The glittering high rises and frenzied fast pace of Hong Kong have long captured the world’s imagination. Asia’s most dynamic city is a wonder of architecture and engineering, revealing the enterprising spirit that has been a major factor in its success over the last century.
Thankfully, the handover of rule from the British to the Chinese in 1997 has had little impact on the city’s growth and economy – only a few grumble that it was better off British – and the island still sets the standards for other Asian cities to follow.
The city’s technological feats and business dynamics have dwarfed its other many attractions, keeping them largely hidden from the outside world. Only residents, and a few more intrepid visitors, know what lies above and behind the towering pillars of glass and steel that dominate the territory’s landscape.
Hong Kong immediately conjures images of frenzied streets, impossible skylines and magnificent shopping and entertainment opportunities. But this cosmopolitan Asian hub is not somewhere most people associate with hiking through nature reserves, bird watching or sunbathing on sandy beaches.
Inspired by the cool of the winter months to do something more active than lazily trawl through the city’s malls and shopping plazas, I was lucky to meet a resident with a passion for the outdoors. In excited tones, he sang the praises of Hong Kong’s wilds with such fervour that I decided to investigate further.
It is perhaps a result of British rule that so much of Hong Kong is dedicated to that very English pursuit, the ‘country walk’ (St John’s Cathedral here follows this tradition in their regular Sunday Walks, introducing their congregation to the joys of nature after the Sunday Service).
Incredibly, 70 percent of Hong Kong’s land area is covered by undeveloped open land of which an impressive 40 percent is protected National Park. This abundant, natural terrain presents the perfect foil for the enjoyment of country pursuits like walking, trekking, bird watching – and even dolphin spotting, all just minutes away from the frenetic city centre.
In order to protect this natural beauty from unfettered development, the government introduced the Country Parks Ordinance in 1976 to cover the designation, management and development of Hong Kong’s 23 Country parks, which cover over 41,500 hectares (Hong Kong Island itself hosts five country parks). Included in this vast area is Tai Mo Shan, the Pat Sin Leng mountain range, Ma On Shan, Lion Rock, the Sai Kung Peninsula, the Shing Mun forest plantations, Tai Lam, the Shek Lei Pui Reservoirs and Lantau Island.
By Justin Eeles
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Courtesy of lifestyleandtravel.com
