,” stated Lily Shum, Regional Director-The Americas for the Hong Kong Tourist Association. “The Green Guidebook takes travelers out of the bustling city and allows them to enjoy Hong Kong’s Outlying Islands and New Territories with greater ease.
Written by Hong Kong-based write, photographer and avid hiker Edward Stokes, the guidebook details trails through wooded hillsides of Hong Kong Island, the Outlying Islands of Lamma and Lantau, Central New Territories, Sai Kung Peninsula and Plover Cove, among other areas. City Escapes allow nature lover to enjoy the destination’s urban parks and walks. The guide also explores the world-renowned Mai Po Nature Reserve and Deep Bay wetlands, which are an important resting and feeding ground for migratory birds along the East Asian-Australian Flyway. More than 430 species of birds have been recorded at the Reserve and over 100 of them are rarely seen elsewhere outside the region. The Reserve was listed in 1995 as a wetland of international importance under the Ramsar Convention. 
Hong Kong’s 23 country parks are easily accessible, most being within an hour’s journey by public transportation from the city centers. Travelers may enjoy serene walks in country parks, hikes along nature trails or strolls along coastal paths that offer hundreds of miles of ocean panoramas from dramatic hilltop settings. The destination’s nature trail walks offer visitors a glimpse into the history and village life of Hong Kong’s countryside and indigenous people, as well as an understanding of the various wildlife and vegetation that thrives in the area. 
"Exploring Hong Kong’s Countryside" appeals to travelers of all ages and levels of activity, including adults and children, gentle walkers and adventure seekers. Hikers may challenge themselves on several ridgewalks including the five-hour Sai Kung’s Peninsula Hike which rises above the Eastern Territories and takes hikers into some of the destination’s more rugged countryside and coastlines. Less strenuous nature trails traverse the countryside affording views of picturesque villages, woods and fields. Nature lovers need not leave the city to discover lush grounds and serene parks. The gentle Hong Kong Island Hike allows travelers to walk from the Upper Peak Tram station down through the Pok Fu Lam Country Park with striking landforms dating back to the Jurassic Period, ravines and woodlands. On Lantau Island, hikers may explore the Po Lin Monastery situated on a lush hillside. One of the most popular attractions in Hong Kong, the monastery features the world’s largest outdoor seated bronze Buddha. Nearby, travelers may stroll through the Hau Wong Temple, a Taoist shrine.