Your guide to Hong Kong’s nature reserves

Sitting in the northwestern corner of Hong Kong, the Mai Po Nature Reserve is a patchwork of mudflats, mangroves, and marshes that provides an ideal habitat for waterbirds, amphibians, as well as aquatic and terrestrial plants. This is biodiversity at its finest!

While there are many sights to behold, the vast array of birds is what people come from wide and far to see, so it is no surprise that the best time to visit Mai Po for bird-watching is during the winter months when migratory birds flock from the north to this ecologically diverse wetland to roost and refuel, forming an extraordinary avian spectacle.

Among the 400-plus species of feathered creatures that make this place their seasonal home, some noteworthy residents include the iconic black-faced spoonbill, Saunders’s gull, and Nordmann’s greenshank.

The reserve does not accommodate walk-ins, but guided eco-visits organised by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) are available to the public for booking. Top choices include the mangrove boardwalk adventure, which takes visitors on a floating boardwalk tour through a beautiful mangrove forest, and Exploring Mai Po, a serene walk through the shrimp pond, bird hides, reed bed, and rain-fed ponds.

Venture into the northern part of Tin Shui Wai and you will find this picturesque 60-hectare wetland reserve teeming with birds, insects, amphibians, fish, native plant species, and everything in between that a wildlife lover could desire to see.

Unlike the tranquil and relatively untamed Mai Po Nature Reserve, Hong Kong Wetland Park is a higher profile eco-tourism facility. Alongside mangrove swamps and grassy marshes are well-designed boardwalks and a myriad of indoor exhibits that visitors can duck into for some cooling off when the weather outside is swelteringly hot, making this well-preserved wetland park a hotspot for family day trips and school outings.

There is no shortage of stunning sights to see around the park, but what steals our attention are the bird hides, as well as the famous “Pui Pui,” a saltwater crocodile first found in Shan Pui River in Yuen Long, who now permanently resides in the park. What’s more? The spot is easily accessible via the light rail from Tin Shui Wai Station and only costs $30 per entrance!

If your idea of a relaxing weekend involves immersing yourself in a woodsy escape surrounded by lush greenery, then Tai Po Kau Nature Reserve is the place for you. Since its reforestation after the Second World War, the once-barren site has become Hong Kong’s most mature secondary forest, boasting 460 hectares of densely forested woodland, small yet idyllic streams, and an abundance of flora and fauna, including over half of the amphibians recorded in Hong Kong.

Rejuvenate with the comforting sounds of trickling streams and lungfuls of unmistakably clean air as you hike one of their four colour-coded walks of varying lengths—red, blue, brown, and yellow. The red and blue walks are the shortest and can be completed in under two hours while the yellow walk takes closer to three hours. The paths are relatively flat, and there is ample shade along the way to keep you cool—perfect for an easy family stroll. Plus, if you are a night hiker, you may even spot fireflies illuminating the forest!

We are not monkeying around when we say that this is a haven for animal lovers. Nicknamed “Monkey Hill”, the main draw of this mountainous woodland in northern Kowloon is its staggering population of monkeys roaming freely across the park. Despite its proximity to the city, the macaque kingdom flourishes with wildlife.

Primates aside, you may be surprised to learn that the park is also inhabited by boars and squirrels (although the latter tends to scamper away before they can be spotted). Other highlights include four scenic reservoirs and astounding relics from the Second World War such as trenches, tunnels, and pillboxes.

To explore the area, choose from one of the numerous trails available—the Kam Shan Family Walk and the Kam Shan Tree Walk are great for a casual scenic walk with little ones, while the trails skirting Kowloon Reception Reservoir and Shek Lei Pui Reservoir are ideal for jogging. A word of advice for when you visit: look after your belongings and keep any food out of sight, as the monkeys can be feisty and are notorious for snatching from unwary visitors.