VICTORIA PEAK, HONG KONG ISLAND

Victoria Peak or The Peak is a mountain in the South-West of Hong Kong Island. With an altitude of 552m, it is the highest mountain of the island and the 11th highest in Hong Kong.

With about six million people visiting this destination every year, the Peak is the biggest tourist attraction in Hong Kong. This is partly due to the spectacular views of the city and bay: one can see Hong Kong Island and the Kowloon Peninsula from the Peak Tower at Victoria Gap. The Peak area, covering the Peak, Victoria Gap, Mount Kellet, Jardine's Corner, Mount Gough, Plantation Road, is also the place where some of the richest members of the former colony live.

VICTORIA PEAK TOWER

The Peak Tower is located at at Victoria Gap, and houses the upper terminus of the Peak Tram. It is not located at the top of Victoria Peak, but at an elevation of 396 m: the architects sought a design which would be prominent on the skyline but would not interrupt the natural line of the hills. The site is in a dip along the line of the hills, and the tower's height is restricted to 428 m above sea level, overlooking the city of Hong Kong.

The Peak Tower was designed by the British architect Terry Farrell. It has seven floors with a total 10,400 m² (112,000 ft²). It has a special "wok" shape. There is a viewing platform on the third floor. In 1997, Peak Tower was redeveloped, with new attractions Ripley's Believe It or Not! Odditorium and Hong Kong's Historical Adventure. The first one is a Motion Simulator. While the latter is the first computer-operated entertainment ride in Hong Kong, and is a "train journey" through scenes of the Hong Kong's early history.

There are many restaurants and shops in it. There is Madame Tussaud's which is a branch of London's famous wax museum. Wax models of many world popular artisits and people such as the would famous action actor Jackie Chan are there.

Peak Explorer Motion Simulator is located in the forth floor of the Peak Tower. It has high technological machines, such as projectors, music and light machines. So, people visiting there can have a simulative, wonderful and exciting "space journey".

If visitors go shopping in the Peak Tower, they can buy many kinds of high quality souvenirs in the Peak Store. They can also buy some special things, such as Chinese arts and crafts, cosmetics, photo products and books, etc at other shops.

If visitors feel hungry in the Peak Tower, they can try many Asian and Western dishes because many types of restaurants are located there. The most special food may be the Japanese-style pancakes of "Ice-Queen" because this kind of pancake is served in a few places only and it is one of the most popular snacks and desserts in Hong Kong.

As of June 22, 2005, the Peak Tower is closed for renovation.


THE PEAK LOOKOUT RESTAURANT

Before 1901, the Peak Lookout Restaurant was a rooming house and working area of the Peak Tramway for England engineers. After that, it was rebuilt to become a stopping area for private or public sedan chairs. The facility was rebuilt to be a restaurant from 1947.

There are many other restaurants at the Peak, such as the Mövenpick Marché Restaurant and the Eat Noodles. The spectacular view of the city and can viewed from the Mövenpick Marché Restaurant. The guests are invited to walk around the restaurant and choose their favourite Asian or International ingredients. Then their meals are cooked in front of them. Eat noodles also cook the noodles in front of the guests.


LUNG FU SHAN TRAIL

Lung Fu Shan Fitness Trail is a 750 m long trail showing the environment of the Peak. Signs provide some information about health care and safe hiking on the road. The trail starts at Pinewood Garden, routing through the Pinewood Battery, a few barbecue sites, a number of shelters, a flight of steps and a section of steep road before arriving at the junction of Harlech Road and Hatton Road. It takes about 60 minutes to complete the trail.


FURTHER VISIT OF VICTORIA PEAK

On a clear day, people can wander through forests of bamboo and fern, stunted Chinese pines, hibiscus, and vines of wonderful natural beauty. In fact, the best way to see The Peak in all its bucolic glory is by walking around Lugard Road, which is the best spot to look down at both shores of Victoria Harbour, Kowloon Peninsula and even the Pok Fu Lam Reservoir and Islands district on the southern part of Hong Kong. That is a special tip for the tourists to take the best pictures of the Peak.


TRANSPORTATION TO VICTORIA PEAK

The Peak is reachable by roads, the Peak Tram (a funicular railway), and about halfway through the Central-Mid-Levels escalator.

From Wikipedia.org, The Free Encyclopedia

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