Best visited between October and May, the Mai Po Marshes are a site of international importance for migratory waterfowl such as Dalmatian pelicans and black-faced spoonbills. One access point - for dedicated birders only - is the isolated Mai Po Nature Reserve near Mai Po village, run by the WWF (T2526 4473, a taxi from Sheung Shui KCR costs about $60), with floating hides for bird-watching.

The other place worth seeing is the Hong Kong Wetland Park near Tin Shui Wai (T3152 2666, Tin Shui Wai KCR and then Light Rail to Wetland Park), a more accessible but contrived area of reclaimed ponds looking across to highrise developments over in China, with boardwalks, hides and a comprehensive information centre.