What to Do in the New Territories: Yuen Long
Home to indigenous walled villages and countless nature reserves, Yuen Long sits cozily between the Mai Po marshes and the Hong Kong Wetland Park. It’s a regular stomping ground for eco warriors jonesing for a taste of handpicked organic produce, families after a great day out, and shutterbugs looking for sun-washed wildlife.
Get Festive
This August, Yuen Long plays host to OpenSesame!, a two-day music festival boasting a lineup of over 30 of Hong Kong’s best indie acts. Best part? You can set up camp and stay the night. Organizers stumbled on the space and begged villagers to let them host the shindig which will offer games, F&B and lots of greenery.
Aug 15, noon-11pm; Aug 16, 11am-10pm. 1 Chu Ma Leng, Pat Heung, Kam Tin Road, Yuen Long. $280-380; $150 extra for camping, from www.ticketflap.com.
Organic Fun
There’s food ripe for the picking at the Tai Tong Ecopark, where about $120 buys you a full day of plucking strawberries, lychees and a variety of vegetables. You can plop down for a picnic on site, or pay by weight to take the produce home. December-April is organic strawberry season, while lychee season lasts from mid-June to mid-July. Other organic veggies are available all year round.
11 Tai Tong Shan Rd., Yuen Long, 2470-2201, ttlv.hk.
Say neigh to Tai Tong Ecopark
Purrfect Produce
If your organic snacking needs a touch of cuteness, head to the Hello Kitty Go Green Organic Farm. The grounds are completely themed around the cartoon cat—and even feature a BBQ area and Hello Kitty gift shop—but the emphasis is on organic low-carbon farming. The 50,000-square-foot farm provides farming workshops, educational programs and ample homegrown produce to take home.