Hong Kong Wetland Park

Location: In Yuen Long, in the far northwest of Hong Kong

Fact file:

• Opened to the public in 2006, the Hong Kong Wetland Park consists of a visitors’ centre, various boardwalks, bird hides and other hands-on facilities. These reopened on 18 February 2021 after temporary closure on account of the pandemic. In a normal year, the park sees almost half a million visitors.

• The area is home to a wealth of freshwater plants, plus a huge range of wildlife, including birds, butterflies, amphibians, fish, crabs and dragonflies. Mini quiz: Three of the wetlands’ creatures are the Blue-spotted Crow, Eastern Lilysquatter and Stejneger’s Stonechat; identify the bird, butterfly and dragonfly among that list. ( Answer: Butterfly, dragonfly, bird.)

• In August 2017, the park recorded Hong Kong’s highest maximum temperature: 39 degrees Celsius.

What else?

The park is home to Pui Pui, Hong Kong’s famous saltwater crocodile. Captured in 2004 as a four-year-old in the Shan Pui River by the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department, Pui Pui was first homed at Kadoorie Farm, before coming permanently to the Wetland Park in 2006.