Hong Kong Wetland Park
Encyclopedia
Hong Kong Wetland Park is a conservation, education and tourism facility, located at the northern part of Tin Shui Wai
, in Yuen Long
. It was to be an ecological mitigation area (EMA) for the wetland
s lost due to Tin Shui Wai New Town
development.
The Hong Kong Wetland Park comprises a 10000 square metres (11,959.9 sq yd) visitor centre, Wetland Interactive World, and a 60 hectares (148.3 acre) Wetland Reserve. The Wetland Interactive World has themed exhibition galleries, a theatre, a souvenir shop, an indoor play area (swamp adventure) and a resource centre.
The park is best known recently for its slogan seen on MTR
stations, "Unroll the Hong Kong diverse green temptations"
and the Hong Kong Tourism Board
with a view to expanding the EMA to a wetland ecotourism attraction. After concluding that it was feasible to develop a Wetland Park at the EMA site without compromising its ecological mitigation functions and the development of the Wetland Park will also enhance the ecological function of the EMA to a conservation, education and tourism facility, the concerned parties started the Wetland Park Project, which is one of the Millennium projects by the Administrations.
In 2007 the park was one of five winners of the Awards for Excellence: Asia Pacific Competition, from the Urban Land Institute.
, civilization
and conservation
. Visitors can learn more about the native flora and fauna of Hong Kong through the animals and models displayed in the Living Wetland Gallery, such as False gharial
, mouse deer and green turtle.
The Wetland Reserve consists of re-created habitats designed for water fowls and other wildlife. The Wetland Discovery Centre, located in the Wetland Reserve, provides visitors more hands-on experience on local wetlands. Other facilities include Stream Walk, Succession Walk, Mangrove Boardwalk and three Bird Hides situated next to the fish pond, mudflat and riverside, leading visitors to venture habitats of wildlife such as Fiddler Crab
, Mudskipper
and the rare Black-faced Spoonbill
.
Pui Pui is a crocodile's name, which is a pun indicating that it came from Shan Pui River and is the apple of the public's eye.
On 29 August 2006 she was moved into her landscaped enclosure and can be easily viewed by the public. Pui Pui’s Home was designed to provide the reptile with a healthy and comfortable living environment.
The outdoor enclosure is 8 by, of which 70% is pool area. With a maximum depth of 1 metres (3.3 ft), the pool is landscaped with plants to provide sheltered areas, hiding places and basking areas for the reptile. Outdoor facilities include infra-red heaters, a heat pad and a weighing scale. Water in the pool is continuously circulated through a filtration system.
Wetlands Park is served by the MTR Light Rail, and the Wetland Park Stop
belongs to Zone 5A for single-ride ticket.
Tin Shui Wai
Tin Shui Wai is an area of Hong Kong, located in Yuen Long District, in the northwestern part of the New Territories. Originally a gei wai fish pond area, the ponds were reclaimed for the development of Tin Shui Wai New Town in the late 1980s...
, in Yuen Long
Yuen Long
Yuen Long , formerly Un Long, is an area and town located in the northwest of Hong Kong, on the Yuen Long Plain. To its west lie Hung Shui Kiu and Ha Tsuen, to the south Shap Pat Heung and Tai Tong, to the east Au Tau and Kam Tin, and to the north Nam Sang Wai.-Name:The Cantonese name Yuen Long 元朗...
. It was to be an ecological mitigation area (EMA) for the wetland
Wetland
A wetland is an area of land whose soil is saturated with water either permanently or seasonally. Wetlands are categorised by their characteristic vegetation, which is adapted to these unique soil conditions....
s lost due to Tin Shui Wai New Town
Tin Shui Wai New Town
Tin Shui Wai New Town is located in northwestern New Territories of Hong Kong. It is a part of the Yuen Long District, and is the second new town in Yuen Long and the eighth in Hong Kong. It is situated 25 kilometres due north-west of Central, Hong Kong on land reclaimed from low lying areas south...
development.
The Hong Kong Wetland Park comprises a 10000 square metres (11,959.9 sq yd) visitor centre, Wetland Interactive World, and a 60 hectares (148.3 acre) Wetland Reserve. The Wetland Interactive World has themed exhibition galleries, a theatre, a souvenir shop, an indoor play area (swamp adventure) and a resource centre.
