Mai Po Nature Reserve

Mai Po occupies the Hong Kong side of Deep Bay, where the Pearl River delta meets the sea, and its mudflats, mangroves and gei wai, traditional tidal shrimp ponds worked here since the 1940s, form one of the most important wintering wetlands on the East Asian flyway. It is a Ramsar site. Tens of thousands of waterbirds use it between November and March, and it is one of the key sites for the black-faced spoonbill, a species that came close to extinction and whose global winter population is counted here every year. Access is by permit and guided visit only, on boardwalks and into floating hides that look out over the tidal flats.

What you actually see

• Wintering waterbirds in tens of thousands - the flyway stopover in full.
• Black-faced spoonbills - a globally scarce species counted here each winter.
• Gei wai shrimp ponds - the traditional tidal ponds still worked.
• Floating hides on the mudflats - the boardwalk out over Deep Bay.

When to go

November to March for the wintering birds, and around high tide, when waders are pushed close to the hides. Half a day. Permits and guided places must be booked well in advance.

Honest expectations

You cannot simply turn up: permits are limited and often booked out weeks ahead. Tide timing decides whether birds are visible at all. Water quality in Deep Bay is poor and the smell can be strong. A telescope makes the difference between seeing birds and seeing dots.

Nearby

Hong Kong Wetland Park is east; Yuen Long lies south.