Peace and beauty in the heart of the city

Word to the wise: Try to rise early and visit one of the parks before 9am - you'll be greeted by the sight of tai chi being practiced.

It is easy to escape the frenzied hustle and bustle of the city by side-stepping into one of Hong Kong’s many leafy parks. The most interesting is the former Kowloon Walled City – previously a densely populated, Triad-controlled hub of prostitution and gambling, and now a tranquil Chinese garden.

Also striking is Hong Kong Park. It's surrounded by the skyscrapers of Central’s big businesses – a stark contrast to the bubbling streams, waterfalls, ponds filled with giant goldfish, and masses of greenery. Home to mature trees, flower gardens and a huge aviary, it neighbours the Zoological and Botanical Gardens,

Kowloon Park, which often hosts free kung fu demonstrations, is popular with a broad cross-section of Hong Kong residents and is great for authentic people-watching.