My favorite activity in Hong Kong is going to Victoria Peak, or known simply as The Peak. This is that mountain behind Central and Admiralty. Hong Kong has this enviable mix of mountains and sea and land in between where towers are built. This scene is easily one of the most recognizable ones in the world.
There are several ways to go to the peak, among them and the most touristy is to take the Peak Tram which is somewhere behind the Bank of China tower. The ride itself is inclined and as the tram is pulled up, it gives visitors a unique view of Hong Kong rotated 45 degrees to the right. This is a short, direct and fun ride to the top.
Another route is to take the bus. There is a bus at Central bus terminal which can take you to The Peak. It goes by a circuitous route around the mountain with a lot of amazing passes as you go higher and higher up. There are some tours which will bring visitors just halfway to the the peak where there is a viewing desk but you only get to see Wanchai. The real thing is still further up. And just because the road is steep doesn’t mean that no one lives here. There are pencil thin condominium towers up here and rental prices are among the most expensive in Hong Kong. After all is comes with a view to die for.
The final way is to walk. Yes, there is a nice path from Lan Kwai Fong all the way to The Peak. This is not some mere road where buses pass by, but a real hiking trail where vehicles cannot pass through. The climb to The Peak takes around 45 minutes of steep climbing but you get to absorb all the wonderful scenery are you climb higher and higher.
Whichever way you go, you’ll end up at The Peak. As expected, The Peak has a viewing deck for visitors to absorb all of that world famous view. There is a viewing deck from the Peak Galleria, which is a small shopping center with restaurants. The viewing deck is on the rooftop along with the other tourists. If one is coming from the Peak Tram or walking from Lan Kwai Fong, you end up a the Peak Tower, a uniquely shape building filled with entertainment options including of course a viewing deck.
I absolutely love seeing this view. The best time to be here is near sunset when you get a day shot, sunset shot and a night shot. When I go there this time around, it was already dark and all the buildings were already lit up. I won’t get my day and sunset shot but the night shot is probably the most spectacular one.
Unfortunately, I was lazy and I didn’t bring my tripod with me so I was stuck with handheld shots. I had to brace my camera against some support to get a steady shot. Another thing I like about this place is that it is on top of a mountain where the air is much cooler. In summer time, this would be a great place to be in. It is amazing to see the big temperature different between ground level and The Peak. If only it were cheap to live here.
From the basement of the Peak Galleria, we then took a bus back to Causeway Bay where we will be having dinner. This is my last night in Hong Kong and I’m hoping dinner would be something to remember. A visit to The Peak is a perfect way to cap a wonderful trip through China.
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