Past Events and Programmes
Past Events and Programmes
Event Calendar Past Events and Programmes
Impressions, Expressions｜Hong Kong Native Plant Photo Contest
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The term ‘native species’ is used to refer to any biological organism that occurs naturally in a given area. For example, a plant that grows wild in Hong Kong and adjacent parts sub-tropical South China is considered a native member of our local flora. However, essentially all of Hong Kong’s original forests were cleared hundreds of years ago, with only tiny remnants remaining today in certain fung shui woodlands and some remote ravines. Because of this, it is debatable what the complete flora and vegetation of the territory would have looked like prior to human impact, but we can learn a lot through comparison with well protected parts of nearby southern China. More than 2300 native plant species have been documented in Hong Kong, ranging from delicate ferns and elegant herbs, to enormous trees and hefty climbers, many of them with stunning flowers and gorgeous fruits. The list of native plant species grows every year as new discoveries are made.

 

Hosted by Kadoorie Farm and Botanic Garden (KFBG), The ‘Impressions, Expressions｜Hong Kong Native Plant Photo Contest’ serves as a prelude to the upcoming autumn botanical art exhibition ‘Impressions, Expressions – feeling & depicting nature’. Beyond celebrating the beauty of Hong Kong’s precious native plants, the event aims to raise public awareness and appreciation for local biodiversity while highlighting the KFBG’s vital conservation work.

We warmly invite the public to capture the extraordinary beauty of Hong Kong’s native plants through your own unique perspective—whether it's mist condensing in the morning light on a freshly opened flower, vibrantly coloured berries in undergrowth, or newly flushed, lush green foliage in spring. From the magnificent crown of a mature forest tree to gracefully arching stamens attracting honey bees, from thuggish, thorny vines to microscopic leaf veins, every detail represents a masterpiece of nature awaiting your discovery. Whether you're a professional photographer or nature enthusiast, we welcome you to depict the boundless life stories of Hong Kong native plants through your lens. Let’s document these natural treasures and protect this precious ecological heritage together.

Photo Contest Timeline
Submission Period: 22 May to 15 August 2025
Judging Period: 16 August to 11 September 2025
Winners Announcement: 17 September 2025
Awards Ceremony: October 2025

Application
Click here to submit your photography for the photo contest.
Click here for the terms and conditions of the photo contest.

Workshop Recommendations (Continuously Updated)

  • Venerable Chang Lin | Zen of Photography Workshop (23 May 2025, 22 June 2025)
    Venerable Chang Lin aspires to fuse the practice of Zen with the art of photography, enabling him to genuinely sense and comprehend Zen from within his heart. 
  • Plant Encounters (22 May 2025, 31 May 2025)
    You will learn from staff of KFBG’s Flora Conservation Department about the generous green world that surrounds us, thus deepening your appreciation of the fragile beauty of the many rare species that naturally occur here.

Further Reading

📖 The importance of planting native species and our work: Environmental Greening
📖 Preserving genetic diversity of native plant: Seed Collection
📖 Restoring enduring forests: Direct Seeding
📖 To verify whether a plant is native to Hong Kong, please consult the Hong Kong Plant Database provided by the Hong Kong Herbarium.

Photo Credit
M. C. Li, S. Gale, Y. W. Wong

Enquires
Please email edu_programme@kfbg.org 

Related Links

  • Kadoorie Earth Programme (KEP) is an initiative co-created by KFBG and its network of collaborators and volunteers. By integrating the various strands of KFBG’s nature conservation, sustainable living and holistic education programmes, it provides life-transforming learning experiences that reconnect people with themselves, each other and the rest of nature and enable them to cultivate resilience in the face of global challenges.
  • Nature Art Programmes: Immerse yourself in silent contemplation of nature. Deepen your awareness of beauty and connect with nature through art. KFBG organises a variety of art workshops including Zentangle drawing, sketching and wood art, and exhibitions to guide participants, with or without artistic background, to create nature art.
  • Nature Education Programmes: Become animal detectives and explore the mysteries of wild animals. Use different senses to discover the beauty of plants. Learn about the significance of forest, trees and even soils through field visits, experiments and woodwork, to reconnect with nature.
  • Group Guided Tours: Led by trained environmental interpreters, the content includes experiential and hands-on activities. We encourage a passion for nature, conservation and ecology by nurturing an appreciation of the natural world.
  • Corporate Programmes: Our Holistic Education Department staff can design either half-day or full-day nature education and art programmes for corporate staff or their family members based on specific needs. Leveraging the unique natural landscape and cultural ambiance of Kadoorie Farm and Botanic Garden, our activities may include guided tours, farm-to-table experiences, nature-based workshops, talks and art activities, aiming to promote understanding and practice of sustainable living for organisations.