The weather turns cooler, and it heralds the arrival of the fall. Yet, people often say the seasonal changes in Hong Kong is subtle, as even in winter, trees are still verdant; flowers are still blooming. This is also why some HongKongers like to go abroad to admire maple leaves in this season. But unfortunately, the current pandemic has made travelling less possible – but not to worry! There are still plenty of secret gardens of red leaves creeping in Hong Kong from November to February.
The red foliage gardens can be found in the suburbs, which is a perfect destination for an autumn getaway in the warm sunlight. You may also find them downtown, in a small park next to the building where you live or work. Take a day off and visit the autumn foliage! It could be one of the best ways to start the new season. Here are five spots for you.
New Territories
Tai Tong Sweet Gum Woods
Tai Tong in Yuen Long is a must-see if you are enthusiastic about the red foliage. During autumn and winter, the large field of sweet gum forest turns from green to red, which would definitely be a visual enjoyment to you. Also, Tai Tong’s sweet gum trees are relatively shorter in height, so you can easily find yourself immersing in an autumn foliage world. With flat mountain trails and the nearby Reservoir Islands Viewpoint, Tai Tong absolutely deserves an autumn visit.
Location: Tai Tong Shan Rd, Tai Tong Yuen Long, Hong Kong
Tsing Yi Park
If only on the magnificence of red leaves, Tsing Yi Park may not be comparable with Tai Tong. Still, the red foliage in Tsing Yi has its unique beauty. Despite a row of cypresses with red leaves, you may also notice the artificial lake at Tsing Yi Park, which with its marvellous view, gives the park the compliments of “The Hong Kong version of the Canadian lake view”. Unlike Tai Tong, Tsing Yi Park is in the urban area, which is only a five-minute walk from Tsing Yi MTR Station. For those who are eager to admire red leaves but are usually busy, it may be a more convenient place to visit.
Location: 60 Tsing King Rd, Tsing Yi, Hong Kong
Kowloon
Kent Road Garden
If you don’t like the noisiness and crowds, but prefer enjoying the red leaves by yourself quietly, Kent Road Garden is the perfect place for you. Hidden in a cluster of buildings in Kowloon Tong, the Ken Road Garden is hailed as “the Secret Garden of Kowloon Tong.” Although it is not particularly spacious, there are some facilities for people to rest, such as a pavilion and some wooden chairs. If you are tired of the hustle and bustle of the city, it will be nice to spend some relaxing time there and get reinvigorated.
Location: Kent Road Garden, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong
Kowloon Walled City Park
Many people know Kowloon Walled City Park because of its historical significance and its antique Jiangnan landscape. Nevertheless, there is still a Red Leaf Path that you should not miss. Just as its name implies, this path is flanked by plants with red leaves in the autumn and winter season to highlight the seasons’ unique colors. You can also find more than one species of red leaf plant here. In addition to sweet gums, there are mountain tallow trees, queen crepe myrtles, and so on. With red foliage and quaint pavilions in the park, you will feel like walking in the autumn of ancient times.
Location: Kowloon Walled City Park, Kowloon City, Hong Kong
Hong Kong Island
Hong Kong Zoological and Botanical Gardens
As Kowloon Walled City Park has its Red Leaf Path, there is an Avenue of Sweet Gum at Hong Kong Zoological and Botanical Gardens. The dozen or so sweet gum trees have been standing in the park for a long time. Their age makes them more massive and burlier than those in other parts of Hong Kong. In the autumn and winter season, when their leaves turn red as the temperature falls, the avenue of red leaves will be formed by the red foliage flying all over the air and those on the grounds. On your weekends, you might as well pay a visit to this garden, to appreciate the birds and mammals there, and enjoy the burst of reds.
Location: Albany Rd, Central, Hong Kong
Tips for Red Leaves in Hong Kong
Red leaves in Hong Kong do not come from maple trees, so we don’t call them maple leaves. As mentioned above, most of the red leaves we can see in Hong Kong are from sweet gum trees, followed by species such as bald cypress. Although their shapes are different from maple leaves, they also turn red in autumn and winter, whose beauty would not be inferior to maple leaves either.
As the green leaves turn red after the temperature drops, therefore, the color-changing time of the leaves varies each year. If you want to appreciate the red leaves while doing your autumn hiking, do look for more information online first!