Hong Kong’s Top 10 : Places for Children

by



NOTE


  1. Ocean Park

    “Connecting
    people with nature” is what it’s all about at Ocean Park. The Giant
    Panda Habitat, Atoll Reef, Sea Jelly Spectacular and Dolphin University
    exhibits will keep children engrossed for hours. Older kids will love
    the supervised sessions where you can touch some of the animals. The
    park also features around 20 exciting rides, including the Mine Train
    rollercoaster and Raging River ride, which are located in Adventure Land .




    Ocean Park

  2. Science Museum

    There
    is lots of hands-on stuff here, providing a fun and educational
    introduction to many facets of science. Any child with a healthy dose of
    curiosity will spend hours pushing buttons, pulling levers and
    marvelling at gadgets.

  3. Zoological and Botanical Gardens

    Founded
    in 1864, a modicum of Victorian gentility survives here in the
    wrought-iron bandstand and shrub-lined paths. Not, however, in the
    monkey house, where the world’s largest collection of red-cheeked
    gibbons shriek and swing and copulate. Be prepared for some judicious
    covering of young eyes. Also jaguars, leopards, kangaroos and 280
    species of birds.

    • Upper Albert Rd, Central

    • 6am–7pm daily

    • Free




    Jaguar, Zoological Gardens

  4. Dolphin Watching

    Be
    quick, because the sorry state of Hong Kong waters is fast killing off
    the rare Chinese white dolphins, which here in the Pearl River delta are
    pale pink.

    Hong Kong Dolphinwatch

    • 1528A Star House, Tsim Sha Tsui

    • 2984 1414

    • Bus pick-up 8:20am at Mandarin Oriental in Central and 8:50am at Kowloon Hotel TST

    • Wed, Fri, Sun

    • Adm

  5. Hong Kong Disneyland

    The
    mighty mouse wisely used feng shui in the design of his latest Asian
    venture, but otherwise there are few nods to local culture.
    Adventureland, Fantasyland and Tomorrowland lie beyond Main Street, USA.

    • Lantau Island, served by its own MTR station

    • 330 830
      for hours and today’s tickets


    • park.hongkongdisneyland.com for advance booking (recommended)

    • Adm

  6. Lions Nature Education Centre

    The
    Lions Nature Education Centre is actually much more fun than it sounds.
    There are fruit orchards, an arboretum, rock gardens and, best of all,
    an insectarium. Big brothers will find plenty of interesting
    creepy-crawlies with which to scare little sisters.

    • Tsiu Hang, Sai Kung, New Territories

    • 2792 2234

    • 9:30am–5pm. Closed Tue

    • Free

  7. Ngong Ping

    The
    spectacular 25-minute cable car journey from the hustle and bustle of
    the city, across open water and up the steep hillside from Tung Chung to
    the Big Buddha at Po Lin is the best funfair ride in town .

    Lantau Island

    • Adm

  8. Tram Tour

    Rock,
    rattle and roll along the front of Hong Kong Island, or take a detour
    around Happy Valley. Hong Kong’s trams may be crowded, slow and noisy,
    but they are terrific for sightseeing .




    Peak tram



    Old-fashioned tram

  9. Kowloon Park

    The
    green lungs of Tsim Sha Tsui have a huge indoor-outdoor swimming pool
    and lots of gardens to wander about. There’s also an aviary.

  10. Snoopy’s World

    Good
    grief! Hang out with the famous beagle and his hapless master Charlie
    Brown in this colourful tribute to the late Charles Schulz’s much-loved
    comic strip. Two-metre (6-ft) high mechanical characters and 60 other
    Peanuts figures inhabit the playground.

    • L3 Podium, New Town Plaza, Sha Tin, New Territories

    • 2684 9175

    • 10am–8pm

    • Free