Wetland Park
Hong Kong Wetland Park (香港濕地公園) is a world class ecotourism attraction situated in Tin Shui Wai of the New Territories. It all began when the area was designated as an ecological mitigation area aiming to compensate for the wetland lost due to Tin Shui Wai New Town development and supplement that of the nearby Mai Po Marshes Nature Reserve. Following a study conducted by the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department in collaboration with the Hong Kong Tourism Board, it was decided that the development of a Wetland Park within the ecological mitigation area would be beneficial both for wildlife conservation and ecotourism.
View from a bird hide
The project commenced in 1998, completed in 2005 and was unveiled to the public on 20th May a year later. The park comprises of a 10,000 square meter Visitor Centre, Wetland Interactive World and the main feature - a 60-hectare Wetland Reserve, which is host to an incredible array of wildlife species including birds, reptiles, insects, fish and small mammals. In addition to the key objective of wildlife conservation, the Wetland Park is an attempt to foster public awareness of the importance of embracing and protecting wildlife and ecosystems. This is accomplished by bringing visitors and wildlife together via direct exposure, offering interactive presentations and educational briefings. The Wetland Park infrastructural project has been awarded the medal of the year for its distinctive design and environmental-friendly facilities. Green concepts adopted at the design phase included a water saving facility that dramatically reduces water consumption, shading device mechanisms that allow natural sunlight but reduce solar heat gain, and the use of recycled materials throughout the construction.
The Visitor Centre is a short walk after the ticket office and thus the main welcoming point for the visitor. Guide maps and information leaflets can be obtained from the main reception area of the Visitor Centre. A cloak room is also available for providing storage for those who carry additional luggage. Further down, there is a theatre, a resource centre and a souvenir shop. The 200-seat theatre is primarily used to project the Wetland Park's introductory film. The resource centre comprising of a small library and laboratory, is an area for those interested in further enhancing their knowledge in ecosystems and nature conservation. A restaurant overlooking the Wetland Reserve is a good place to start and apart from the food it would be a good idea to get a few bottles of water that would later prove handy for the outdoor trek. There is an indoor children's play area namely Swamp Adventure. All the indoor facilities mentioned above, including the resource centre, theatre and Swamp Adventure, comprise what is known as the Wetland Interactive World which is collectively designed for bridging the Wetland Reserve with the outside world.
Pink water lilies
The Wetland Reserve is by far the most interesting and exciting feature of the entire park. It would rather be a surprise for visitors to learn that those wetlands were not naturally inherited; they have actually been artificially reconstructed for supporting a wide range of bio-diverse wildlife. Wetland Reserve comprises of the Wetland Discovery Centre, 4 different walk routes namely Stream, Succession, Mangrove, Wildside and 3 bird hides namely Riverside, Mudflat and Fishpond. The Wetland Discovery Centre offers a good viewpoint of observation from which visitors can watch fish and other amphibian wildlife swimming amongst the lake's rich vegetation. Walks are really rewarding for the eye with a wide range of species inhabiting different parts of the ponds, including dragonflies, butterflies and frogs. One of the most impressive is the bizarre species of fiddler crab with their distinctive super-sized giant claw that can be met throughout the Mangrove route. During the hot summer months there are scores of fiddler crabs that can be seen crawling around the muddy shores, often found digging small holes into which they seek refuge whilst protecting their territories from predators or other crabs. Bird hides are the ideal place for anyone wishing to observe wild species of birds in their natural habitat. Binoculars or a digital camera capable of achieving a high level of optical zoom would be ideal in getting 'closer' to the birds without disturbing them. Sometimes the observation can be spoiled by people been too noisy and therefore scaring some of the birds away, but despite that is an experience worth having.
Dragonfly blends with foliage
Park opening hours are 10:00am to 5:00pm, six days a week. It is closed on Tuesdays (excluding Public Holidays), as well as the first two days of the Chinese Lunar New Year. Tickets can be obtained whilst on site between 9:30am and 4:00pm or reserved online using the Wetland Park's online booking facility. Admission fares are HK$30 for adults; HK$15 for children / full-time students / seniors; free for infants under the age of 3. Discounts for groups of over 10 people are also available. Opening hours are also subject to safety arrangements made in cases of inclement weather conditions including signal 8 typhoons, black rainstorms and red rainstorms during which the Wetland Reserve and/or the Visitor Centre may be closed. In addition, due to the eco-friendly nature of the attraction there are certain policies that need to be adhered by the visitors. For instance, pets are not allowed, smoking is prohibited within the indoor premises of the park and parents are advised to keep children under close surveillance to prevent any accidents occurring in the outdoor areas. It is also assumed that visitors are not allowed to feed animals, damage plants, litter, or create excessive noise that could undermine the delicate wildlife. Due to the recent outbreak of Avian Influenza the park has adopted strict regulations according to which visitors should avoid any contact with birds, bird droppings and feathers whilst it is urged to report sick or dead birds to any Wetland Park staff on patrol.
Transportation to the Wetland Park is provided via KCR West Rail to Tin Shui Wai station, subsequently changing to Tin Shui Wai Circular light rail route 705 or 706 and getting off at Wetland Park station (Zone 5A for single-ride ticket required). Bus route 967 from Admiralty to Grandeur Terrace bus stop offers an alternative way of getting there. Either way, Wetland Park is within a five minute walk from the bus/light rail stations.