Kowloon Park
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Kowloon Park - Standing on a small hill in the heart of Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon Park, covering an area of 14 hectares, is former site of a military barracks. It was open to public in 1989 and it is the most popular park in Kowloon, where many territory-wide functions are regularly held.
The site of Kowloon Park was firstly used as an important military base as it overlooking the Harbour. The British called it as Whitfield Barracks after 1861. The base was changed to a public park after 1970.
Kowloon Park is a welcome respite from the crowds of Tsim Sha Tsui. Located above street level, the park has extensive recreation and sports facilities, including Chinese style gardens, an aviary, a sculpture exhibit, an air-conditioned game hall and an indoor heated Olymic-sized swimming pool complex.
The major open-air attraction is the Sculpture Walk. Its displays include striking works by local sculptors and a magnificent bronze statue by Scotland's Sir Eduardo Paolozzi. Particularly inviting is also the bird lake crowded with beautiful pink lesser flamingos and ducks. Kowloon Park is also home to the Urban Council Health Education Exhibition and Resource Center, where you can see interactive exhibits on health and Hygiene.
Games hall, swimming pools and open-air Sculpture Walk and other amusement facilities, makes the Kowloon Park a tranquil oasis in Tsim Sha Tsui. It is a popular getaway in bustle and hustle of Hong Kong; you will find everything from local people exercising in the morning to exotic imported flamingos.
Macau's name is derived from A-Ma-Gau or Place of A-Ma and this temple dedicated to the seafarers' goddess dates from the early 16th century.
According to legend, A-Ma, a poor girl looking for passage to Canton, was refused by the wealthy junk owners but a lowly fisherman took her on board. A storm blew up and wrecked all but the boat carrying the girl. On arrival in Macau she vanished, to reappear as a goddess, on the spot where the fishermen built her temple.
It consists of prayer halls, pavilions and courtyards built into the boulder-strewn hill and connected by winding paths through moon gates and tiny gardens. At the entrance is a large rock on which is engraved a traditional sailing junk. On other boulders are carved red characters invoking the gods or repeating a prayer.
Three of the four pavilions are dedicated to A-Ma and contain some fine statues of the goddess together with a model of a junk with cannons, brass vessels and chapels to Buddhist and Taoist gods. The top shrine honours Kun Iam. This temple is distinguished by beautiful tiled roofs and spectacular views from the upper gardens. The festival of A-Ma takes place on the 23rd day of the 3rd moon (April or May).
Firecrackers, to scare away evil spirits, are exploded in the entrance courtyard to greet tour groups and lions dances are performed here on weekends.
