The botanical garden, laid out in the 19th century, covers an area of over 2 hectares. This place is perfect for relieving the fatigue of the city's bustle. Here you can have a picnic by the fountain, wander along the shady alleys, or bask in the sun. Another pleasant addition, rare for foreign countries: free admission.
You can find all kinds of plants here: from coniferous trees familiar to us and considered cold-loving to the rarest species of tropical orchids. The flower of one of them is traditionally called the "Hong Kong" flower because its symbolic image is placed on the flag and coat of arms of the island.
Palm trees and rose trees, cypresses and figs — perhaps before you had only seen the fruits of these trees or admired the trees themselves in pictures. There is no unsuitable season for visiting the botanical garden: many of its plants bloom all year round.
The zoo adjoining the garden and almost becoming part of it is considerably younger — it is only about half a century old. It is famous for breeding animals that are under threat of extinction.
The real favorites of the public are the "golden tamarin" monkeys. Red-haired, fluffy, with huge bulging eyes and a bump on the nose, they attract attention like a magnet. If you come with children, you will not leave their enclosures anytime soon. Cheetahs and lions, turtles and lemurs, alligators and flamingos - the exotic inhabitants of the zoo could be listed endlessly. In total, there are 70 reptiles, 70 mammals, and 500 birds kept here.
