Saturday 3 December 2016

Hong Kong more than just a city

A few years ago now I visited Hong Kong expecting to encounter a sprawling city and endless people, and although I wasn’t wrong to expect this I was pleasantly surprised as to just how much wildlife and protected areas Hong Kong had to offer.

The view over the New Territories area of Hong Kong

With a population of over 7 million people in an area just a third of the size of Cornwall there is inevitably a huge number of building and if you enjoy cityscape photography this has to be one of the top places to visit in the world.

The iconic skyline from 'The Peak'

Taken from Kowloon looking across the harbour to Hong Kong Island

The banking district at night on Hong Kong Island

Surprisingly over 3/4 of Hong Kong is actually countryside with the city itself being constricted to an area of high density high-rises, predominantly within the Kowloon District. In fact 40% of Hong Kong has been protected for wildlife and there are a total of 24 country parks that have been designated for the sole purposes of nature conservation.  This has provides a huge potential for wildlife and with a range of habitats from wetlands to mountains rising over 1000 meters there is a diverse array of both fauna and flora that can be accessed relatively easily just minutes from the bustle of the city. Although small, Hong Kong boasts an impressive 530 species of birds 1/3 of the total found across the whole of China, and with many of these so easy to see it is an excellent place both to enjoy and photography them as well as touch up on your ID skills.


Bluetroat (Luscinia svecica), seen in the flooded paddyfields

The low intensity agricultural area of Hong Kong
Painted Jezebel (Delias pasithoe)


Hong Kong is also an extremely important stopover point for migratory birds with millions using the wetlands of Hong Kong to feed whilst migrating along the East-Asian Australian Flyway. Many migratory birds pass through here on their way south, whilst some even spend their winter there before migrating back north again to breed. Whatever their migratory strategy Hong Kong's wetlands provide a vital food source for over 100 shorebird species that need to find food in an ever industrialising coastal China.


Black-winged stilt (Himantopus himantopus), taken at WWF's Mai Po nature reserve, where up to 40,000 birds can be found wintering every year!

However whether you within the mangrove swaps or at the top of the mountains you are never far away from the city and even in the middle of seeming wilderness can often here the low rumble of the never sleeping city. 

The view between the trees back to the city from 800 meters up in the mountains just before entering the bamboo forest

The huge population has put an extreme pressure on the wildlife that does call Hong Kong and the surrounding waters home. There is still an active wildlife trade with many of its sources being questionable at best and the live reef food fish trade although on the whole legal is still having a detrimental impact on the surrounding marine ecosystems as well as further a field. 


Live fish and shellfish can often be brought straight from the boats that were used to catch them that are found in their dozens moored along the harbour

One of the many Live Reef Fish Food Trade (LRFFT) markets that can be found in the New Territories alongside harbours.

Furthermore air pollution is becoming an ever worsening problem especially in the winter when winds blow of the continent from industrial China.

A smog shrouded view across to Hong Kong island

Despite all of the issue Hong Kong is facing it is a wonderful place to visit and full of culture as well as wildlife, being a field day for photographers of all subjects and I can highly recommend it. 


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