My first adventure in Hong Kong was visiting the infamous Victoria Peak. Victoria Peak is the largest mountain in Hong Kong. Located on the western half of Hong Kong Island, the mountain is known to locals as The Peak. Surrounded by tourist areas, such as Central, Victoria Harbour, and Lamma Island, the peak is a widely known tourist attraction. At the top, you can see the best skyline view of the city and shop! They have constructed the Peak Galleria at the point, which holds shops, restaurants, and coffee shops.
There are three ways to reach the peak. You can take the Peak Tram, a bus, or a hike. Plan at least a half a day for this excursion due to transportation lines. I took a bus to reach the peak. Looking back, I probably would have preferred waiting in line for the tram. The streets are curvy and go back and forth, so the likeliness of getting bus sick is a high chance. Also, if you have a fear of heights or being out of control, maybe a bus is not the right option for you. With constant turns, the road up has no guardrails on the cliffside. I was able to see straight down the edge from the bus window. These bus drivers are very experienced, but something about driving 40mph, on a cliff, with no guardrails was intimidating and frightening.
I attempted to take a tram to the top later in my trip, but I arrived mid-day to a 3 hour wait time. After asking around, people suggested that if I were to take a tram that I should go at the opening to avoid waiting. Also, a way to skip the tram line is to book a half-day tour through a travel site like Tripadvisor. Usually, when scheduling an excursion, they get better deals on tickets, and sometimes you can skip the line. Read the itinerary carefully, because not all tours have the option to skip the line.
Hiking to the peak is no easy task. I would only suggest this to experienced hikers. Starting at an elevation of about 500 feet, at the top, the elevation is 1811 feet. That might not sound too challenging right now, but picture looking straight up. That's the hike to the top. Rated one of the hardest hikes in Hong Kong, not many people chose this way to reach the top.
When I reached the peak, it was not what I was expecting at all. I thought there would be an observation tower, and that was it. I was completely wrong because there was everything from lookout points, to cafe and restaurants, to a mini-mall. People were also selling their art on the path, set up like an artist's alley. It is so hard not to blow all your spending money in one go of it. The smells from the restaurants were enticing and enchanting. The food was foreign to me (thanks to growing up in a small town in Vermont), so my curiosity was through the roof. The shops were everything from little knick-knacks, to touristy shirts, to designer shops, and anime stores. It was a little bit of everything in one small place! It was amazing to see how much more the peak contributed that just a lookout.
After looking through the endless shops, you can follow a path around the mountain to get a 360 view experience. The pathway is no longer than a mile long, and you get views from the city to the ocean. Hong Kong had capitalized on Victoria Peak, accomplishing a full-blown tourist attraction. Along the path, they had binoculars, so you were able to enjoy the sites. It was a lovely balance at the peak. They had busy shops and restaurants in one area and steps away you can experience tranquil views of the city. It provided a little bit of everything, which was a great way to start my trip in Hong Kong.
Comments