Hong Kong - Victoria Peak

Towering above the commercial heart of Hong Kong Island, Victoria Peak - otherwise simply known as 'the Peak' - offers the most spectacular views in Hong Kong. On a rare clear day, the 552-meter (1,810 foot) summit overlooks not just the improbable towers of the northern side of Hong Kong Island, but also Kowloon, the hills of the New Territories, Victoria harbor and beyond. To the south, the lush vegetation of the south side of Hong Kong Island leads down towards Lamma island; while to the west lie the islands of Cheung Chau, Peng Chau and massive Lantau. The vistas are just as spectacular by night. Don't bother coming up if the weather is foggy, you won't be able to see anything.

Its milder temperatures and extraordinary vantage points have long made the Peak the most sought after address in Hong Kong. Governor Sir Richard MacDonnell built a summer house here around 1868, when the trip from Central, by horse, sedan chair or on foot, took around an hour. The commencement of the Peak Tram services in 1888 cut the arduous journey down to just under ten minutes, making it an increasingly popular residential area.

Remarkably, the tram has never suffered any fatal accidents. Its most serious setback occurred during a severe typhoon in the 1960s, when much of the track was washed away. The arrival of the tram also opened the Peak up to substantial development. Today the Peak is among the most expensive places in the world to buy property, and many of Hong Kong's movers and shakers live there.

Victoria Peak
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