Yuen Long Park, Hong Kong

　　   Yuen Long Park (Yuen Long Park) is a large park in Hong Kong, situated on a natural woodland site at Buffalo Ridge in the southwest of Yuen Long town centre, Yuen Long District, New Territories. It is adjacent to Yuen Long Stadium and Yuen Long Swimming Pool. Covering an area of 7.5 hectares, the construction project took two years, and the park was opened in spring 1991. Managed by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department of Hong Kong, it has been awarded the Merit Award by the Hong Kong Institute of Landscape Architects.

　　   Originally named Yuen Long Town Park (English: Yuen Long Town Park), it served as the main park for the Yuen Long New Town and was built by the now-defunct Regional Council. Before the construction of Yuen Long Town Park, the site was a village called "Buffalo Ridge Cottage Area"; even earlier, during the Japanese occupation of Hong Kong (1941–45), it had been a mass grave and execution ground for the Japanese military. As a result, many ghost stories are still associated with the area around Yuen Long Park. Local lore also suggests that the design of the Pavilion of a Hundred Birds (百鸟塔) was intended to suppress lingering spirits.

　　   The park is built along the hillside, with landscaping that preserves the original terrain and trees as much as possible. It is abundant with flowers and plants, offering a pleasant and scenic environment. Over 800 green trees are scattered throughout the park. Atop the hill stands the Pavilion of a Hundred Birds, with its lower level serving as an aviary and the upper level functioning as an observation tower, providing panoramic views of Yuen Long town and the Tin Shui Wai new town. The Waterfall Garden features small bridges over flowing streams, an artificial lake, and a waterfall that captivates visitors. Below the Pavilion of a Hundred Birds lies a magnificent water feature: a 13-meter-high waterfall cascades down, winding through a stream into the artificial lake. The lake teems with fish and blooms with lotus flowers, offering a serene escape from worldly worries. Behind the waterfall, a tranquil path leads visitors behind the falls, where they can explore a man-made “water curtain cave” and admire the small bridge, flowing water, and a traditional Chinese pavilion in the middle of the lake—offering a unique and picturesque scene. In addition, Yuen Long Park houses several burial sites of ancestors from the local Tang clan.

　　   Yuen Long Park features a grass court designed for gateball, covering an area of 400 square meters. Gateball is an easy-to-learn ball sport with moderate physical exertion, suitable for people of all ages, especially seniors. In addition to the gateball court, the park also includes a seven-a-side football pitch and a five-a-side football pitch, a children’s playground, a fitness trail, a uniquely designed fountain plaza, and a pebble path walking trail.