Throughout history, snakes have held a unique place in human imagination. Across the histories and cultures of both East and West, snakes have been seen as symbols of wisdom and agility. However, certain mythological narratives have also portrayed them as deceitful and malicious, fostering a complex perception that evokes both reverence and fear. 

Kadoorie Farm and Botanic Garden (KFBG) has long been committed to local snake conservation through wildlife rescue and public education, working to resolve human-snake conflicts. As we enter the Year of the Snake, our Wild Snake Rescue Project celebrates its 26th year. This exhibition is specially organised to invite you to re-acquaint yourself with snakes – they are not to be feared, but are an essential part of nature. 

In this exhibition, we will share the achievements of snake conservation, provide correct knowledge about nature conservation and help dispel misunderstandings about snakes. At the same time, we hope this exhibition inspires visitors to care about snakes and nature conservation, and transform this attention into tangible actions.

A series of workshops, seminars and guided tours will be held concurrently, offering visitors diverse perspectives and experiences to rediscover snakes. Side by side, our teams at KFBG invite you to be our steadfast allies in protecting snakes and the natural world, supporting one another as we work toward a future where humans and nature live in harmony.

Side by Side In Harmony: Snakes, Nature & Us Dates: 20 January 2025 – 3 March 2025 (Except KFBG closing days) Time: 10:00am - 4:00pm Venue: KFBG *In the event of unfavourable weather, the exhibition may be temporarily closed without prior notice.

Exclusive activities

Six Interactive Zones

Following the suggested route, visitors begin at the Plaza with a giant Snake and Ladders Game suitable for families. The journey continues to the Reptile Lookout for hands-on experiences with snake specimens and interactive displays about snake senses. Through the Art House Pavilion and into the lush Walter Kerr Garden with its flowing streams, visitors can learn about local flora and fauna, participating in riverside games to discover ‘The Snake's Buffet Hunt’. The route extends through the Insect House and Butterfly Path, leading to the Gloria Barretto Orchid Sanctuary and Orchid Haven with a 30-minute walk, where visitors learn about contemporary challenges facing snakes. Further up at the highest point – T.S. Woo Memorial Pavilion – visitors can experience snakes’ unique sensory perception amidst mountain views. The journey concludes at Sunshine Hall, where visitors can learn about snake rescue procedures and conservation achievements, with rescue equipment on display and photo opportunities. Shuttle bus services are available, with tickets purchasable at reception for convenient travel between zones.

