Explore Hong Kong’s wetlands and migratory birds with an expert

In the north-west of the New Territories, within sight of the high-rises of Shenzhen, lies one of Asia’s most important wetlands. Mai Po Nature Reserve is managed by WWF-Hong Kong, and since 1995 Mai Po and the Inner Deep Bay wetlands have been recognised as a Wetland of International Importance under the Ramsar Convention. The site is a stopover and wintering ground on the East Asian-Australasian Flyway, the route followed by migratory waterbirds between the Arctic and Australasia.

What the experience is

Access to Mai Po is deliberately limited, and the best way to visit is on a guided tour. An interpreter or birding guide explains the ecology, points out species and helps you read the landscape: intertidal mudflats, mangroves, reedbeds, fishponds and gei wai, the traditional tidal shrimp ponds that are managed here as habitat. Elevated boardwalks and bird hides let you watch without disturbing the birds, and the Visitor Centre has exhibits on the reserve’s biodiversity. Individual visits need a permit, and bookings are made through WWF-Hong Kong.

About 460 bird species, around 80 per cent of Hong Kong’s total, have been recorded in the Ramsar site, and in winter it supports some 46,000 to 66,000 waterbirds, including the globally threatened Black-faced Spoonbill and Saunders’s Gull. Binoculars make a big difference; guides usually bring a spotting scope.

When to go

Winter is the main season, when up to 60,000 waterbirds are present. Tides matter as much as the month, so ask the guide to choose the day and time.

Nearby

The Hong Kong Wetland Park, a 61-hectare government facility close to the reserve, is a gentler, unguided complement for families or a short visit.

Why OKYTO recommends it

Because it shows another Hong Kong: a place where the city’s edge meets a globally significant wildlife site, and where an expert can turn a muddy shoreline into something remarkable.