Route 7 - Junction of Magazine Gap Road and Peak Road－Peak Road (Gough Hill Path Children's Playground) Flashcards
(4 cards)
Route 7 - Points to mention
(Junction of Magazine Gap Road and Peak Road－Peak Road (Gough Hill Path Children’s Playground))
(this section ends at Gough Hill Path Children’s Playground.
2 Bulletpoints - 7-10 minutes (Need to prepare more backup/additional materials for contingencies)
- Aberdeen Country Park
- Common Plants in Hong Kong
- Common Wildlife in Hong Kong
Aberdeen Country Park
1. Location & Size (3)
2. Establishment (1)
3. Reservoirs (3)
4. Geographical Features (5)
6. Recreational Facilities (5)
7. Aberdeen Country Park Visitor Centre (3)
8. Vantage Points (1)
9. Accessibility (1)
4:45 minutes
1. Location & Size: (3)
* To your left, located on the southern slopes of Hong Kong Island is Aberdeen Country Park.
* It surrounds the Aberdeen Upper and Lower Reservoirs, and
* spans an area of approximately 423 hectares.
2. Established: (1)
* It was designated as a country park in 1977, making it one of the oldest country parks in Hong Kong.
3. Reservoirs: (3)
* The Lower Reservoir was built in 1890, and later extended in 1931while the
* Upper Reservoir was completed in 1932, making it the last reservoir built on the island.
* Together, they have a combined capacity of 12.5 million cubic meters.
4. Geographic Features: (5)
* The park stretches from Wan Chai Gap in the North to Aberdeen and Wong Chuk Hang in the South.
* It includes four Mountains (Mount Nikko, Cameron Hill, Tin Wan Hill, and Banner Hill), and…
* It offers scenic hiking trails and gentle paths, ideal for both hikers and casual walkers.
* Particularly in spring, the hillsides come alive with blooming flowers and vibrant greenery.
* This creates a peaceful and rejuvenating atmosphere.
5. Recreational Facilities: (5)
Aberdeen Country Park offers a range of recreational facilities, making it inclusive and enjoyable for all ages and abilities. Amenities include:
* Barbecue pits,
* Tai Chi movement charts,
* Children’s play areas,
* Fitness trails,
* Picnic areas designed for the physically disabled, unique among Hong Kong Island’s country parks
* Additionally, visitors can use the wheelchair trail to explore the countryside and enjoy the natural scenery.
6. Aberdeen Country Park Visitor Centre: (3)
At the heart of the park lies the Aberdeen Country Park Visitor Centre, which was
* first opened in 1978 and renovated in 2008.
* Now known as the “Tree Gallery”, the center features an educational model of a banyan tree, allowing visitors to explore tree parts like the trunk, bark, roots, leaves, flowers, and fruits.
* Exhibition panels highlight the importance of trees and their relationship with insects and the broader ecosystem.
7. Vantage Points: (1)
* The park offers scenic vantage points like Peak Road and Guildford Road, providing broad, intoxicating vistas of the Island.
8. Accessibility: (1)
* Thanks to its proximity to residential areas and convenient transport, it is popular among morning exercisers, dogwalkers and nearby residents, who consider it a “backyard garden” of Hong Kong Island.
Common Plants in Hong Kong
1. Introduction: Flora (3)
2. Plant Diversity (3)
3. Common Plant Communities (5)
4. Mango Trees (3)
5. Banyan Trees (3)
6. Cotton Trees (4)
3:30 minutes
1. Introduction: Flora (3)
* The entire area suffered significant damage during the Japanese occupation in World War II.
* The scenery seen today is the result of post-war reforestation and natural regeneration of woodlands.
* The forest features a diverse mix of broad-leaved trees, such as red bakelite, tea trees, duck foot trees, and crotons.
2. Plant Diversity: (3)
* Over 3,300 plant species have been recorded in Hong Kong, with around 2,100 being native.
* During the colonial era, the British introduced non-indigenous species to Hong Kong for a variety of practical, aesthetic, and economic purposes.
* Many of these introduced plants became integral parts of the landscape, while others turned invasive, posing a threat to native biodiversity.
3. Common Plant Communities: (5)
* Mangroves are found along coastal mudflats, with salt-tolerant species.
* Grasslands grow on open hillsides or in disturbed areas, dominated by tall grasses such as silvergrass.
* Woodlands are composed of dense natural forests, with native trees like camphor and banyan.
* Shrublands feature low-growing vegetation on hillsides and are often transitional zones between grasslands and forests.
* Feng Shui Forests are typically found behind ancient villages or near temples. These small but species-rich woodlands are protected by villagers to preserve feng shui, which allows many species to thrive.
4. Mango Trees: (3)
* Mango trees grow across Hong Kong, especially in parks converted from former military barracks, such as Kowloon Park and Hong Kong Park.
* Though rarely acknowledged, these trees were originally introduced by Sikhs and Punjabis who served in Hong Kong’s uniformed services.
* A fine example of mango trees can be found in the Tai Kwun Courtyard.
5. Banyan Trees: (3)
* Banyan trees are native to Hong Kong.
* They are ecologically important, providing shade, oxygen, nesting sites for birds, and are also a key part of feng shui landscapes.
* Notable examples include the northern side of Luggard Road at The Peak and along Hollywood Road.
6. Cotton Trees: (4)
* Cotton trees bloom spectacularly from February to April, covering their branches with bright red-orange flowers before leaves emerge.
* They are known as “Hero Trees” in Chinese culture, symbolizing strength and resilience.
* Cotton trees are commonly planted along streets, in parks, and near schools.
* One notable example is Cotton Tree Drive, located in Central’s business district.
Common Wildlife in Hong Kong
(optional)
1. Introduction:
2. Mammals (4)
3. Birds (5)
4. Reptiles (2)
3 minutes
1. Introduction to Common Wildlife:
* Hong Kong’s unique location between tropical and temperate zones contributes to its rich biodiversity, supporting a wide range of wildlife across the city’s diverse habitats.
2. Mammals: (4)
* Bats make up half of all mammal species in Hong Kong, with many varieties inhabiting caves and forests.
* Rodents include species such as shrews, forest mice, and squirrels, which are commonly seen in country parks.
* Monkeys, particularly the Rhesus Macaques, inhabit the New Territories, with a population of around 2,000. Some groups were introduced from India and Southeast Asia to help control venomous snake populations.
* Among the larger mammals are the East Asian Porcupine, Wild Boar, and Barking Deer, which are widely distributed. While wild boars are native, they have become invasive in urban areas due to human feeding, leading to property damage and accidents.
3. Birds: (6)
* Hong Kong is home to over 570 bird species, accounting for one-third of China’s total.
* Among birds of prey, the Black Kite is the most common in Hong Kong and is often seen gliding above Victoria Harbour and country parks.
* Herons, including the Night Heron and Little Egret, are frequently found in wetlands such as Mai Po.
* Common resident birds include the Tree Sparrow, Magpie, Common Myna, and Red-whiskered Bulbul in urban areas, as well as the White-breasted Kingfisher in wetlands.
* Passage migrants, such as the Black-faced Spoonbill, Brown Shrike, and various ducks, waders, and passerines, are often observed in the Mai Po Wetlands during migration seasons.
4. Reptiles: (2)
* Among snakes, common species in Hong Kong include the Bamboo Pit Viper, Many-banded Krait, and Chinese Cobra.
* The largest snake is the Burmese Python, which can grow up to 5 meters long. Although not aggressive toward humans, they are sometimes found in urban areas, prompting rescue operations by the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD).
* Lizards are also a common sight in woodlands and country parks.
