Exploring the Iconic Forbes Road Banyan Tree Wall in Kennedy Town

Discover the 26 Chinese Banyan trees on Forbes Road. This historic tree wall was preserved during MTR construction and remains a unique urban nature landmark in Kennedy Town, Hong Kong.

The area’s love for the Forbes Road Banyan trees was made apparent in 2005, throughout the planning and building and construction of the Kennedy Town MTR train station. Originally meant to be situated under Forbes Road Play ground, public concerns regarding the possibly unfavorable results of the building service the banyans, resulted in the MTR corporation relocating the terminal to a various site close by.

Banyan trees precariously grasping onto whatever surfaces they can with their splayed roots, are a reasonably common view around Hong Kong. No place are these trees much more countless or excellent than on Forbes Street in Kennedy Town.

Preserving the Historic Banyan Tree Wall

Initially built to reinforce the hillside from landslides, the 200 meter long wall that runs the size of Forbes Road is home to 26 specific Chinese Banyan trees. Clinging drastically to the brickwork, sections of the wall are completely covered from top to bottom with banyan roots, making the tree wall one of the area’s most recognizable sites.

With the station transferred, the Forbes Road Tree Wall surface continues to grow, offering shade for pedestrians underneath its leafed cover, and providing Kennedy Community citizens a rare bit of plant in a district controlled by household high rise structures.

Visiting the Forbes Road Banyan Trees

Kennedy Town MTR departure C comes out onto Forbes Road next to the tree wall. While Kennedy Town minibus terminal, simply across the roadway from Forbes Street, is served by the 23, 23M, 54M, 54S, 58, 58M and 59M paths.