CLICK HERE to download the exhibition map

Zone | Exhibits and Games

Point A: Plaza Snake-shaped Display Panel A serpentine display panel winding between stone pillars serves as the exhibition's introduction. It addresses the long-standing misunderstandings about snakes and encourages visitors to set aside prejudices while learning about snake ecology and their importance to natural ecosystems.
Snake and Ladders Game ‘Guardian of Snakes Quest’ While Gen Z might not be familiar with the traditional snake and ladder game, it holds nostalgic value for those born between the 1940s (and even earlier) up to the 1990s. We've redesigned the classic game, transforming it into a 5m x 5m super-sized 100-square board where adults and children can become living game pieces. The illustrator has created friendly snake images, and the rewards/penalties relate to snake conservation, for example: ‘Purchase a snakeskin handbag, prompting reflection on conservation issues. Move back to Square 71.’ ‘Spot a snake at home, stay calm, open the door for it to leave before calling for help. Roll the dice again.’ Players will learn correct snake information through the game's reward and penalty system.
Point B: Reptile Lookout Blind Touch ‘Mystery Snake’ Five wooden boxes mounted on railings contain snake-related items including snake’s shed skin, scales, eggs, gallbladder and bones. The public can reach inside to experience these items through touch, creating an intimate ‘contact’ with snake-related materials.
Rotating Panels ‘Six Snake Superpowers’ Snakes are known for their agility and intelligence. Despite lacking legs, they possess many ‘super powers’ that enable survival in harsh environments. Using playground-style rotating panels divided into 12 sections, we reveal ‘Six Snake Superpowers’ with questions like: ‘How do they hear without ears?’, ‘Why is the snake tongue forked?’, ‘Why aren't snakes actually greedy?’ Answers are revealed on the reverse side.
Point D：Walter Kerr Garden Physical AR Frames ‘Hide & Slither: The Snake's Buffet Hunt' Converting AR technology into a physical experience, we encourage visitors to put down their phones and use transparent frame overlays with markers and information. These align with the actual landscape, helping discover hidden animals (snake prey and neighbours) and understand snake habitat characteristics.
Point F：Gloria Barretto Orchid Sanctuary The ‘Snake Feast’ in the Mountain As a snake conservation exhibition, we're not serving actual snake dishes. Instead, we've transformed the pavilion into a mock traditional snake shop and Chinese medicine store. Round tables simulate traditional folding tables and medicine counters, encouraging reflection on Chinese snake-eating traditions and traditional medicine while highlighting current threats to snakes.
Point G：Orchid Haven Snake Detectives: The Telescope Challenge Our diverse terrain and microclimates provide ideal habitats for wildlife, including snakes. The waterfall and valley terrain of Orchid Haven is perfect for Red-necked Keelbacks. We've installed telescopes on the railings for visitors to search for clues about snake habitats following exhibit prompts.
Point H：T.S. Woo Memorial Pavilion ‘Talking Snakes’: Mythological Snake Stories Humans have long imagined various roles for snakes in both Eastern and Western mythology and religion, often casting them as antagonists. We've placed six sound-equipped snake fabric dolls that tell stories from Chinese, Greek, and Biblical sources when activated, encouraging reflection on the origins of negative snake perceptions.
Thermal ‘Vision’ Quest Did you know snakes are very nearsighted and can only see objects within about 1m? They rely on heat-sensing organs to create visual images from thermal energy. We've set up thermal detector for visitors to experience snake vision.
Different Ways of ‘Hearing’ Without ears, snakes feel vibrations through their bodies to create hearing sensation, helping them detect prey movements in the wild. Paper listening tubes allow visitors to quietly experience the sounds of snake habitats.
Point I：Sunshine Hall Display Panels, Snake Expert Sharing, and Equipment Display As the exhibition's final stop, Sunshine Hall summarises the exhibition and shares 25 years of KFBG's Wild Snake Rescue Project achievements. Three closely collaborating ‘seh wong’ (professional snake catchers) share their memorable experiences through audio recordings.
Sending Your Blessings to Snakes Finally, we hope visitors gain the correct understanding of snake behaviour and ecological roles. To mark the Year of the Snake, visitors are invited to write blessing messages on cards and hang them on wooden frames. Through this simple act, we hope everyone will join us in becoming guardians for snakes.

Snake Stamp Treasures: A Journey of Stamps and Wishes

To enhance visitor engagement and nature exploration, we've designed the - ‘Snake Stamp Treasures’ four-colour stamp collection activity. Six stamping stations throughout the garden offer different coloured ink pads, allowing visitors to gradually complete a multi-layered snake pattern through visiting each zone. Upon completion, the postcard reveals a rich, complete snake artwork. The card includes a blessing section where visitors can write messages for snakes. These blessings can be detached along perforated lines and hung on the wishing rack at Sunshine Hall. Visitors completing the stamp collection receive a complimentary limited-edition snake pin. Collect all four designs depicting different snakes’ graceful forest movements. Through this colour-weaving journey, visitors piece together a complete conservation picture.

Hundred Families Snake Patchwork

Throughout the six zones, visitors will discover four ‘Hundred Families Snake Patchwork’ art installations dancing among trees. This cross-disciplinary project combining ecological conservation, cultural heritage, and artistic innovation draws inspiration from snakes’ natural moulting process: just as children outgrow clothes, snakes shed their skin multiple times throughout life. The concept cleverly echoes the Chinese traditional ‘Hundred Families Quilt’ blessing for newborns’ health and safety, connecting human and natural life cycles. CLICK HERE for more details.

Enquiry
Contact Ms Suki Choy at 2483 7105 during office hours or email suki.choy@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.