One of the city's few "green lungs", the Zoological and Botanical Gardens were founded in 1864 and opened to the public in 1871, and are now managed by the municipal authorities. They lie near the centre of Victoria, not far from the Peak Tram lower station.
The Botanical Garden covers an area of 5.4 hectares/13 acres and offers an excellent overview of tropical and subtropical flora, with over 1,000 species of trees, shrubs and plants (fig-trees, palms, rubber trees, conifers and a great variety of flowers). Labels give information about their place of origin, habitat and characteristics. A bronze statue of King George VI was erected in commemoration of the 100th anniversary of British colonial rule over Hong Kong (1841-1941, learn more via Hong Kong travel guide).
Adjoining the Botanical Garden is the Zoological Garden, established after the Second World War, which has one of the largest collections of birds (some 250 species, including a number of endangered species), together with monkeys, jaguars, pumas, cranes, flamingos and various smaller species. An important responsibility of the Zoo is the breeding of animals in captivity in order to ensure the survival of endangered species. Its successes in this field have given it an international reputation.
2. St John's Cathedral
St John's Cathedral is the main Anglican cathedral in Hong Kong and is the head church for Hong Kong Island and the seat of the islands Archbishop. The cathedral is the oldest surviving Western ecclesiastical building in Hong Kong, and the oldest Anglican church in the Far East, with its construction completed in 1849.
Open: 7.15am-6.30pm Mon, Tue, Fri & Sat; 9.30am-5.15pm Wed, 8.30am-1.15pm Thu and 8am-6.30pm Sun.
3. Antiques Street
Hollywood Road was the first street in Hong Kong and should not be missed for Hong Kong tours. Shortly after the British arrived here in 1841, a substantial Chinese residential and commercial district known as Tai Ping Shan sprang up in the area and quickly became the centre of the Chinese community. In those days, foreign merchants and sailors would put up the antiques and artefacts they had "collected" from China for sale here on their way back to Europe. This is how Hollywood Road began its role as an antique market.
4. Statue Square
This square was built at the end of the 19th century. The idea of a square of statues dedicated to royalty was conceived by Sir Catchick Paul Chater. It derives its name from the fact that it originally contained the statue of Queen Victoria (one of famous Hong Kong attractions), as the square's name in Chinese testifies. Statues of Prince Albert, Edward VII were added between 1876 and 1902. The statue of Victoria was ordered to commemorate the Golden Jubilee of the monarch in 1887, should never have been made in bronze, but in marble, an error that wasn't picked up until the bronze statue was almost completed. A statue of Sir Thomas Jackson, the chief manager of the Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation was unveiled on February 24, 1906. These statues (except for the statue of Jackson), together with the two bronze lions in front of the HSBC building, were displaced to Japan to be melted by the occupying Japanese during World War II but were brought back to Hong Kong after the war. Sir Thomas Jackson's now stands roughly in the middle of the square, facing the Former Supreme Court Building.
5. Walking Tour around Central
For any new comers to Hong Kong who wishes to discover Hong Kong island or visitors who have nothing to do in the morning: Do the walking tour of Central District. You can get to see the spectacular tall buildings in this area and watch people rushing off to work. Just bring a camera to take lots of photos. Depending on how long you stop to admire the buildings, it would roughly take 2-3h.
Start from the Central Pier, walk down the overhead walkway to the General Post Office and Exchange Square, cross over to Chater House, escalator down, walk east to Statue Square, cross over to Legislative Council, walk east to Charter Garden.
At Charter Garden, you'll see Lippo Tower, Bank of China Tower, Citibank Plaza etc.
Walk along Des Vouex Road west ward to HSBC. See the lobby of HSBC and its elegant Lion statues. Walk west towards Li Yuen Street to see the street markets. Along the way, you would see many stalls, trams passing by, people rushing to everywhere.
To conclude the walking tour, take the Mid Level escalators all the way to the top.
If you want to have popular China tours, you should not miss Hong Kong.
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