Hong Kong Wetland Park
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Hong Kong Wetland Park (Traditional Chinese: 香港濕地公園) is a world-class conservation, education and tourism facilities, located at the northern part of Tin Shui Wai, in Yuen Long. It was intended to be an ecological mitigation area (EMA) for the wetlands lost due to Tin Shui Wai New town development.
In 1998, a project named International Wetland Park and Visitor Centre Feasibility Study was initiated by the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department 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 intended ecological mitigation functions and the development of the Wetland Park will also enhance the ecological function of the EMA to a world-class conservation, education and tourism facility, the concerned parties started the Wetland Park Project, which is one of the Millennium projects by the Administrations.
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[edit] Overview
The Hong Kong Wetland Park comprises a 10,000 square meter large visitor centre, Wetland Interactive World, and a 60-hectare 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 themed exhibition galleries with gross floor area ranging from 250 meter square to 1,200 meter square showcase the importance of wetland on biodiversity, civilization and conservation. Visitors can learn more on wildlife, which are native to Hong Kong and other parts of the world, through the animals and models displayed in the Living Wetland Gallery.Such as False gharial,mouse deer and green turtle, etc.
The Wetland Reserve is a constructed wetlands of re-created habitats specially designed for waterfowls 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 lead visitors to venture different habitats of various wildlife such as Fiddler Crab, Mudskipper and rare Black-faced Spoonbill.
[edit] Objectives
- To demonstrate the diversity of Hong Kong's wetland ecosystem and highlight the need to conserve them;
- To create a visitor attraction of international status, catering both for the general public and visitors, and also for those with special interest in wildlife and ecology;
- To provide an attraction which will diversify the range of visitor experience in Hong Kong for visitors from abroad;
- To serve the recreational needs of local residents of the adjoining urban areas in the Northwest New Territories;
- To provide a facility that will both complement and supplement those offered at the Mai Po Marshes Nature Reserve;
- To provide opportunities for education and public awareness.
[edit] Pui Pui's Home
The Hong Kong Wetland Park is also the permanent home of the crocodile Pui Pui, caught in the nearby Shan Pui River in 2004. Pui Pui is female and estimated to be born in 2000. Her 72-square-meter outdoor enclosure incorporating pool area is beautifully landscaped and equipped with infra-red heaters, a heat pad and a weighing scale. She moved to her permanent home for observation from Kadoorie Farm on 15th August 2006, after two weeks she was finally released into her pool for public viewing.
[edit] Transportation
Wetlands Park is served by the KCR Light Rail, and the Wetlands station belongs to Zone 5A for single-ride ticket.
[edit] Routes
- 705: Tin Shui Wai Circular (Anti-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)
[edit] Gallery
 Main entrance |
 Various sculptures are located near the entrance |
 Visitor Centre |
 Visitors sight-seeing on the bridge |
