Hongkong Geopark

Hong Kong Global Geopark of China (HKGP) is located in northeast Hong Kong. It comprises two regions, each with four geo-areas, protected under the Country Parks Ordinance. HKGP came from Hong Kong’s successful country park system and was officially accepted as a member of the National Geoparks of China in November 2009 and as a member of the Global Geoparks Network (GGN) in September 2011

HKGP has two adjoining regions: the Sai Kung Volcanic Rock Region and the Northeast New Territories Sedimentary Rock Region. The highlight of the Sai Kung Volcanic Rock Region is its spectacular hexagonal volcanic rock columns, whose size and composition make them a world rarity. The Northeast New Territories Sedimentary Rock Region has rocks formed over 400 million years ago, making them of great geological and educational interest. The total land area of HKGP is about 150 km².

As shown in Figure 1, the boundary of HKGP is explicitly defined as a single entity, covering all geo-areas and the geosites within it, as well as the wider neighbourhood areas, which are closely tied to the geo-areas through culture and livelihood. Our involvement in capacity building to benefit the local communities in the neigbourhood areas ensures the sustainable development of the geopark in accordance with the principles of the GGN. Local communities in the neighbourhood areas are actively engaged in, and benefit from, the geopark through a series of local engagement and partnership projects.

Figure1: Map of Hongkong Geopark

Sai Kung Volcanic Rock Region

While most of the hexagonal rock columns found worldwide are basaltic, the rock columns of HKGP are felsic, making them extremely uncommon. Formed 140 million years ago, these silica-rich hexagonal rock columns are widely distributed in Sai Kung. HKGP’s major geo-attractions include well-outcropped acidic hexagonal rock columns, with an average diameter of 1.2 metres distributed over a land-and-sea area of 100 square kilometres. Together with geo-area’s long coastlines and craggy islands, they form a picturesque natural landscape.

Serving as a gateway to HKGP and showcasing the geological background and uniqueness of Hong Kong’s hexagonal columns, the HKGP Volcano Discovery Centre was officially opened in Sai Kung Waterfront Park on 15 July 2014. The Centre is operated by the Sai Kung District Community Centre, a local, self-sustaining community organization. The trilingual counter service there in Cantonese, Putonghua and English is intended to attract both local and overseas visitors and facilitate their exploration of the geopark.

Northeast New Territories Sedimentary Rock Region

The Northeast New Territories Sedimentary Rock Region is rich both in natural and cultural resources. It has comprehensive sedimentary rock formations formed from the Devonian to the Paleogene (about 400 to 55 million years ago). The rocks and fossils provide important evidence for tracing Hong Kong’s geological history and environment. The Sedimentary Rock Region is attractive to visitors for its green hills, clear waters, diverse ecological resources, such as mangroves, fung shui woods and coral communities, and cultural relics, such as well-preserved Hakka walled-villages, fishing villages and temples.

We are exploring new partnership projects and possible public maritime services by local operators in the Sedimentary Rock Region with the aim of upgrading the walking trails and visitor facilities of HKGP and enhancing geosite accessibility. Also underway are substantive improvements in local community amenities through existing partnership projects, as well as the signature projects in the Region.

Some of the spectacular scenery in Hong Kong Geopark

Features of the Geopark

Situated in close proximity to Hong Kong’s world-famous financial and business centre, which is also a food and shopping paradise, Hong Kong Global Geopark of China is lauded as a unique “geopark in the city”, with the city centre a mere one-hour bus or car ride away.

Thanks to public support and local engagement, geo-tourism is a new component of Hong Kong’s tourism industry, providing visitors with an opportunity to experience the rich and extraordinary natural world of Hong Kong.

Science Transfer

HKGP offers a wide variety of educational activities for local schools and youngsters from our sister geoparks that promote earth science and environmental science.

HKGP offers a number of tailor-made activities for geopark schools under the Hong Kong Global Geopark School Programme, including rock exhibitions, global E-classroom sessions, science experiments, guided visits to geosites, and the Geopark Mentoring Project. The programme encourages students to grasp the concept of geo-conservation and enhances geo-education in and about HKGP.

Networking

Over the past five years, HKGP has established partnership arrangements with over 10 other geoparks and related bodies. To foster a closer relationship with our sister geoparks and other co-operation partners, and to ensure the quality of our partnership arrangements, HKGP started conducting a review of our sister and partnership projects in June 2014, in accordance with the principles of the GGN. We will maintain our active exchange and networking with our counterparts and review the progress and effectiveness of our networking activities every 18 months to ensure they provide mutual benefits to the participants and a continuous contribution to the GGN.

Activities in Hong Kong Geopark

For more information about Hong Kong Global Geopark of China, please visit:

Hong Kong Geopark website: www.geopark.gov.hk

Volcano Discovery Centre website: www.volcanodiscoverycentre.hk

Recommended Geopark Guides website: www.hkr2g.net

Contact: geopark@afcd.gov.hk

About GGN

Contact Us

Hongkong Geopark