Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
two very cute, rare red pandas - all gifts from the mainland - have kept this a must-visit for
families.
The park is divided into two main sections. The main entrance is on the Waterfront (low-
land) side and is linked to the main section on the Summit (headland) via a scenic
cable car
ride and a marine-themed funicular train called the
Ocean Express
.
The major attractions at the Waterfront are
Amazing Asian Animals
and
Aqua City
,
where animals and sea creatures come with some worthwhile educational content. The new-
est addition is the
Grand Aquarium
which boasts the world's largest aquarium dome with
a 5.5m diameter and is home to 5000 fish (400 species). Another new zone,
Old Hong
Kong
, is a replica of the old buildings and communities that once graced Wan Chai and
older parts of Kowloon. To the north is
Whiskers Harbour
, which thrives on an assortment
of kid-oriented rides.
On the Summit, the
Thrill Mountain
has plenty of white-knuckle rides, such as the cel-
ebrated roller coaster, Hair Raiser. In
Marine World
you'll find sea lions and seals plus
daily dolphin and killer-whale shows. Meanwhile, the
Chinese Sturgeon Aquarium
show-
cases another living gift from the mainland.
TEMPLE
TIN HAU TEMPLE
If you have time to spare, a short walk through Aberdeen will bring you to a Tin Hau temple
from 1851. Once you're in the vicinity, check out the series of quirky
shrines
that are dedic-
ated to local deities; you'll see them on the slope behind the rest area on Old Main St.
Pok Fu Lam
HISTORIC BUILDING
BÉTHANIE
Rd;admission HK$30; 11am-5pm; 7, 40, 40M, 90B, 91)
Perched on hilly Pok Fu Lam, a college and residential area northwest of Aberdeen, this
beautiful restoration is a highlight in this part of town. The complex, which now houses a
film school, was built by the French Mission in 1875 as a sanatorium for priests from all
over Asia to rest and recover from tropical diseases before they returned to their missions.
The guided tour will include a visit to the neo-Gothic Béthanie Chapel, a new theatre in
the two octagonal Dairy Farm cowsheds, and the wine-cellar-converted museum which dis-
plays the history of the mission. Tours are run hourly and it's wise to call ahead, as some
