Writer Liu Kexiang said in the book "Three Quarters of Hong Kong": "Because of hiking through the mountains and villages, I was lucky enough to encounter a hidden version of Hong Kong, a Hong Kong that is more unique and charming than shopping and food."
Central People in suits and leather suits are clanging, and people are walking in a hurry, while tourists holding mobile phones are looking around. They often cannot find north in the 8D three-dimensional downtown of Hong Kong Island, but as long as we walk through the mountains, we can feel another kind of "Hong Kong" - south. district.
△The Central Market, which has a history of over 170 years, has been revitalized into a popular place for young people. This was once a paradise for photography enthusiasts. Photographers such as He Fan, Zhong Wenlue, Qiu Liang, Mai Feng, and Zhao Xianzao all used the terrazzo stairs in the market to take pictures.
This is a place that is often ignored by Hong Kong tourists. As the largest area among the four districts of Hong Kong Island, there are no large shopping malls, pedestrian streets and internet celebrity check-in points here, but it is half a mountain and half a sea. It is very romantic and has many buildings. Houses facing the sea and backed by mountains include public housing dating back to the 1970s, Repulse Bay villas where wealthy people gather, yachts and traditional boats parked in typhoon shelters, and the nearly 50-year-old Hong Kong Ocean Park... ...
△The red dotted line is the Southern District of Hong Kong, integrating the city, mountains, forests, and sea. (Picture/Google Maps)
The "20-minute rule in the park" has become popular recently. Studies have shown that spending 20 minutes in the park every day will improve people's mood. Then on the weekend, spend two days in the mountains and sea in the southern district of Hong Kong, and you will gain a new self.
There is no ceiling, and the vacation feeling is super chill
About 70% of Hong Kong’s land is covered with green, so that people can take a break from the heavy work at any time, stay away from the prosperity and hustle and bustle of the city, break into the mountains and feel a little vitality in nature. .
South Zone is one of the best choices.
You can go for jogging and fitness in the 423-hectare Aberdeen Country Park. The Aberdeen Reservoir here is surrounded by lush green woods. The water surface is like a mirror and the scenery is very pleasant.
△In Repulse Bay, puppies have their own “parking space” and it’s free. (Picture/Sister Sun, an enthusiastic citizen)
You can also go to Nam Long Mountain and Yuk Kwai Mountain to climb up and enjoy the distance, go to Big Wave Bay to experience the joy of surfing, and go to Chung Hom Kok, Deep Water Bay, Central Bay Beach, Repulse Bay... .Bask in the sun and be in a daze.
I like to relax in Shek O. The sea water is clear and the quietness has a sense of relaxation. I can also check out the filming spots in Stephen Chow’s classic movie "The King of Comedy" and earn money for the "love tree". Watching the sea is the cheapest way to heal. Find a coast with few people and enjoy the sea breeze. If you are lucky enough to catch the sunset, it will be even better.
△Shek O is known as "the most beautiful small fishing village in Hong Kong". (Photo/unsplash)
Hok Tsui, not far from Shek O, is the "hidden paradise" of Hong Kong Island. The sea and sky are the same color here, with sparkling waves nearby and solitary sails in the distance. When the weather is fine, you can even see them. Tseung Kwan O is separated by the sea.
The thunderous sound of waves can be heard in "Leiyin Cave", while the sea cave "Crab Cave" on the other side is named because its shape resembles a crab. Take a photo with it with open arms under the clear blue sky and feel the power of nature.
The white Hok Tsui Lighthouse in the distance is the first lighthouse in Hong Kong. It was opened in 1875 and has a history of 149 years. Standing under the Greek-style lighthouse and looking at the mountains and sea, you feel like you are in Europe.
The best way to relax is to do nothing and let yourself become one with the surrounding environment. It is recommended that you go to Wong Chuk Hang, which has a strong artistic atmosphere, and Stanley, which is full of Southern French style. The personalized wall paintings and historical buildings are naturally integrated between the beach and the sea, inviting tourists to chill with them.
The original appearance of Hong Kong is hidden here
Today's Hong Kong has long been a prosperous international metropolis, but in Aberdeen, you can still find the appearance of the earliest fishing village here.
On the edge of the long and narrow typhoon shelter, fishermen will sell their salvaged seafood products to the shore before 10 a.m., forming a seafood morning market with all kinds of fresh seafood at affordable prices. It is easy to achieve "seafood freedom" here thing.
△The Aberdeen Fish Market has many choices and affordable prices, attracting many citizens to make a special trip to purchase.
If you are lucky, you may encounter the only noodle stall in Hong Kong that sells noodles on Ting Tsai. It is said that in the 1970s and 1980s, there was a complete floating community here. In its heyday, porridge, noodles, rice and all kinds of food were available. However, as the "Dan family" who lived on the water gradually came ashore to live, this If you want to cultivate a food culture, buy rare and rare things.
Only when you order a bowl of boat noodles, hot earth fish soup, smell the fragrance of barbecue, and taste it on the breeze blown by the seaside, will the picture of the prosperous fishing industry here in the past come to mind.
A unique experience in Aberdeen is to take a nostalgic sightseeing boat tour of the fishing port. Shuttle between fishing boats and yachts, while listening to the tour guide telling the history, stories and fishermen's life of Aberdeen, while admiring the old shipyard site, typhoon shelter, Taibai Seafood Restaurant along the way... You can also board the Maritime Museum on the way. Boat, immersively experience the living environment of people on the sea.
△Taibai Seafood Restaurant was built in 1950 and is now closed for repairs.
