Sustainable Chinese medicine garden project supported by the Chinese Medicine Development Fund – The grand opening of the new attractions, “Whiskers Herbal Valley” and “Eco-Herbal Trail” at Ocean Park took place on January 15, 2025. This project is a collaboration between the Technological and Higher Education Institute of Hong Kong (THEi) and Ocean Park, marking a new milestone in popularising Chinese culture and Chinese medicine knowledge to the public.
Combining Fun and Education to Spark Public Interest
Covering a total of 186 square meters, “Whiskers Herbal Valley” and “Eco-Herbal Trail,” which are located in the Lower Park, showcase a variety of medicinal plants and herbs surrounded by themes related to the Chinese Zodiac, Lingnan Chinese medicine, and dietary. This integrates rich Chinese culture and displays the source plants of Chinese materia medica along with their interesting stories.
Prof. Alan Lau Kin-tak, President of THEi; Prof. Dawn Au Ching-tung, Li Ning Hon Endowed Professor in Chinese Medicine; Mr. Ivan Wong Chi-fai, CEO of Ocean Park; Dr. Hon Hoey Simon Lee, MH, JP, Director (non-remunerated), TCM All-sector Hong Kong Centre; Dr. Vincent Chung Chi-ho, Commissioner for Chinese Medicine Development; and Hon Chu Kwok-keung, Legislative Council Member for the Education Functional Constituency officiated the launch ceremony, marking the official opening of the “Whiskers Herbal Valley” and “Eco-Herbal Trail”. Numerous management representatives from THEi, Chinese medicine experts, and Ocean Park representatives attended to witness this significant moment as well.
THEi’s President Aims to Establish an Ecosystem for Chinese Medicine Development
Prof. Alan Lau expressed his gratitude for the funding offered by the Chinese Medicine Fund Development and for the support from the Ocean Park, which facilitated part of the area for “Whiskers Herbal Valley” and “Eco-Herbal Trail”. This collaboration advances the sustainable Chinese medicine garden project. He revealed that the Institute launched the “One School One Traditional Chinese Medicines (TCM) Garden” initiative as early as 2023, aiming to help students understand Chinese medicine culture through various activities, such as establishing Chinese medicine gardens, hosting planting seminars, and conducting pharmaceutical workshops. In the same year, with corporate support, the Institute also established the “Chinese Medicine & Culture Research Centre” along with the Chinese Herbal Medicine Garden (德根盛園), promoting applied research relevant to Chinese medicine while working together to build an ecosystem for its development in Hong Kong and to disseminate essential Chinese cultural knowledge.
Ocean Park’s CEO Supports Students and Young People in Understanding Chinese Medicine
Mr. Ivan Wong stated that Ocean Park is delighted to collaborate with THEi on the sustainable Chinese medicine garden project, which creates two special attractions with significant educational value. These attractions provide an interactive and enjoyable learning platform for visitors, especially students and young people, to gain a deeper understanding of the planting knowledge and medicinal value of Chinese herbs. The Park hopes these two new green attractions can inspire the public to explore the wisdom of Chinese medicine and support the preservation of Chinese culture.
Students from various secondary schools were also invited to attend the launch ceremony and participate in workshops and guided tours of the garden, where they could discover the secrets of Chinese medicine and learn about the forms and functions of various Chinese herbs. Students from THEi’s Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Chinese Medicinal Pharmacy showcased authentic Chinese herbs from Sichuan and offered tastings of herbal sparkling tea (草本氣泡茶) and Glabrous Greenbrier Rhizome Tea (土茯苓代茶飲), allowing participants to understand the evolution of Chinese medicine from ancient times to the present, as well as the modernization of medicinal health products, and experience the unique charm of Chinese medicine culture.