Monday, September 29, 2008

Victoria Peak

Victoria Peak is a mountain in Hong Kong. It is also known as Mount Austin, and locally as The Peak. The mountain is located in the western half of Hong Kong Island. With an altitude of , it is the highest mountain on the island proper, but not in the , an honour which belongs to Tai Mo Shan. Because of its view, history and spectacular location, Victoria Peak is strongly attached to an air of prestige.

The actual summit of Victoria Peak 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 which offers spectacular views over central Hong Kong, Victoria Harbour, and the surrounding islands.

History




As early as 19th century, the Peak attracted non-native, prominent residents because of its panoramic view over the colony and its temperate climate compared to the climate in the rest of Hong Kong. The sixth Governor of Hong Kong, had a summer residence built on the Peak circa 1868.

These original residents reached their homes by , 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, a , 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 s and government officials. 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 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 that brings passengers up from Hong Kong's , whilst the Peak Galleria incorporates the bus station used by the Hong Kong and on the Peak. The Peak is also accessible by and private car via the circuitous Peak Road, or by walking up the steep Old Peak Road from near the .

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 . Another popular walk is the level loop along Lugard Road, giving good views of Hong Kong's 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.

Natural history


The Peak is home to many species of birds, most prominently the Black Kite, and to numerous species of .

Alternative names

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