Most people only know Hong Kong as an urban jungle and one of the densest cities in the world. However, there are actually green places where its residents can go for exercise and relaxation.
Parks are essential for our quality of life. They are even more important in places like Hong Kong where most residents live in high-rise buildings and cannot afford the luxury of having their own backyards. The benefits of parks are measurable, well-documented, and quantified in numerous studies.
Specifically, parks:
- Offer opportunities for physical activity which help to increase fitness and lower levels of obesity.
- Enable people to connect with nature, which is known to confer certain health benefits and enhance well-being.
- Improve mental health as parks can serve as venues for stress reduction.
- Mitigate the effects of climate change, and air and water pollution impacts on public health.
- Facilitate community interaction as parks can serve as formal and informal places where people meet. - Reduce injuries as parks and trails provide safe spaces for people to play and exercise, away from busy streets.
This article highlights the following five unique green spaces where residents can relax, recharge, and escape their hectic, fast-paced lives and experience the beauty and tranquility of nature:
- Kowloon Park
- Chi Lin Nunnery
- Kowloon Walled City Park
- Kowloon Tsai Park
- Lok Fu Park
Take a few minutes to check out the article and photos to see a greener side of Hong Kong and learn about a few special places that help Hong Kongers to maintain their physical and mental health and well-being.
FULL STORY: Discover Hong Kong parks on foot – where to go in Kowloon: five pockets of greenery amid the urban jungle
Pandemic Reveals the Importance of Open Space to Health and Well-Being
Hong Kong provides a lesson in the importance of open space for the health and well-being of residents, especially during the isolation and distancing of a pandemic.
Serpentine Maze: Pop-Up Parks in the Pandemic
If the combined effects of winter's cold and the pandemic has you bummed, check out this community-building exercise in the frozen North.
Reimagined Public Spaces and Programming During the Pandemic
Public spaces have become more important than ever. Here are five case studies of innovative and safely designed programming that engages people of all ages and backgrounds.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
Congressman Proposes Bill to Rename DC Metro “Trump Train”
The Make Autorail Great Again Act would withhold federal funding to the system until the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA), rebrands as the Washington Metropolitan Authority for Greater Access (WMAGA).
The Simple Legislative Tool Transforming Vacant Downtowns
In California, Michigan and Georgia, an easy win is bringing dollars — and delight — back to city centers.
The States Losing Rural Delivery Rooms at an Alarming Pace
In some states, as few as 9% of rural hospitals still deliver babies. As a result, rising pre-term births, no adequate pre-term care and "harrowing" close calls are a growing reality.
The Small South Asian Republic Going all in on EVs
Thanks to one simple policy change less than five years ago, 65% of new cars in this Himalayan country are now electric.
DC Backpedals on Bike Lane Protection, Swaps Barriers for Paint
Citing aesthetic concerns, the city is removing the concrete barriers and flexposts that once separated Arizona Avenue cyclists from motor vehicles.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Smith Gee Studio
City of Charlotte
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
US High Speed Rail Association
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
Municipality of Princeton (NJ)