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modern design into the natural landscape, features flowing water as its central motif and has artificial waterfalls, streams and ponds.
Major facilities in the park include an aviary, conservatory, a vantage point for viewing that part of the city, an Olympic Square, squash centre, sports centre, children's playground and restaurant. The aviary is designed to look like a tropical rainforest in which over 600 birds of 90 different species are kept, including one African and four Australian pelicans that are a major attraction for visitors. The conservatory has three sections, named 'Display Plant House,' 'Dry Plant House' and 'Humid Plant House'. Adjustable environmental control equipment is installed in these houses to produce climatic conditions similar to those in tropical rainforests and deserts. In June and July, a lotus show was held in the Display Plant House and Lake of the Park, exhibiting more than 100 species of lotus. It attracted about 80 000 visitors. From November until January 2007, an exhibition entitled 'Herbarium Amoris - a tribute to Carl Linnaeus' brought the theme 'for the love of plants' to a climax with the poetic display of the plants' photographs at the conservatory.
The Hong Kong 2009 East Asian Games Gallery, on the second floor of the sports centre, has been opened to the public since October 19, 2005. Comprising different colour zones, the gallery tells the story of the Olympic movement from its beginning in Ancient Greece, with special emphasis on Hong Kong's participation and achievements in sports. Exhibits on display include Olympic torches and medals from past games. A special section has been dedicated to the forthcoming 2009 EAG in Hong Kong including models of the 2009 EAG Competition. Guided tours of the gallery are provided free of charge.
Outward Bound Hong Kong
Outward Bound Hong Kong is a registered charity established in 1970. It is a member of Outward Bound International, the world leader and originator of outdoor experiential education operating in around 50 schools in over 30 countries.
With a mission 'to help people discover and develop their potential to care for themselves, others and the world around them through challenging experiences in unfamiliar settings', Outward Bound provides training for people from all walks of life. The training aims to foster confidence, responsibility, leadership, teamwork, creative thinking, problem-solving skills and social responsibility. Outward Bound uses experiential education to deliver its training so that participants are able to gain insights and learn skills which can be applied to work and real-life situations. Every year, more than 6 000 people join the training courses.
The three training bases at Sai Kung Tai Mong Tsai headquarters, Wong Wan Chau island base and the new ocean-going vessel Spirit of Outward Bound Hong Kong have a total capacity of 180. Training facilities such as sailing boats, kayaks, ropes course, rock wall and a jetty are regularly checked and maintained up to international standard to ensure training safety.
Public courses are organised in and outside Hong Kong in such places. as Taiwan, Japan, Sabah, the Philippines, Nepal and along the Silk Road on the