viii) Victoria Peak / The Peak
The Peak (also known as Mount Austin or Victoria Peak) is the number one place to visit during your Hong Kong stay. Even if you just have a few hours in Hong Kong, enjoying the spectacular views of the city, its harbours and surrounding islands from The Peak should not go amiss. Like the tourists say “if you haven’t been up The Peak, you haven’t been to Hong Kong”. And because of that, this would be our last visit of the day. Save the best for last!!
The Peak is the highest evaluation of Hong Kong Island and offers amazing, spectacular, stunning or as some would put it jaw-dropping views of Hong Kong by day and night. Offering spectacular views over Central, Victoria Harbour and the surrounding island, the Peak is a major tourist attraction and a must visit destination in Hong Kong, welcoming over seven million visitors a year.
During the early 20th century The Peak served as an exclusive residential area for expats only and the only way you could get up to The Peak was by foot or by The Peak Tram. You might ask why so many foreign expatriates decided or choose to live on The Peak. Certainly, the panoramic views attracted the privileged European expatriates and was one of the reasons to choose this location, but the cooler and more pleasant climate compared to the rest of Hong Kong might be the “real” reason back then. Although the practice of being a designated area only for expats ended shortly after the World War II, it is nowadays more popular than ever and remains an up-market residential area. The Peak is also home to many celebrities, company CEOs, expats and government officials. In case you decide to take one of the buses up to The Peak and not The Peak Tram, you can get some impressions of the residential buildings and may be have the chance to spot one of the TV, Movie or Pop-Star celebrities in their expensive cars passing by!!
How to get to the Peak
There are several ways to get up to the Peak.
i) By The Peak Tram
ii) CityBus 15 from HK Bus Terminus
Duration : 40 minutes to an hour (depending on local traffic condition)
Fare : HKD 9.80/person
iii) Green Minibus No.1 from HK Bus Terminus.
Duration : 45-70 minutes on heavy traffic.
Fare : HKD 9.00/person
a) The Peak Tram
The most quickest and scenic way to reach the Peak is to take a ride on The Peak Tram, a 120 year old funicular railway that departs from the Peak Tram Lower Terminus on Garden Road. As it is one of the most popular tourist attraction in HK, definitely we didn't want to miss it right. A bit about The peak Tram, it was the first cable funicular in Asia opening in 1888, which carries both tourists and residents to the peak of The Peak. It was initially used only for the governor of Hong Kong and residents of the Peak, but today it can be enjoyed by all visitors.
Peak Tram Tickets
Adult : Single = HK$28 Return = HK$40
Child (Aged 3-11) & Senior (Aged 65 or above) : Single = HK$18 Return = HK$11
Note : Octopus cards are accepted for the Peak Tram, which will help you to avoid the long queue at the ticketing counter.
Operating Hours
7.00 am to midnight daily, departing every 10-15 minutes from the Peak Tram Lower Terminus on Garden Road.
How To Get To Peak Tram Lower Terminus
1) Walk 1 - From Central MTR, take Exit J2, which leads to Chater Garden where you will find the Bank of China Tower. From Bank of China, follow Garden Road uphill to the Terminus. 15mins walk.
2) Walk 2 - From Cotton Tree Drive (66W) / Murray Road (33E) Tram Station, walk to Bank of China Tower, then follow Garden Road uphill to the Terminus. 10mins walk.
3) Alternatively, you can take a Taxi or catch Bus No. 15C from the Star Ferry Central Pier. Bus services operate daily from 10.00am to 11.40 pm. The journey takes about 15 minutes and cost HKD4.20.
Continue from which I left you in my last post, we walked from Mid-Level Escalator to Jubilee Street Tram Station (25E) and took tram to Murray Road (35E). From there, we continued to walk to the Peak Tram Lower Terminus.
Skyscrapers along the way. The geometrical building is a Bank Of China Tower.
We had to climb the Garden Road uphill to the terminus. Why I said climb... because the road started to incline from here. Be prepared!
It already dark once we reached the lower terminus.
As the Peak Tram is the most popular way of getting to the Peak, do expect massive crowds, especially on weekends and public holidays.
We took the single tickets only (plus combo with Sky Terrance pass) as we decided to experience City bus for journey back to Central.
The Lower Terminus was insanely crowded with hundreds or even thousands locals and international tourists (mostly from Mainland China) who might have queued for hours to get on the Tram. During peak hours, you are expected to wait at least 2 hours for a short 7 minutes ride. Thus, it is best to avoid visiting on a weekend or public holiday. I would suggest visiting early on a weekday for a better experience.
There was no railing at the platform and I was worried that someone behind will accidentally push me off into the tracks.
When the tram finally arrived, there was a lot of pushing and shoving. There was no proper crowd control and everyone around us was trying to push their way into the tram so they can get a seat. It was incredibly annoying.
