Although not as central as Hong Kong Park, the lovely Zoological and Botanical Gardens  are equally appealing as a retreat from the rigours of traffic, crowds and city sightseeing. Once harbour views would have added to their charm, but since the Gardens were opened in 1864 the waterfront panorama has been replaced with ranks of mirror- and glass-fronted skyscrapers (views of the Bank of China Tower from here are especially good). 

Pathways thread through banks of shrubs, trees and semi-tropical plants, taking in a large aviary en route, whose 300 or more species of birds include cranes, toucans, flamingos and other exotica. The aviary has achieved particular renown as a breeding centre, helping save many species on the edge of extinction. There is also a greenhouse complex, among whose highlights are various insectivorous plants such as the Venus fly-trap. During your ambles be sure to look out for the statue of Sir Arthur Kennedy, the ground-breaking British governor(1872-7) - he was the first to invite the Chinese to official functions. 

The gardens are twinned with a zoo to the west, (reached via an under-pass), a considerably less appealing proposition, thanks mainly to the relatively poor conditions in which animals are kept. The cages and conditions were improved in 1996, but matters are still far from satisfactory.