Redeveloped Mai Po visitor center turns into a world-class nature classroom

A visitor center in Mai Po Nature Reserve has been turned into a “21st-century nature classroom” to deliver high-quality education, ecological training, and research.

As part of the infrastructure upgrade project at the Reserve - which was supported by the Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC) with HK$347 million donation - the newly redeveloped WWF Jockey Club Mai Po Peter Scott Visitor Centre opened to the public on Tuesday (Nov 28).

The center, also serving as an integrated education hub, provides learning and activity areas to promote wetland conservation. There are also nine guest rooms for visitors who join the eco-tours to stay overnight to learn about the biodiversity of Mai Po wetlands.

The infrastructure upgrade project also includes building two new tower hides for bird-watching, renovating the current tower hide, upgrading the Mai Po education center, and constructing a wooden boardwalk to meet universal accessibility standards.

HKJC said the improved facilities will enable visiting scientists, local and regional researchers, and conservationists to conduct research and ecological studies at Mai Po, facilitating knowledge exchange on wetland management.

Mai Po and Inner Deep Bay provide sanctuary to over 2,000 species of flora and fauna and host up to 100,000 birds on their winter migration.