Tree Hugging
Our celebration of the city’s most resilient indigenous residents.
Trees are like an underprivileged group in the city. They are all around us, struggling to thrive in our harsh city environment. But thrive they do, and despite our pollution and increasing urbanization, there are many examples of big, beautiful trees helping to improve our air and our environment. Here at HK Magazine, we decided to take this opportunity to celebrate these wonderful friends of ours, and look into why they are constantly at risk.
Tall and Proud
The best trees in town. Literally.
Hong Kong might be one big concrete jungle, but we have some amazing urban trees just by our doorsteps. Here are the best places to find the city’s biggest, oldest, and all-around champion trees.
1. Lugard Road, The Peak
This Indian rubber tree at 28 Lugard Road might only be 60 years old, but its diameter is at an overwhelming 28 meters, making it one of the most distinguishable trees in Hong Kong. There is a similar one near the Leighton Road Post Office Recreation Club in Causeway Bay.
Getting there: Take the Peak Tram or minibus number 1 from City Hall terminus to The Peak. Walk down Harlech Road, then take the first right to enter Lugard Road.
2. Chater Garden, Central
This small garden next to the Legco building contains more than 40 species of trees. There are also specimens of rarer plant species in town, like this breadfruit tree. Breadfruit, most commonly found in Malaysia, is similar to jackfruit, and is often baked like bread. The garden also has our number 2 champion, the largest gingko tree in town—but sadly no, it does not blossom.
Getting there: Take exit J2 of Central MTR station.
3. Kam Tin
This banyan in Yuen Long is simply fantastical—over a century old, the tree has oddly shaped branches and roots because it grew around an old stone house; only the ruins of it remain today.