It’s now the best time of year to enjoy the beautiful view of colourful autumn leaves in Hong Kong. For outdoorsy people, the countryside areas of Tai Tong in Yuen Long or Lau Shui Heung Reservoir are Instagram-worthy scenic places to see autumn foliage. However, given the popularity of these well-known spots, you may have to brave crowds and long travel times at the weekend, particularly during the pandemic. Instead, have you ever considered the option of appreciating the autumn colours in one of the city’s urban areas?

In this issue of Channel 823, we share our insider tips on the best hidden spots in the city in Kwun Tong, Tsing Yi and Po Lam for you to see the stunning seasonal leaves. As a bonus, we also offer some pointers on the best places to eat nearby, giving you the chance to satisfy your eyes as well as your stomach. Grab your camera and get going!

Jordan Valley Park x Shun Lee Commercial Centre

If you’re a picnic lover and are looking for a convenient and less crowded place, Jordan Valley Park is a perfect choice to hunt for autumn leaves. Being the largest park in Kwun Tong, Jordan Valley Park – a veritable green urban oasis – has long been a popular destination to go for a picnic and relax at any time of the year, thanks to its two massive grassy lawns. It is even more fascinating in December, when the leaves on the trees that dot the park turn a reddish-orange. While Jordan Valley Park cannot compare with Tai Tong’s magnificent red leaves, the urban park’s autumn foliage has its own unique beauty and provides a convenient place where you can sit under sweet gum trees and see brilliant red hues close while picnicking amid a gentle breeze.

After a leisurely picnic, it’s time to have some authentic Hong Kong dishes in Shun Lee Commercial Centre near the park. Oi Lee, a traditional fast food restaurant, serves an irresistible signature fried chicken leg. The chicken leg is crispy and golden-brown on the outside, and tender and juicy on the inside. It tastes even better when it comes with classic crinkle-cut fries and a cup of Hong Kong-style hot milk tea with condensed milk – all devoured within minutes, of course! This delicious meal in a nostalgic Hong Kong fast food shop setting makes for the perfect happy end after an autumn leaf-peeping adventure.

Tsing Yi Park x Cheung Fat Plaza

If you want to get a taste of an autumn forest scene right here in Hong Kong, Tsing Yi Park absolutely deserves a visit. Located close to the Tsing Yi MTR Station, the park’s rows of autumnal trees situated along a beautiful artificial lake provide a stunning Hong Kong version of a Canadian lake view. Coupled with the park’s European architecture and feel, it makes for an unforgettable destination for foliage fans. For the best view of the park’s fall foliage, be sure to go to the lookout point across the artificial lake in Tsing Yi, where you can enjoy a splendid panoramic view of the park’s deciduous cypress and Chinese swamp cypress trees in a row, and a beautiful reflection of the leaves' vibrant mix of colours. Just make sure you have your camera ready to snap stunning, picturesque photos!

After satisfying your eyes with beautiful red leaves, it’s time to reward your stomach with delicious food. Walk a few minutes from the park and you’ll find Cheung Fat Plaza, which offers diners a diverse choice of foods to whet their appetites. If you are looking for grab-and-go delights, Hong Kong-style takeaway refreshment store Wong Gun Street Food and Taiwanese drink store Kung Fu Tea are good choices. If you fancy Beijing-, Sichuan- and Shanghai-style cuisine, Jin Bai Hu is a restaurant you can’t miss. The freshly steamed soup dumplings and a bowl of hot soup noodles with three fresh delicacies – washed down with a sip of hot Chinese tea – are the perfect autumn-time tummy-warmers.

King Lam Estate Park x Po Lam Shopping Centre

If you prefer enjoying the red leaves while walking on a path by yourself quietly, King Lam Estate Park is the perfect place for you. Hidden in a cluster of buildings in Po Lam, the park is close to Po Lam MTR Station. Although it is not particularly spacious, there are dozens of sweet gum trees and queen crape myrtle trees planted along the walking trail in this hidden gem. If you are tired of the hustle and bustle of the city, this is the perfect place to relax with a fall stroll as you soak up some sunshine and get reinvigorated while enjoying the delightfully cool weather.

The adventure isn’t complete without an afternoon dim sum bite in “Tea Pot” at Po Lam Shopping Centre. Although the restaurant has a modern vintage interior, the dim sum there is hand-made and is freshly steamed the moment you order. The dim sum menu is served every day from 7am to 4pm. The restaurant’s signature dim sum steamed beef balls are beyond amazing with Worcestershire sauce – the beef itself is very tender, succulent, bouncy and soft. Besides the meatballs, some seldom-seen traditional dim sum dishes such as pork belly siu mai, duck feet roll, and Chinese sausage bun are also must-try items!