The park is best known recently for its slogan seen on MTR
MTR
Mass Transit Railway is the rapid transit railway system in Hong Kong. Originally opened in 1979, the system now includes 211.6 km of rail with 155 stations, including 86 railway stations and 69 light rail stops...
stations, "Unroll the Hong Kong diverse green temptations"
History
In 1998, a project named International Wetland Park and Visitor Centre Feasibility Study was initiated by the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation DepartmentAgriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department
The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department , formerly Agriculture and Fisheries Department before 2001, of the Hong Kong Government is responsible for agriculture and fisheries in Hong Kong, conservation projects and issues, and managing the country parks and special areas...
and the Hong Kong Tourism Board
Hong Kong Tourism Board
The Hong Kong Tourism Board is a Government-subvented body founded in 2001. The Board replaced the Hong Kong Tourist Association established in 1957...
with a view to expanding the EMA to a wetland ecotourism attraction. After concluding that it was feasible to develop a Wetland Park at the EMA site without compromising its ecological mitigation functions and the development of the Wetland Park will also enhance the ecological function of the EMA to a conservation, education and tourism facility, the concerned parties started the Wetland Park Project, which is one of the Millennium projects by the Administrations.
In 2007 the park was one of five winners of the Awards for Excellence: Asia Pacific Competition, from the Urban Land Institute.
Facilities
Themed exhibition galleries with floor areas ranging from 250 to 1200 m² (299 to 1,435.2 ) showcase the importance of wetland on biodiversityBiodiversity
Biodiversity is the degree of variation of life forms within a given ecosystem, biome, or an entire planet. Biodiversity is a measure of the health of ecosystems. Biodiversity is in part a function of climate. In terrestrial habitats, tropical regions are typically rich whereas polar regions...
, civilization
Civilization
Civilization is a sometimes controversial term that has been used in several related ways. Primarily, the term has been used to refer to the material and instrumental side of human cultures that are complex in terms of technology, science, and division of labor. Such civilizations are generally...
and conservation
Habitat conservation
Habitat conservation is a land management practice that seeks to conserve, protect and restore, habitat areas for wild plants and animals, especially conservation reliant species, and prevent their extinction, fragmentation or reduction in range...
. Visitors can learn more about the native flora and fauna of Hong Kong through the animals and models displayed in the Living Wetland Gallery, such as False gharial
False gharial
The false gharial , also known as the Malayan gharial, false gavial, or Tomistoma is a freshwater crocodile of the Crocodylidae family with a very thin and elongated snout...
, mouse deer and green turtle.
Fiddler crab
A fiddler crab, sometimes known as a calling crab, may be any of approximately 100 species of semi-terrestrial marine crabs which make up the genus Uca. As members of the family Ocypodidae, fiddler crabs are most closely related to the ghost crabs of the genus Ocypode. This entire group is composed...
, Mudskipper
Mudskipper
Mudskippers are members of the subfamily Oxudercinae , within the family Gobiidae . They are completely amphibious fish, fish that can use their pectoral fins to walk on land...
and the rare Black-faced Spoonbill
Black-faced Spoonbill
The Black-faced Spoonbill has the most restricted distribution of all spoonbills, and it is the only one currently regarded as endangered. Confined to the coastal areas of eastern Asia, it seems that it was once common throughout its area of distribution...
.
Pui Pui Home
Pui Pui is a crocodile's name, which is a pun indicating that it came from Shan Pui River and is the apple of the public's eye.
On 29 August 2006 she was moved into her landscaped enclosure and can be easily viewed by the public. Pui Pui’s Home was designed to provide the reptile with a healthy and comfortable living environment.
The outdoor enclosure is 8 by, of which 70% is pool area. With a maximum depth of 1 metres (3.3 ft), the pool is landscaped with plants to provide sheltered areas, hiding places and basking areas for the reptile. Outdoor facilities include infra-red heaters, a heat pad and a weighing scale. Water in the pool is continuously circulated through a filtration system.
Transportation
Wetland Park Stop
The Wetland Park Stop is a MTR Light Rail stop. It is located at the ground of Wetland Park Road , between Hong Kong Wetland Park and Grandeur Terrace , in Tin Shui Wai, Yuen Long District. It began service on 7 December 2003 and belongs to Zone 5A.-Neighbouring stops:-See also:*Hong Kong Wetland...
belongs to Zone 5A for single-ride ticket.
Routes
- 705: Tin Shui Wai Circular (Counter-Clockwise)
- 706: Tin Shui Wai Circular (Clockwise)
- 761P: Yuen Long to Tin Wing (Limited service: departing from each termini every 30 minutes 1000-1500 daily)
See also
- Nam Sang WaiNam Sang WaiNam Sang Wai is a wetland area to the north of Yuen Long, in Hong Kong.-Geography:Nam Sang Wai covers a roughly triangular area. It is bordered by the Shan Pui River in the west, separating it from Yuen Long Industrial Estate, the Kam Tin River in the east and a branch of the Kam Tin River in the...
- List of buildings and structures in Hong Kong
- Hong Kong Country Parks & Special Areas