Route 7 - Junction of Magazine Gap Road and Peak Road－Peak Road (Gough Hill Path Children's Playground)

Question 1

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 - 10 minutes

Answer 1

1. Aberdeen Country Park
2. Common Wildlife and Plants in Hong Kong

Question 2

Aberdeen Country Park

Answer 2

1. Location: Southern Hong Kong Island

2. Size: 423 hectares

3. Established: Designated as a country park in 1977, making it one of the oldest country parks in Hong Kong.

4. Historical Background:
* The area suffered significant damage during the Japanese occupation in World War II.
* The beautiful scenery which visitors see today is the combined result of post-war reforestation and natural regeneration of woodlands.

5. Key Features:
* Aberdeen Reservoirs: Encompasses the Upper and Lower Aberdeen Reservoirs, completed in 1931, with a combined storage capacity of 12.5 million cubic meters. They were the last two reservoirs built by the government on Hong Kong Island. There are a number of reasons why Hong Kong Island has 7 reservoirs (1. Pok Fu Lam Reservoir, Tai Tam Reservoir System (4), Aberdeen Reservoir System (2):
* Limited Natural Freshwater SourcesHong Kong Island has no major rivers or natural lakes, making it difficult to sustain the water needs of the population without artificial reservoirs.
* Seasonal Rainfall Variability – Hong Kong experiences distinct wet and dry seasons. Reservoirs were needed to store rainwater during the wet season for use in the dry season.
* Strategic Water Security – Ensuring a self-sufficient water supply was crucial, especially before Hong Kong started importing water from mainland China’s Dongjiang River in 1965.
* Aberdeen Tree Centre: The first thematic education centre featuring trees and promoting tree conservation, offering interactive displays and educational resources about trees.

6. Facilities:
* Nature education trails
* Tree study trails
* Children’s discovery trails
* Fitness trails
* Tai Chi area
* Hiking trails
* Barbecue sites
* Aberdeen Country Park is the only country park on Hong Kong Island with a picnic area for the physically disabled. Disabled visitors can use the wheelchair trail to explore the countryside and enjoy natural scenery.

7. Accessibility:
* Apart from the better known portal in Aberdeen, you can enter the country park from a few other places : Black’s Link in Wanchai Gap, Aberdeen Reservoir Road in Wanchai Gap, Lady Clementi’s Ride on Nam Fung Road and Peel Rise at the Peak.
* Due to its proximity to residential areas and convenient transportation, it’s popular among morning exercisers and nearby residents, considered a “backyard garden” by Hong Kong Island residents.

8. Additional Information:
* The park offers vantage points like Peak Road and Guildford Road, providing broad, intoxicating vistas of the Island.

Aberdeen Country Park is a testament to Hong Kong’s commitment to preserving natural spaces, offering a blend of historical significance and recreational facilities for visitors of all ages.

Question 3

Common Wildlife in Hong Kong

Answer 3

Hong Kong’s unique position between tropical and temperate zones contributes to its rich biodiversity, making it a vibrant habitat for a wide array of wildlife and plant species.

1. Mammals
* Bats – Half of Hong Kong’s mammal species.
* Rodents – Includes shrews, forest mice, squirrels (common in country parks).
* Monkeys – Rhesus Macaques (mainly NT; population ~2,000). Some populations were introduced from India and Southeast Asia to control venomous snake populations.
* Large Mammals – East Asian Porcupine, Wild Boar, Barking Deer (widely distributed). Wild boars (while native) have become invasive in urban settings due to human feeding, leading to accidents and property damage.

2. Birds (570+ species, 1/3 of China’s total)
Birds of Prey: Black Kite – Hong Kong’s most common bird of prey, often seen soaring above Victoria Harbour and country parks.
Herons – Includes Night Herons and Little Egrets, commonly found in wetlands.
Resident Birds:
* Tree Sparrow, Magpie, Common Myna, Night Heron, Red-whiskered Bulbul (urban areas).
* White-breasted Kingfisher, Little Egret (wetlands).
Summer Visitors:
* Brown-winged, Roseate, Black-naped Tern (eastern islands).
* Hainan Blue Flycatcher, Scarlet Minivet (woodlands).
Passage Migrants:
* Black-faced Spoonbill, Brown Shrike, ducks, waders, passerines (Mai Po Wetlands).

3. Reptiles
* Snakes: Common species include Bamboo Pit Viper, Many-banded Krait, Chinese Cobra. The largest is the Burmese Python (up to 5 m long; Though they are not aggressive toward humans, they are occasionally found in urban areas, leading to rescue operations by the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD).)
* Lizards: Found in woodlands and country parks.

Question 4

Plants in Hong Kong

Answer 4

1. Plant Diversity:
3,300 species recorded, 2,100 native. The British introduced non-indigenous species to Hong Kong for several reasons, including practical, aesthetic, and economic purposes. Many of these introduced species became important parts of Hong Kong’s landscape, while others turned invasive, affecting native biodiversity.

2. Common Plant Communities
Shrublands:
* Dwarf Mountain Pine (Baeckea frutescens)
* Rose Myrtle (Rhodomyrtus tomentosa)
* Hong Kong Gordonia (Polyspora axillaris)

Secondary Forests:
* Euphorbiaceae, Sapotaceae, Lauraceae families.

Grasslands:
* Arundinella, Miscanthus, Cymbopogon.

3. Mango Trees:
* Grow across Hong Kong, especially in Hong Kong parks that are converted from former Barracks (Kowloon Park, Hong Kong Park)
* Though it’s rarely acknowledged nowadays, they owe their existence to Sikhs and Punjabis who came to the city to staff its uniformed services.
* Fine example: Tai Kwun Courtyard

4. Banyan Trees:
* Native to Hong Kong
* Important in Hong Kong’s ecology, providing shade, oxygen, and nesting sites for birds while also playing a role in traditional feng shui landscapes.
* Fine example: Northern side ofLuggard Road at the Peak; along Hollywood Road

5. Feng Shui-Forest:
Behind ancient villages or near temples, there are often small but species-rich “feng shui woods.” Villagers protect these forests to preserve local feng shui, allowing many species to thrive in these woodlands.