Victoria Peak is a hill on the western half of Hong Kong Island. It is also known as Mount Austin, and locally as The Peak. With an elevation of 552 m (1,811 ft), it is the highest hill on Hong Kong island, ranked 31 in terms of elevation in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (Tai Mo Shan is the highest point in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region with an elevation of 957 m (3,140 ft)).
The summit is occupied by a radio telecommunications facility and is closed to the public. However, the surrounding area of public parks and high-value residential land is the area that is normally meant by the name The Peak. It is a major tourist attraction that offers views of Central, Victoria Harbour, Lamma Island, and the surrounding islands.
Officially named Victoria Peak, the Peak, as it's known locally, is a mountain directly above Central. Thanks to its height it was the residence of choice for many of the city's early colonial administrators, who were trying to escape the oppressive humidity and persistent mosquitoes in the city below.
Nowadays, rock stars, politicians, and the city's playboys call the Peak home. Property up here is the most expensive real estate in the world, a sale of 12 Mount Kellet in 2006 went for a very reasonable $5,417 per square foot. The Peak has continued to be attractive thanks to the lack of humidity, stunning views of the city and its greenness
What There Is to See
Primarily, the best city views in the world. Hong Kong's stunning cityscape is no better seen than at the top of the Peak. This can be viewed via the Peak walk, which takes you on a circle of the mountaintop taking in views of both the city and the South China Sea. The cityscape view remains one of the greatest man-made views on Earth. The Peak is also relatively underdeveloped, and apart from two shopping and entertainment complexes, it remains surrounded by greenery.
The two complexes, the Peak Tower and Peak Galleria, feature a host of restaurants and coffee bars. The Peak Tower, which has just undergone a multi-million dollar redevelopment, also contains a viewing platform at its top and Madam Tussauds Hong Kong at its bottom. The Peak Tram will deliver you right into the belly of the Peak Tower.
When to Go
Day and night are both spectacular for viewing, however, if you need to choose, the neon lights of Hong Kong's giant skyscrapers are most majestic at night. Make sure that the day isn't too cloudy or polluted; otherwise, you'll have a wasted trip.
How to Get to There
The Victoria Peak Hong Kong Tram - From Garden Road, Central. Number 15 Bus. From Admiralty MTR Station.
The Victoria Peak Hong Kong Tram is the traditional and most picturesque way of climbing the Peak. Built over 100 years ago, the tram climbs at an improbable angle but affords some excellent views over the city below.
However, the scenic bus route is not to be underestimated, the number 15 bus weaves it's way up Victoria Peak a little slower than the tram and in the process takes in some equally stunning views over Central as well as the Happy Valley Racecourse.
History
1924 map of The Peak's residences
The summit is the site of radio telecommunication facilities
Peak Tram approaching the Peak Tower
As early as the 19th century, the Peak attracted prominent European residents because of its panoramic view over the city and its temperate climate compared to the sub-tropical climate in the rest of Hong Kong. The sixth Governor of Hong Kong, Sir Richard MacDonnell had a summer residence built on the Peak circa 1868.[1] Those that built houses named them whimsically, such as The Eyrie, and the Austin Arms.
These original residents reached their homes by sedan chairs, which were carried up and down the steep slope of Victoria Peak. This limited development of the Peak until the opening of the Peak Tram funicular in 1888.[1][2]
The boost to accessibility caused by the opening of the Peak Tram created demand for residences on the Peak. Between 1904 and 1930, the Peak Reservation Ordinance designated the Peak as an exclusive residential area reserved for non-Chinese. They also reserved the Peak Tram for the use of such passengers during peak periods. The Peak remains an upmarket residential area, although residency today is based on wealth.
In 1905 construction of the Pinewood Battery was completed on the western side of the Peak. Harlech Road was constructed around the Peak as a means of resupply to this artillery and later anti-aircraft battery.
Ecology
The Peak is home to many species of birds, most prominently the black kite, and numerous species of butterflies.[citation needed] Wild boar and porcupines are also seen on Peak, along with a variety of snakes.[3]
Tourism
The Peak Tower from Peak Road. The Peak Galleria is to the right.
The road junction at Victoria Gap, next to the Peak Tower. From left to right: Peak Road, the Peak Lookout Restaurant, Harlech Road (with street vendor), Mount Austin Road (with taxi), and Lugard Road.
View of Victoria Harbour from Victoria Peak. The 'Victoria Harbour Gateway' formed by the Two International Finance Centre and the International Commerce Centre on the opposite shore can clearly be seen.
With some seven million visitors every year, the Peak is a major tourist attraction of Hong Kong.[4] It has views of the city and its waterfront. The viewing deck also has coin-operated telescopes that the visitors can use to enjoy the cityscape. The number of visitors led to the construction of two major leisure and shopping centres, the Peak Tower and the Peak Galleria, situated adjacent to each other.
