Victoria Peak is a mountain in the western half of Hong Kong Island. It is also known
as Mount Austin, and locally as The Peak. With an altitude of 552 m, it is the highest
mountain on the island. 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 over Central, Victoria Harbour, Lamma Island and
the surrounding islands.
History
As early as 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. Those that built houses named them whimsically,
such as The Eyrie, and the Austin Arms. See First houses on the Peak.
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. 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. Tourism
With some seven million visitors every year, the Peak is a major tourist attraction of
Hong Kong. It offers spectacular views of the city and its harbours. 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. 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. Another popular walk is the level loop along Lugard Road,
giving good views of Hong Kong's Central district and Kowloon, and then returning via Harlech
Road, encircling the summit at the level of the Peak Tower. 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. At the peak of The Peak, properties are more precious than anywhere
else in the world.Most of the super rich in Hong Kong – including Cheung Kong chairman
Li Ka-shing and the Kwok brothers of Sun Hung Kai Properties – live in detached houses
in Island South or The Peak. A house at Barker Road sold for HK$1.8 billion
last year. At $68,228 per square foot, it is the most expensive location in the world.
The buyer is reported to be a Hong Kong billionaire, Lee Shau-kee.
On 12 January. 2014, a Barker Road property sold at over HK$100k per square foot for HK$690
million. Natural history
The Peak is home to many species of birds, most prominently the Black Kite, and numerous
species of butterflies. Alternative names
See also List of buildings, sites and areas in Hong
Kong List of mountains, peaks and hills in Hong
Kong List of places named after Queen Victoria
The Peak Hotel, a hotel located on Victoria Peak from 1888 to 1936
Peak Reservation Ordinance Tourism in Hong Kong
References
External links Photos of Victoria Peak at official Hong Kong
tourism website