Hong Kong Lai Chi Kok Park

Hong Kong Lai Chi Kok Park

Lai Chi Kok Park is located on the former site of Lai Chi Kok Bay in Lai Chi Kok, Kowloon, Hong Kong, and to its south. Constructed in three phases, it covers an area of 17.65 hectares and is managed by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department of Hong Kong. Situated west of Sham Shui Po, the park is bordered by Mei Foo Phase 1 to the east, Kwai Chung Container Terminal Road to the south, Lai King Shan Road to the west, and Lai Wan Road to the north, with highly accessible transportation including MTR, West Rail Line, and bus services.

Historical Background

As early as the late 1970s, Lai Chi Kok Bay within the area of Lai Chi Kok Bridge (Kwai Chung Road) was filled in due to the construction of the Tsuen Wan MTR line, resulting in the disappearance of swimming rafts and rowing facilities in the bay. The Lai Chi Kok Swimming Pool and Indoor Sports Centre at the northern end were completed in the 1980s. The southern end also saw plans for the development of Lai Chi Kok Park, with Phase 1 opening in 1990.

In the early 1990s, land reclamation in West Kowloon transformed the sea area south of Lai Chi Kok Bridge and Mei Foo Sun Chuen into land, leading to the further expansion of Lai Chi Kok Park as a buffer zone between West Kowloon Highway and Mei Foo Sun Chuen. However, some sections were affected by the construction of the Kowloon-Canton Railway Corporation’s (KCRC) West Rail line. Between 1998 and 2003, KCRC relocated all park facilities impacted by the West Rail project, revised the plans for Phases 2 and 3, and carried out facility additions and improvements. A garden was also added on top of the West Rail Mei Foo Station.

Nearby Attractions

Lai Chi Kok Park was built in three phases, covering a total area of 17.65 hectares. The park offers a variety of sports and recreational facilities, complemented by nearby amenities such as the Lai Chi Kok Park Swimming Pool, Sports Centre, and Library.

Lingnan Garden

Lingnan Garden is a traditional Chinese-style garden, officially opened to the public on November 11, 2000. It is open daily from 7:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. Located in the reclaimed area of Lai Chi Kok, Kowloon, and inspired by the lychee — a renowned fruit of the Lingnan region — the garden was designed in traditional Lingnan style. Spanning an area of 12,500 square meters, with water features covering approximately 2,600 square meters (about 20% of the total area), the garden is richly landscaped.

The entire park is divided into ten scenic zones, with pavilions and corridors arranged around a central pond in a courtyard-style layout. The architecture reflects Lingnan style elements such as pottery sculpture, roof tiles, stucco reliefs, stone carvings, and woodwork, while the rockeries primarily feature Yingde Taihu rocks. Additionally, the garden displays numerous couplets authored by notable figures such as Liang Qichao, Liu Huadong, Li Wentian, and Kang Youwei. Colorful fiber-optic lighting adorns the park’s structures from the east gate to the bridge corridor, enhancing its charm under moonlight. Lush trees provide ample shade throughout the park, and beautifully arranged potted plants offer visitors additional aesthetic enjoyment.

Pebble Path

One of the garden’s highlights is the “Health Footpath.” This pebble-paved trail allows visitors—barefoot or in cloth shoes—to walk back and forth, stimulating the nerve reflex zones on the soles of the feet and improving blood circulation. The path is popular among visitors, often bustling with people at various times of the day.

Brick Carvings

The eastern wall of the park features two sets of exquisitely crafted brick carvings depicting vivid figures, worthy of close admiration. One set portrays the 36 heroes from the classic Chinese novel Water Margin. Water Margin is one of China’s Four Great Classical Novels, written by Shi Nai’an during the Yuan Dynasty, based on the legendary tales of outlaws from Liangshan Marsh. Set in the late Northern Song Dynasty, the story follows 108 heroes who gather at Liangshan Marsh to fight injustice, rob the rich to aid the poor, and uphold righteousness. Among the most famous characters are “Timely Rain” Song Jiang, “Panther Head” Lin Chong, “Flower Monk” Lu Zhishen, “Black Whirlwind” Li Kui, and “Pilgrim” Wu Song.

The other set of brick carvings illustrates the scene of the Eight Immortals crossing the sea. The Eight Immortals are Cao Guojiu, Li Tieguai, Zhongli Quan, Lü Dongbin, He Xiangu, Lan Caihe, Zhang Guolao, and Han Xiangzi, each wielding unique magical items: castanets, gourd, palm-leaf fan, sword, lotus flower, flower basket, fish drum, and bamboo flute.

Quality Hiking Trail

The park (Phase 3) features two quality hiking trails — a red route (approximately 600 meters) and a green route (approximately 1,000 meters). Walking offers numerous health benefits, including improved heart function, enhanced blood circulation, better lung capacity and respiratory health, reduced blood lipids and cholesterol, weight control, regulated blood pressure, lowered stress levels, and improved endocrine function. Moderate-intensity walking with proper posture is known as “quality hiking.” Visitors can choose their preferred route by following signs on the lampposts along the way. The recommended walking plan is to maintain a pace of 1.6 kilometers in 20 minutes, aiming for at least 30 minutes of walking per day, three times a week.

Landscaping Design

The park incorporates over 6,000 trees comprising more than 300 species of trees and shrubs. Tree trunks are labeled to help visitors identify them.

Transportation Guide

Address: 1 Lai Wan Road, Mei Foo, Sham Shui Po District, Hong Kong

Getting there: Take minibus route 81K in the Kowloon area.