The Peak Tower incorporates the upper station of the Peak Tram, the funicular railway that brings passengers up from the St. John's Cathedral in Hong Kong's Central district, whilst the Peak Galleria incorporates the bus station used by the Hong Kong public buses and green minibuses on the Peak. The Peak is also accessible by taxi and private car via the circuitous Peak Road, or by walking up the steep Old Peak Road from near the Zoological Botanical Gardens or the Central Green Trail from Hong Kong Park. The nearest MTR station is Central.[5]
Victoria Peak Garden is located on the site of Mountain Lodge, the Governor's old summer residence, and is the closest publicly accessible point to the summit. It can be reached from Victoria Gap by walking up Mount Austin Road, a climb of about 150 metres (490 ft). Another popular walk is the level loop along Lugard and Harlech Roads, giving good views of the entire Hong Kong Harbour and Kowloon, as well as Lantau and Lamma Islands, encircling the summit at the level of the Peak Tower.[6]
There are several restaurants on Victoria Peak, most of which are located in the two shopping centres. However, the Peak Lookout Restaurant, is housed in an older and more traditional building which was originally a spacious house for engineers working on the Peak Tramway. It was rebuilt in 1901 as a stop area for sedan chairs, but was re-opened as a restaurant in 1947.
In addition to being a major tourist attraction for Hong Kong, The Peak is also the summit of Hong Kong's property market. Properties on The Peak can be as expensive as anywhere else in the world. On 12 January 2014, a Barker Road property sold at over HK$100,000 (US$13,000) per square foot for HK$690 million.[7]
Official residences
The Peak is home to a few other key officials in Hong Kong:
19 Severn Road – residence of the Secretary for Justice
Victoria House and Victoria Flats at 15 Barker Road – residence of the Chief Secretary for Administration
Headquarters House 11 Barker Road – residence of the Commander of PLA Forces in Hong Kong and former home of the Commander-in-Chief of British Forces
Chief Justice's House 18 Gough Hill Road – residence of the Chief Justice of the Court of Final Appeal
Alternative names
| Name | Cantonese (Jyutping) | Etymology |
|---|---|---|
| 太平山頂 | Taai3peng4saan1 Deng2 | Literally "pacific mountain peak" or "mountain peak of great peace" |
| 山頂 | Saan1 Deng2 | Literally "mountain top"; corresponds to the English name "The Peak" |
| 扯旗山 | Ce2kei4 Saan1 | Literally means "flag-raising mountain" |
| 爐峰 | Lou4 Fung1 | Literally means "furnace peak" |
| 維多利亞山 | Wai4do1lei6aa3 Saan1 | A phonetic transliteration of the English name "Victoria Peak" |
| 柯士甸山 | O1si6din1 Saan1 | A phonetic transliteration of the English name "Mount Austin" |
Cityscape
Hong Kong day view viewed from The Peak Tower observation deck
Night View of Victoria Harbour beside Victoria Peak
Climate
| Climate data for The Peak (2004–2017) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 26.9 (80.4) |
28.3 (82.9) |
30.1 (86.2) |
33.4 (92.1) |
35.5 (95.9) |
35.6 (96.1) |
35.7 (96.3) |
36.6 (97.9) |
35.2 (95.4) |
34.3 (93.7) |
31.8 (89.2) |
28.7 (83.7) |
36.6 (97.9) |
| Average high °C (°F) | 16.4 (61.5) |
17.5 (63.5) |
19.5 (67.1) |
22.7 (72.9) |
25.8 (78.4) |
27.3 (81.1) |
28.4 (83.1) |
28.5 (83.3) |
27.9 (82.2) |
25.5 (77.9) |
22.0 (71.6) |
18.0 (64.4) |
23.3 (73.9) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 13.3 (55.9) |
14.5 (58.1) |
16.6 (61.9) |
20.1 (68.2) |
23.3 (73.9) |
25.1 (77.2) |
25.8 (78.4) |
25.7 (78.3) |
25.0 (77.0) |
22.5 (72.5) |
19.2 (66.6) |
15.0 (59.0) |
20.5 (68.9) |
| Average low °C (°F) | 11.1 (52.0) |
12.3 (54.1) |
14.5 (58.1) |
18.2 (64.8) |
21.5 (70.7) |
23.4 (74.1) |
24.0 (75.2) |
23.8 (74.8) |
23.2 (73.8) |
20.7 (69.3) |
17.3 (63.1) |
12.8 (55.0) |
18.6 (65.5) |
| Record low °C (°F) | 0.0 (32.0) |
2.4 (36.3) |
4.8 (40.6) |
9.9 (49.8) |
15.4 (59.7) |
19.2 (66.6) |
21.7 (71.1) |
21.6 (70.9) |
18.4 (65.1) |
13.5 (56.3) |
6.5 (43.7) |
4.3 (39.7) |
0.0 (32.0) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 34.7 (1.37) |
30.4 (1.20) |
71.5 (2.81) |
138.6 (5.46) |
310.8 (12.24) |
496.4 (19.54) |
392.4 (15.45) |
384.8 (15.15) |
245.8 (9.68) |
92.4 (3.64) |
44.7 (1.76) |
30.5 (1.20) |
2,273 (89.49) |
| Average rainy days (≥ 0.5 mm) | 6.1 | 9.0 | 9.8 | 11.0 | 14.0 | 18.4 | 17.3 | 15.7 | 13.6 | 7.1 | 6.0 | 5.1 | 133.1 |
| Source: Hong Kong Observatory[8][9][10] | |||||||||||||
