Winnie Yeung picks the big trees you should visit before it’s too late.

Last month, the “Tree of Hong Kong” – a 200-year-old, 23-meter Chinese Banyan tree in Kowloon Park – fell over and officials believe
it cannot be saved. It’s a sad reminder that our big trees will not be here forever. Check out some of our biggest and best trees while you still can.

Kam Tin Tree House
Let’s start with a legendary one. This banyan tree in Yuen Long is simply amazing – over a century old, this tree has oddly shaped branches and roots because it grew around an old stone house.
Where: Shui Mei Village Playground, Kam Tin
Getting there: Take green minibus 601 from Fung Cheung Road Minibus Terminus, Yuen Long (a five-minute walk from Yuen Long KCR station). Get off at the terminus by the Tin Hau Temple.

The Hollow Tree
Another amazing sight in Northern Hong Kong. This famous autumn maple tree is best known as the Hollow Tree thanks to the gigantic hole in its middle. The government says this 18-meter-tall tree is 100 years old but other tree-huggers are saying it has to be at least 250 years old – and it’s still growing.
Where: Lai Chi Wo
Getting there: Lai Chi Wo is an ecological haven, but that comes at the cost of convenience. The closest public transport is minibus 56K from Tai Po Market KCR station. Get off at Luk Keng and walk along the trail for at least 90 minutes to Lai Chi Wo. Or catch a speedboat from Sai Kung Pier, which can take you to Lai Chi Wo in 30 minutes. The suggested price is $400 per ride (eight people maximum per ride).

Indian Rubbers
But you don’t necessarily need to travel far and wide for old, odd-looking trees. These Indian rubber trees on Lugard Road and in Causeway Bay are well worth a look.
Where: 28 Lugard Rd., The Peak, and Leighton Road Post Office Recreation Club, 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. The tree in Causeway Bay is right behind a bus stop opposite the Lippo Leighton Centre (103 Leighton Road). Buses 10, 23B, and 8X stop there.

The Breadfruit Tree
There are also rarer species of trees in town, like this breadfruit tree at Chater Garden. Breadfruit, most commonly found in Malaysia, is similar to jackfruit, and is often baked like bread.
Where: Chater Garden, Central.
Getting there: Take exit J2 of Central MTR station.
Hong Kong Parklife
Hong Kong Park might be a fairly young park but it has some of the oldest and strangest trees in Hong Kong. There are the two jujube trees that are at least 400 years old, but they weren’t grown in Hong Kong soil – in 2003, the Xinzheng government of Henan province donated them to us.
Where: The jujube trees are planted near the Flagstaff House Museum of Tea Ware.
Getting there: An escalator in Pacific Place, Admiralty can take you all the way up to the park. 
Standing out
Over at the Zoological and Botanical Gardens – one of the oldest in the city – is another favorite, this Norfolk Island Pine, which is at least 100 years old. It’s a great photo op with the skyscrapers in the background.
Where: Zoological and Botanical Gardens. The Norfolk Island Pine is near the northern edge of the park – just look up and you’ll see it.
Getting there: The Gardens are a five-minute walk uphill from Hong Kong Park.
 
Phoptograph copyright: The Leisure and Cultural Services Department. The department has begun documenting our old trees, and have so far collected information on about 400 of them on ovt.lcsd.gov.hk/ovt.