Kadoorie Farm and Botanic Garden
A conservation farm and garden on the slope of Tai Mo Shan, with a native wildlife rescue centre.
Updated 19 October 2026
Kadoorie Farm began in 1956 as an agricultural aid project helping farming families in the New Territories get started, and it has since turned into a conservation organisation working on native species, sustainable agriculture and education, spread over a steep hillside on the southern slope of Tai Mo Shan. The site climbs several hundred metres from the entrance through terraced gardens, orchid and fern houses, vegetable plots and woodland to viewpoints near the top, with a shuttle bus for those who do not want the walk. Its wildlife section holds native animals that were injured or confiscated and cannot be released, including raptors, monkeys, reptiles and civets.
History
The brothers Lawrence and Horace Kadoorie founded the Kadoorie Agricultural Aid Association in 1951 to help poor farmers in the New Territories help themselves, with training, farm supplies and interest-free loans, and in 1956 the association set up an experimental and extension farm here. On 20 January 1995 the Legislative Council passed an ordinance creating the Kadoorie Farm and Botanic Garden Corporation, which turned it towards conservation, organic farming and education (Wikipedia, Kadoorie Farm and Botanic Garden).
The main sights
- Native wildlife under rescue care - animals that cannot be returned to the wild.
- Terraced gardens up the hillside - orchid and fern houses among the plots.
- Sustainable farming demonstrations - the working agricultural sections.
- Viewpoints near the top - the New Territories from the upper slope.
When to go
October to April; the hillside is hot and humid in summer. Half a day. Booking in advance is required and daily numbers are capped. Closed on some public holidays.
Before you go
Advance booking is mandatory and slots go quickly at weekends. The site is steep and walking it fully is demanding; the shuttle runs on a limited schedule. Animals in care are in enclosures, which some visitors find uncomfortable.
Nearby
Tai Mo Shan rises behind the upper slope; Lam Tsuen valley lies north.
Key facts
Source: Wikidata, item Q838392, read on 18 October 2026.
What to pack for Kadoorie Farm and Botanic Garden
Chosen from what this place is for. Tap a kit for the full checklist.
- Binoculars - The single best wildlife tool - even a compact pair transforms a sighting. Find on Amazon
- Strong insect repellent - DEET or picaridin; the jungle is where bites and disease risk are highest. Find on Amazon
- Comfortable walking shoes - Sightseeing means kilometres of pavement and cobbles daily. Find on Amazon
- A zoom camera or long lens - Animals rarely come close; reach beats megapixels. Find on Amazon
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