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Explore the region
About Hong Kong International Airport
The South Waterfall Garden uses digital imagery to create an interactive creek, pond and waterfall within the public terminal area. Sky Bridge connects Terminal 1 with the satellite concourse, giving eligible departing passengers a high-level passage through the airport. These are flight-related opportunities rather than one unrestricted sightseeing circuit: the bridge lies beyond departure controls, while the garden is listed as non-restricted.
Hong Kong's only earlier civil airport was Kai Tak (启德机场) in Kowloon City, originally built on the outskirts but gradually surrounded by the expanding city, which made it difficult to expand and, because runways lay close to housing, caused severe noise pollution for residents for many years. The closeness of the runway and taxiway meant any incident could paralyse the whole airport, and the approach path crossed densely populated residential areas, raising the risk of a secondary crash; earlier government plans to relocate the airport to Ping Shan (屏山) and Deep Bay (后海湾) both came to nothing before Chek Lap Kok was chosen.
The new airport opened on 6 July 1998 on the artificial island of Chek Lap Kok (赤𫚭角), adjoining Lantau Island, replacing Kai Tak; it covers about 1,905 hectares and is run by the Airport Authority Hong Kong (香港机场管理局). A three-runway system was completed and fully operational on 28 November 2024, after a HK$141.5 billion project that built a new 3,800-metre third runway, expanded Terminal 2 and upgraded related facilities, raising the airport's hourly flight-handling capacity from 70 to 102 flights.
At the airport
- The South Waterfall Garden creates a virtual landscape with interactive multimedia water imagery.
- Sky Bridge provides a high-level connection between Terminal 1 and the satellite concourse.
Location & getting there
Getting to Hong Kong International Airport
The Airport Express connects Airport station with Tsing Yi, Kowloon and Hong Kong stations. At the airport, follow your airline’s terminal instructions. The South Waterfall Garden is on Level 5 in a non-restricted area; Sky Bridge access is near Gate 15 on Level 9 and requires the appropriate departing-passenger access.
Plan your connection
Suggested order for the visit:
-
Public terminal and South Waterfall Garden
Use the landside digital garden if it fits your journey.
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Sky Bridge, for eligible departing passengers
Use the airside connection only when compatible with your gate and boarding time.
This is an editorial sequence of named spaces or places. It does not imply a verified walking connection or promise opening, ticket availability or a journey time.
Find Hong Kong International Airport
香港國際機場 · 离岛区
The pin marks the area, not the entrance.
More places nearby
Approximate straight-line distances between map pins, not travel distances.
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View guide →Sources & visit information
The sources below support the place-specific description and arrival information. Suggested combinations are editorial planning ideas; confirm current opening, entry arrangements and transport services for your date.
- Airport Authority: South Waterfall Garden ↗
- Airport Authority: airport development ↗
- Airport Authority: accessible connections ↗
- MTR: Airport Express ↗
- Chinese Wikipedia: 香港國際機場 (revision 94250691, 2026-09-08) ↗
Background paragraphs translated and condensed from Wikipedia contributors, "香港國際機場", Chinese Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0. Source revision 94250691.