The cheerful tour guide on the boat will talk about his story with Taibai Seafood Restaurant, the friendly relationship between the neighbors on the water, and the origin of the name Ap Lei Chau.
The boat is her home. She grew up on the boat. When she was a child, she went fishing with her family. Sometimes they went out to sea for half a month. On the way, there were calm sea and sky, but also sudden violent storms and people hurriedly taking shelter. of large ships.
△The Dan family makes a boat their home. The picture shows the simple kitchen on the old boat.
Later, the government encouraged the Dan family to "wash their feet and go ashore" and built public housing estates to accommodate the fishermen. Many people choose to find a nine-to-five job in factories ashore. She and her family have lived ashore for many years, but they still don't like riding in cars. The eating and living habits of many floating people have not changed as they age.
Dragon boats are neatly arranged beside the fishing port. Hong Kong attaches great importance to dragon boat culture. Dragon boat competitions of various sizes are held around the Dragon Boat Festival every year to announce the arrival of summer.
△The custom of dragon boat racing during the Dragon Boat Festival has been passed down for thousands of years. It is a tradition originated from the Lingnan area. The water the dragon boats row through is also called "Daji Water", which means good luck. (Photo/unsplash)
Dragon boat rowing, dragon boat racing, and dragon boat maintenance all require years of good skills. Nowadays, at the Aberdeen Dragon Boat Races, you can even see many silver-haired strong men. They may have retired for many years, but they still insist on exercising and maintaining their figures, just to keep their position at the tail of the dragon.
In Hong Kong, where there are many high-rise buildings, there are still many people who stubbornly hold on to their own culture and life. Only by immersing yourself in it can you truly touch the history of Hong Kong.
The best way to enjoy the Southern District is found by
In addition to the natural scenery and cultural and historical tour routes mentioned above, Hong Kong Ocean Park must not be missed when visiting the Southern District. Ocean Park, which opened in 1977, has witnessed the growth of generations of Hong Kong people. It also won the title of "Best Theme Park in the World" in 2012.
△ Hong Kong Ocean Park has various amusement projects, and the picture shows the most exciting dynamic express train.
This is not only a paradise, but also a marine science education base, allowing us to have a deeper understanding of the ocean.
△Hong Kong Ocean Park combines education, conservation and entertainment elements. The picture shows local primary school students watching red pandas in the Asian Animal World.
At "Ocean Wonders", you can make an appointment to participate in the snorkeling project, go into the water to feed the colorful fish, observe every move of the small fish up close, and truly swim with the fish.
△Snorkel and feed the fish, colorful fish swim around you, as if you are in the sea. (Photo/Ocean Park Hong Kong)
In a secret coral conservation laboratory, we even saw Hong Kong’s efforts in nature protection. Walking into this "coral hospital"-like laboratory, corals of different sizes lie in the "icu" shaped like a water tank.These fragmented corals mainly come from the South China Sea. After several years of "recuperation", the corals can regain their strength before being gradually returned to the sea. According to
staff, coral reefs are beautiful, but they are not only beautiful, they are also the home for many creatures to survive. Just like rainforests, swamps and deserts, they play an indispensable role in the entire ecosystem.
△Healthy corals look like this. Coral reefs are rich in color, derived from pigments from coral polyps and coralline algae. (Photo/unsplash)
Ocean Park, archiref and The Fullerton Ocean Park Hotel Hong Kong are implementing coral conservation and revitalization plans to jointly protect Hong Kong’s most precious scenery.
The Fullerton is located in the corner of the Southern District, adjacent to the novel and interesting Ocean Park and Water Park, backed by the lush vegetation of Nan Long Mountain, and facing the South China Sea where the water and sky are the same color. It is the only hotel in Hong Kong with a full sea view. The huge floor-to-ceiling windows in the room allow you to enjoy the sunrise and sunset. Looking at the lush green islands and sailboats dotted in the sea is very relaxing and healing. The infinity swimming pool in the hotel is not only suitable for children to play in the water, but also suitable for lying down and watching the sea and sunset. The wind blows from far away, and it is a blockbuster photo.
△The hotel is in a unique location. Half of Hong Kong's romance is seeing the sea. (Photo/The Fullerton Ocean Park Hotel, Hong Kong)
The Fullerton is not only the first hotel project in China to obtain the "well Building Standard™" v2 pre-certification, it also integrates environmental protection and sustainable development into every detail, extending its commitment to every aspect. A series of specific and practical environmental protection measures include abandoning single-use plastics, sourcing environmentally friendly seafood, and setting up its own farm within the hotel.
△The sea is close at hand, lying down and watching the sunrise and sunset makes you feel like you are on vacation. (Photo/Fullerton Ocean Park Hotel, Hong Kong)
You can’t find disposable drinking water in the hotel rooms. Customers need to use glass bottles or thermos bottles to refill water at the “well smart water refill station” on the walkway. After the water is discharged, the machine will also display the cumulative number of plastic bottles saved, making people feel that simple actions can contribute to the earth.
Recently, "Hong Kong people going north" has become a hot topic on social platforms. But this weekend, I chose to "go south" in the opposite direction. I was awakened by the sunrise on the beach at the hotel, then plunged into the mountains and sea in the southern district of Hong Kong, encountering wild boars along the way, and then went to the top of the mountain to overlook Hong Kong. When the view changes with the altitude, people's mood will also relax.
The scenery in front of you at this time is the real "every inch of land is precious" in Hong Kong.
proofreading: Huang Siyun