Nevertheless, we managed to get our seat inside the tram. Once you are in the tram, try to grab a seat on the right side, which will offer you the best view. Please note that due to safety reasons, baby strollers are not allowed on the tram. So make sure the baby stroller is fully folded before you get on the tram. The alley inside The Peak Tram is rather narrow and steep with some “curvy” steps.
The ride uphill is very steep, practically 45 degree, so it can be extremely uncomfortable. It takes about 7 minutes each way and manages roughly a height difference of 400m. Be prepared that the 1.4km journey is quite steep and a truly unique experience. The seats or wooden benches just faces one direction and when you sit down you already have some idea how steep the journey will be. Be prepared that due to the steepness you will be pressed into the old wooden benches of The Peak Tram and in case you have to stand, it is highly recommend hanging on to the rails and/or handlebars. But do not worry as the tram is perfectly safe. No accident of any kind has ever occurred since it started its operation in 1888 :D
The Peak Tram ride offers spectacular panoramic views of Hong Kong. When you start your journey you will travel between Hong Kong’s majestic skyscrapers and sometimes can get a glimpse of the local people’s living room. Further up the way you experience views of Victoria Harbour as well as the Hong Kong Island side. However, the steepness makes it extremely hard for us to take a nice photo. You will pass four intermediate stations (Kennedy Road, Macdonnell Road, May Road and Barker Road) before The Peak Tram arrives at Peak Tram Upper Terminus and will lead you inside The Peak Tower.
After a short 7 minutes ride, we arrived at The Upper Peak Tram Terminus located at the Peak Tower. We exited through a souvenir shop offering a wide range of souvenirs and gifts including personalized wax hands, mini look-alike figurines, 3D glass cubes and many other typical tourists souvenirs. But of course, price of souvenirs are not cheap.
b) The Peak Tower
The Peak Tower is one of Hong Kong’s most stylish and modern architectural buildings. Sitting at 396 meters above sea level on the Victoria Peak, The Peak Tower is a leisure and shopping complex offering a wide array of entertainment, shopping and dining options. On clear sunny days you easily can spot the spectacular shaped Peak Tower even from the Tsim Sha Tsui Waterfront Promenade at Victoria Harbour. The Peak Tower is also jokingly referred as the “Rice Bowl” by local Hong Kong people because of it's shape. Access to The Peak Tower is free of charge. Besides the shops and restaurants, other famous attractions such as Madame Tussauds Wax Museum, Sky Terrace 428 and Peak Tram Upper Terminus are in it.
Visitors will be able to find all sorts of products, ranging from typical tourists souvenirs such as postcards, key chains and magnets to Chinese artworks, silk, watches, fashion apparels, antiques and electronic gadgets. As a matter of fact, most of the souvenirs are coming from Mainland China and are charged premium prices at The Peak Tower simply due to its location. You will probably find many similar items selling at a much more cheaper price in other places in Hong Kong. Thus, I would not recommend doing any shopping at the Peak unless you do not have any time to shop in Hong Kong.
Walking further inside the tower, we reached to the famous Madame Tussauds Wax Museum which located on the ground floor of the Peak Tower.
c) Madame Tussauds HK
Exhibiting over 100 life-size wax figures of local and international celebrities, the Madame Tussauds Wax Museum is impressive with its lifelike scenes and wax models.
If you love to have your photo taken with your favourite movie or sport stars, the Madame Tussauds Wax Museum might be a good place to visit. However, since I already experienced Wax Museum during my visit to Sydney early this year, so I skipped this one.
One of HK icon superstar, the late Bruce Lee. Taking photo of his wax figure is something U shouldn't miss out!
When you made your way through the vast variety of shops and restaurants you should find your way up. Half a dozen escalators lead you through The Peak Tower to the entrance of the Sky Terrace 428, the best location to enjoy the spectacular views from The Peak and also our main destination here!
Follow the sign to the Sky Terrace 428 on the top of The Peak Tower.
From the Peak Tower, you will get to enjoy a stunning view over Hong Kong's skyline.
d) Sky Terrace 428
The open-air Sky Terrace 428 is located on top of The Peak Tower with an altitude of 428 meters above sea level, hence the number 428 is in the attraction’s name. It is the best place to enjoy the spectacular views from The Peak not only to the fact that the Sky Terrace 428 is the highest outdoor viewing platform in Hong Kong, but also that you are able to enjoy an unrivaled and unlimited 360 degree views of this amazing city. On one side, you are able to admire Hong Kong’s architecture, densely populated ocean of skyscrapers and the busy Victoria Harbour. On another side, you can experience another side of Hong Kong by having a view of the outlying islands such as Cheung Chau Island, Lamma Island or Lantau Island. The views can be enjoyed at any time of the day – be it in the morning, afternoon, evening or night.
