Route 7 - Junction of Magazine Gap Road and Peak Road－Peak Road (Gough Hill Path Children's Playground) Flashcards
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 Wildlife in Hong Kong
- Common Plants in Hong Kong
Aberdeen Country Park
1. Location & Size (3)
2. Establishment (1)
3. Reservoirs (3 + optional 4)
4. Geographical Features (5)
5. Flora & Fauna (6)
6. Recreational Facilities (5)
7. Aberdeen Country Park Visitor Centre (3)
8. Vantage Points (1)
9. Accessibility (2)
1. Location & Size: (3)
* Located on the southern slopes of Hong Kong Island.
* The park surrounds the Aberdeen Upper and Lower Reservoirs and
* spans an area of approximately 423 hectares.
2. Established: (1)
* Designated as a country park in 1977, making it one of the oldest country parks in Hong Kong.
3. Reservoirs: (3)
* Lower Reservoir was built in 1932, while the
* Upper Reservoir was completed in 2001, being last reservoir built on the island
* Combined capacity: 12.5 million cubic meters.
* (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 Sources. Hong 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.)
4. Geographic Features: (5)
* Stretches from Wan Chai Gap to Aberdeen & Wong Chuk Hang, and
* Includes (4) Mount Nikko, Cameron Hill, Tin Wan Hill, Banner Hill.
* It offers scenic hiking trails and gentle paths, ideal for both hikers and casual walkers,
* Particularly in spring, when the hillsides come alive with blooming flowers and vibrant greenery, creating a peaceful and rejuvenating atmosphere.
5. Flora & Fauna: (6)
* The whole 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.
* It features a diverse mix of broad-leaved trees such as red bakelite, woodlands, tea trees, duck foot trees, and crotons.
* Wildlife is also abundant, with birds like hawks, blackbirds, magpies, and Chinese bulbuls.
* Mammals such as squirrels and wild boars frequently seen.
* If you’re lucky, you might even spot a mongoose darting through the forest.
6. Recreational Facilities: (5)
Aberdeen Country Park offers a range of recreational facilities, making it inclusive and enjoyable for people of all ages and abilities. Amenities include (5):
* Barbecue pits,
* Tai Chi tables,
* Children’s play areas, and
* Fitness trails.
* Also, Aberdeen Country Park is the only country park on Hong Kong Island with a picnic area for the physically disabled.
* They can also use the wheelchair trail to explore the countryside and enjoy the natural scenery.
7. 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 the structure and function of tree parts such as the (6) trunk, bark, roots, leaves, flowers, and fruits.
* Exhibition panels explore the importance of trees and their relationship with insects and the broader ecosystem.
8. Vantage Points: (1)
* The park offers vantage points like Peak Road and Guildford Road, providing broad, intoxicating vistas of the Island.
9. Accessibility: (2)
* 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, 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.
Common Wildlife in Hong Kong
(optional)
1. Mammals (4)
2. Birds (6)
3. Reptiles (2)
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: (4)
* 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: (6)
* 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, Red-whiskered Bulbul in urban areas, and the white-breasted Kingfisher in the wetlands.
* Summer Visitors: Brown-winged, Roseate, Black-naped Tern, Hainan Blue Flycatcher, Scarlet Minivet (woodlands).
* Passage Migrants: Black-faced Spoonbill, Brown Shrike, ducks, waders, passerines in Mai Po Wetlands.
3. Reptiles: (2)
* Snakes (4): 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.
Common Plants in Hong Kong
1. Plant Diversity (3)
2. Common Plant Communities (5)
3. Mango Trees (3)
4. Banyan Trees (3)
5. Cotton Trees (4)
1. Plant Diversity: (3)
* 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: (5)
* Mangroves – Found along coastal mudflats; salt-tolerant plants like Kandelia and Aegiceras.
* Grasslands – Open hillsides or disturbed areas; dominated by tall grasses like silvergrass.
* Woodlands – Dense, natural forests with native trees such as camphor and banyan.
* Shrublands – Low-growing shrubs on hillsides; often transitional zones between grasslands and forests.
* Feng Shui Forests: 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.
3. Mango Trees: (3)
* 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: (3)
* 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 of Luggard Road at the Peak; along Hollywood Road.
5. Cotton Trees: (4)
* Cotton Trees bloom spectacularly from February to April, covering branches with bright red-orange flowers before the leaves appear.
* Known as “Hero Trees” in Chinese culture, as they symbolize strength and resilience.
* Commonly planted along streets, parks, and near schools; famous viewing spots include Tai Po, Yuen Long, and Sheung Shui.
* There is even a Cotton Tree Drive in CBD.
