More Expensive Real Estate at The Peak

The Peak is situated at the top of Mount Austin and is the tallest mountain on Hong Kong Island with an altitude of 1,810 ft.

It is probably one of Hong Kong's most popular tourist spot, attracting around 7 million visitors every year because if offers the most amazing views of Hong Kong. It is also home to one of the most expensive residential areas in Hong Kong (the other being Repulse Bay, which I have not had the chance to visit yet, more on that in the future). Sir Richard McDonnell, the sixth governor of HK had a summer house built here in 1868.

Residents of the peak used to be carried up its steep slopes via sedan chairs until the inauguration of the peak tram in 1888 as a means of transportation up to the Peak. The Peak is now also accessible by bus which takes passengers through tight winding roads up the mountain. Once at the top, my breath was taken away by the gorgeous view of the city. I was very lucky that it was an extremely clear day in Hong Kong. What an awesome day! :)


photo above: the city starts to light up as darkness settles.

1. Inside the peak tram on the way up to the Peak. There are 4 intermediate stops, between Central running to the Peak via the Mid-Levels The ride lasts about 7 minutes covering 1.4km and reaching a height of 400 metres. 2. The ride is so steep that the buildings seen from the peak tram look like they are sitting at a 27 degree angle. I'm actually holding the camera straight! 3. The last stop. This is the point where everyone ooh and ahhs and starts furiously taking photos (myself included!) 4. The peak tram in the station at the Peak. 5. Inside the Peak Tower, a shopping complex at the Peak. 6. Looking out from the sky terrace, the upper most part of the Peak Tower, offering a 360 degree view of Hong Kong. 7. A view of Hong Kong from the sky terrace, overlooking the western side of Hong Kong Island (bottom), Kowloon (top) and Victoria Harbour. 8. A view of the other side of Hong Kong. 9. A look at the Peak Galleria, another shopping complex at the Peak opposite to the Peak Tower. 10. The Peak tower. Located at the very top is the sky terrace as mentioned above. 11. Lugard Road is the beginning of the Peak Circle Walk, a nature trail that takes you on a 40 minute walk around the peak offering more gorgeous views of the city. I have decided to take the walk at dusk. 12. At about 20 minutes into the circle walk, this is what you get to see! The bridge you see in the photo, is the Tsing Ma Bridge which links Lantau Island (where the HK International Airport is located) to the rest of Hong Kong. 13. I catch a glimpse of the peak tram leaving the station. The chinese style looking structure on the right is the Lions View Point Pavilion where you can enjoy a view of the city. 14. The peak tram terminus inside the Peak Tower. 15. A look at someone's super expensive property on the Peak. This looks like a back entrance leading to the circle walk path. 16. More view at sunset. The tall building on the right is the ICC, being built opposite to the IFC (not shown) on the HK island side. Directly to the left of that may or may not be a typhoon shelter (shelter for fishing boats during typhoons). 17. A look at the city from the Lions View Point Pavilion mentioned in 13. 18. Some interesting greenery observed during the circle walk. It looks like jungle in there! 19. The night view of Hong Kong. Amazing right?

The Peak..I mean Stanley

I meant to write a post about The Peak since I visited that 2 Sundays ago (even before riding escalators and looking at expensive real estate in central). But I realized that I don't have exciting enough pictures to show for it and will probably make another trip back there, so stay tuned for that. It is a really amazing place and offers the best views of Hong Kong. Another amazing place that I have really taken a liking to is Stanley.

This village town is located on the southeastern part of Hong Kong island (which is where I reside, yay!) and was only a short bus ride away. Actually, I think Stanley refers to the Pennisula on this side of Hong Kong island. It also known to the Chinese locals here as 赤柱 ("chek chue") which supposedly means "bandit's post" because a famous pirate by the name of Cheung Po Tsai was once active here according to the legend. Stanley has a Canadian connection too; this is where Canadian troops took their last stand before they surrendered to the Japanese in 1941 (the battle of hong kong).

This was really an interesting place; not only did it make for great photos, the journey there was interesting too! To get there one must travel through winding mountain roads. I felt like the bus was going up and down and then up again. Every few minutes, there would be unexpected scenery, tucked away in between trees and mountain roads (I unfortunately could not capture any of these on camera because the bus driver was driving too fast!). But, I did get to explore this neat village on a perfect warm sunny afternoon. I'll let the photos speak for themselves:

1.2.3. I, like the rest of the tourists was fascinated with climbing those giant rocks while enjoying the sunshine, gorgeous view and being so close the the water. 4.5.6. I was also fascinated with the messages left on the rocks: the first one reads: "you will always be my best friend", the 2nd one I'm guessing says: "can I be your lover?" and the 3rd one caught my attention because it loos like someone already beat me to writing that! 7. Walking along the boardwalk. 8. Main street, lined with bars and restaurants of a variety of cuisines. 9. The waterfront promenade. Underneath those red umbrellas are stalls selling souvenirs and refreshments. 10. Little colourful boats parked at Blake Pier. 11. The building in the left corner is Murray House. It once stood in Central as a government building that was dismantled in 1982 and then rebuilt here in 1998. It now houses the Hong Kong Maritime Museum and a few restaurants. 12. The view from the top floor inside Murray House. 13. Blake Pier named after Sir Henry Arthur Blake, the 12th governor of HK. The pier was also once located in Central. The roof of the pier was transferred to Stanley in 2006, disassembled brick by brick. 14. The Tin Hau Temple built by Cheung Po Tsai (the pirate mentioned above) dedicated to Tin Hau, "Empress of Heaven". She possessed supernatural powers that saved fishing people from storms and disasters and is now known to be the deity of the boat people in Hong Kong. 15. A look inside the temple. Inside there are a number of deities sitting on a bench around the wall with Tin Hau in the centre. On the back wall, a giant frame holds a tiger skin that is supposed to scare away evil spirits. Apparently this tiger appeared in Stanley in the 1940s. 16. Stanley Market - great bargains in chinese silk, traditional dresses, arts and crafts, souvenirs and shoes and toys too! 17. Stanley is famous for its beaches. There are 2 of them here. 18. Some of the junk found on the beach. Not pictured here were broken china, glass, and some garbage :/. 19. A footprint in the sand. 20. I really enjoyed watching and listening to the waves lapping on the shore. 21. Houses for the village people. They are so lucky because... 22. ...their backyard is a beach! 23.24. Stalker photos of a boy and his father playing on the beach. 25. Leaky boats abandoned on the beach. 26. I'm really lucky that I happened to be in the right place at the right time for these photos to turn out so good. 27. St. Stephen's beach at Stanely, located on the west side of the pennisula. 28. The view of the beach from above on the road while looking for the bus stop. 29. A peaceful walk through the Stanley Military Cemetery used for burials of those in the Garrison Force and their family members in 1841-1846 and those in WWII. There are several Canadians buried here too. 30. The stairs leading to the cemetery. 31. This is what I'm talking about, surprise scenery from the bus ride on the way back to the city. 32. Riding at the front of the a double decker bus on the way back from Stanley. In front is an antique double decker tram.