The admission to Sky Terrace 428 is however, not free. Prices of ticket are as below:
Ticket Price
Adult : HK$48
Child (Aged 3-11) & Senior (Aged 65 or above) : HK$24
If you are taking the Peak Tram, you might want to consider buying a combo package of Peak Tram Sky Pass (inclusive of the Peak Tram and Sky Terrace 428) at a discounted price. Prices of the Peak Tram Sky Pass are as below:
Adult : Single = HK$68 Return = HK$80
Child (Aged 3-11) & Senior (Aged 65 or above) : Single = HK$32 Return = HK$39
Operating Hours
The Sky Terrace 428 operates from 10.00 am to 11.00 pm on Monday to Friday and 8.00 am to 11.00 pm on weekends and public holidays.
If you asked me whether visiting The Peak is more advisable at day or at night, quite frankly speaking enjoying The Peak at day and/or at night is always impressive. In case you are pressed for time and have only time to going up to The Peak once, we always recommend going to The Peak at the late afternoon. You still can enjoy the beautiful day views, can take some great pictures and since it is getting dark very fast you also have a chance to enjoy the beautiful night views of Hong Kong from The Peak. Extra point of visiting at night is besides the pleasant temperature, it also offers an amazing experience when the skyscrapers switch on their advertisement boards and illuminate their lights.
So I presented to you, HK Island from the Peak!
You can see the other side of Hong Kong from here. TST Waterfront Promenade clearly visible from here.
The majestic sky scrappers, identity of Hong Kong island. Here you can see a Central Plaza, which is the tallest building in Hong Kong and among the highest in Asia. Central Plaza is a 78-storey building that is also among the world's tallest concrete-framed buildings. It provides the city's most amazing timepiece as the rods at the top change colors every quarter hour.
Not only can you feel and touch the refreshing breeze in this vibrant city at the top of Hong Kong, you can also express your love on a wishing card hanging on a giant heart at the Sky Terrace 428. Don't forget to take a picture to capture this beautiful moment.
Satisfied with thousand of photos we took, we enter back the Peak Tower. There was a also a photo taking service for those who wanted to capture unforgettable memory at The Sky Terrace with professional touch. The price is about HK$200-250 per photo. Ya, totally expansive but one for memory... we closed our eyes and took the service :P
We went to this photo booth to collect our photos.
Next, we wondered around the peak tower and visit the souvenir shop. The items here were so interesting and unique. However, my budget wasn't allowed me to spent more.
More photo inside the Peak Tower with interesting backdrops.
e) The Peak Galleria & The Peak Piazza
As we decided to take bus back to the Central, we exited from the The Peak Tower. If you exit The Peak Tower you find yourself just in front of The Peak Galleria at The Peak Piazza.
If you would like to take a better photo with the tram for memory, turn right from the exit where there is an old tram displayed right outside the Peak Tower.
The Peak Galleria hosts several restaurants, shops and even a kindergarten and serves as the Bus Terminus for e.g. the Bus No. 15 and The Green Mini Bus No. 1 as well as a taxi stand.
We took the tram up and a Bus No. 15C down from the The Peak Tram Station. Surprisingly, the view from the bus was actually much more stunning than the view from the Peak Tram. However for one in a lifetime experince, dont ever miss the Peak Tram ride ok!!
Overall, a trip to Hong Kong is never complete without visiting the Peak. Undoubtedly, this is the best place to enjoy the magnificent views and skylines of Hong Kong. Continue my final chapter of Day 1 in Hong Kong island in next post ya...
Trip to HK, Macau and Shenzhen Fast Link Here
Preparation
Day 0 – Departure to Hong Kong and First Night at Chungking Mansion
Day 1 – Star Ferry Ride from Kowloon to HK Island
Day 1 – HKCEC and Golden Bauhinia Square
Day 1 – Repulse Bay and Stanley Village
Day 1 – Lunch at Islamic Muslim Centre, Ammar Mosque and Tram Ride
Day 1 – The Mid Level Escalator
Day 1 – End of Day 1
MACAU Day Trip
Day 2 – Journey to Macau by TurboJET Ferry
Day 2 – The Venetian, Macao
Day 2 – City Of Dreams and Hard Rock Hotel
Day 2 – The Galaxy Macau
Day 2 – Grand Lisboa and Senado Square
Day 2 – The Ruins of St. Paul’s
Day 2 – Macau back to Hong Kong
Shenzhen Day Trip
Day 3 – Starting Journey to Shenzhen, China from Hong Kong
Day 3 – Window of The World
Day 3 – Shopping at Shenzhen and back to Hong Kong
Hong Kong Trip Continues
Day 4 – Ngong Ping 360, Lantau Island
Day 4 – Aberdeen Floating Village and Jumbo Kingdom
Day 5 – Disneyland Part 1
Day 5 – Disneyland Part 2
Day 5 – Disneyland Part 3
Day 5 – Shopping at Ladies Market, Mongkok
Last Day – Avenue of Star
Last Day – HK Museums, 1881 Heritage and Back to Malaysia
Total Expenses
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