A built-environment and nature walk through HK

Sunday, January 21, 2018
Hong Kong Island, Hong Kong
Saturday I showed up for the 2nd of my AirBnB tour experiences - a nature walk through modern Hong Kong which included substantial architectural, bird aviary, and zoo involvement as well.
So, I am in the land of high-rise buildings and skyscrapers (technically, a skyscraper is 100 meters or 328 tall or more). Hong Kong has more tall buildings than any other city on this planet - almost 8000 of them. And you thought New York was saturated! - NO - they only have about 4000! (These facts brought to you by Big Bus Tours, and I believe them).
Hong Kong used to have the largest skyscraper, but in the last 3 years there are other cities with taller ones. But still. People live and work in really tall buildings here.
So yes, it is weird to be walking around all these extremely tall buildings, and then come across these narrow little alleys where they are serving noodles and dim sum (perhaps illegally Angie says - there are Chinese Mafia who get protection money). This city has ying and yang contrasts out the wazoo. You'll see. I have pictures.
But back to nature - yes, there are some great natural areas here in the city as Alfred, our intrepid tour guide, showed us. And by the way, on this Honk Kong side of the city it is very hilly - like San Francisco style hilly (well, Stephanie from SF says HK is hillier). But there are great staircases for you to climb to get to those natural parks.
We wandered through the bird aviary with other locals out for a Saturday nature walk. Lots of parents and their children. We also wandered through a small zoo that had monkeys and orangutangs. Then we wandered through narrow streets that would have a small city park around the corner. And we finished up at a noodle shop, where I got "take away" for my dinner that night. I was kind of caught up in the sight seeing  (and not so much the picture taking) - so thank you Alfred, it really was  great 3 hour tour, that topped a very full and satisfying day.
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Comments

Bill
2018-01-24

How are the old men in the parks early in the morning? Still doing tai chi? or that exercise with the long sticks in a little bit of green with those tall buildings promising shade the rest of the day? The pictures above here remind me of bird's nest soup.

2025-02-06

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