How to get to Victoria Peak in Hong Kong. Victoria Peak is the best viewing point in Hong Kong. What to do on Victoria Peak
Like any city, Hong Kong has its most important attraction, which every tourist is sacredly obliged to visit. This is the highest Observation deck under open air, the most high point Hong Kong Islands – Victoria Peak (552 meters above sea level). In addition, there is a museum at the top wax figures Madame Tussauds, popular restaurants, and all this together creates conditions for huge queues. I’ll tell you about how to avoid queues for climbing Victoria Peak, what to see and how to spend your time in this article.
A little history about Victoria Peak and the legendary tram
Victoria Peak, as you can imagine, was named after Queen Victoria during Hong Kong's colonial past (yes, Hong Kong was a British colony). The population of Hong Kong Island was growing rapidly, so wealthy foreigners were allowed to settle further inland. Initially, foreigners began to build residential buildings here, trying to escape the sweltering Hong Kong heat, which is aggravated by high humidity. Indeed, at the peak it is much cooler, you can breathe much easier there.
At that time, Victoria Peak was not so green and cozy. All this beauty is the work of the hands and minds of the settlers, thanks to whom we now see such a strange combination of skyscrapers rushing into the sky with gorgeous vegetation.
The first resident of Victoria Peak was Governor Sir Richard McDonnell in 1868. But the lack of transport created huge problems during the descent and ascent to the top. Some used servants as “horses”, others walked.
Due to difficulties, the development of the peak was suspended until 1881. Mr. Findlay Smith, who was involved with the highland railways in Scotland, got the Peak Tram started in Hong Kong. His interest was due to this. What he owned expensive hotel Peak hotel, located on the territory of the same name.
Since 1888, the Peak Tram became the first funicular railway in Asia. Its length was 1350 meters and consisted of 5 stops. Now imagine that the elevation angle is about 45 degrees. Well, wasn’t it a miracle of technology for that time?
The wooden carriages had three classes of seats, with a total capacity of 30 passengers. The first two seats in the car were marked with a sign: “These seats are reserved for His Excellency, the Governor,” and they could not be occupied earlier than 2 minutes before the tram's departure. After all, the governor could show up unexpectedly for the flight.
Initially, the funicular tram was driven by powerful steam boilers that were heated with coal. In 1926, the outdated installation was replaced with an electric drive system. The carriages were also replaced: now a 72-seater carriage ascended to Victoria Peak.
In fact, the tram lifts a very thick cable using an electric motor. And when one tram goes up, the second goes down, roughly speaking, they help each other.
Victoria Peak is now one of the most elite parts of Hong Kong to live in. The average cost per square meter of housing is $85,000, amazing, right?
Opening hours and how much it costs to get up
Peak Tram is open from 7.00 to 00.00 every day, seven days a week. The tram moves every 10 minutes. The funicular travels a distance of 373 m at an angle of 45 degrees in 8 minutes. The tram does not make stops as before, but brings tourists directly inside the Peak Tower shopping and entertainment complex.
Victoria Peak has several ticket options depending on what attractions you want to visit. I indicate prices in Hong Kong dollars, to get rubles, multiply by about 4.
You can only buy a ticket for Peak Tram:
Adult 40HK$ for a round-trip ticket, 28 HK$ for a one-way ticket;
Child (age 3 - 11), Senior Citizen (age 65 or older) HK$18 return ticket, HK$11 one-way ticket.
However, all the same, you will want to get to the observation deck and take the photo of the skyscrapers from above, advertised in Hong Kong advertisements.
Then you need a combined ticket for the tram and Sky Terrace 428 observation deck:
Adult 75HK$ for a round-trip ticket, 63 HK$ for a one-way ticket;
Child (age 3 - 11), Senior Citizen (age 65 or older) HK$36 for a return ticket, HK$29 for a one-way ticket.
I can immediately warn you that the queue for tickets is simply huge, be prepared to stand for at least an hour for tickets. Moreover, the queue for tickets and the queue to board the tram are different, although at first glance it seems that this is a single crowd. Boarding the tram also takes about 30-40 minutes.
As soon as you approach the Peak Tram station, you will see a tail of people literally wrapped around the station.
How to get to Victoria Peak with almost no queue
If your time is valuable to you, and you don’t mind visiting the Madame Tussauds wax museum for almost 1,000 rubles, then walk along the line to the entrance, there will be another ticket office (general on the right, criminal on the left). They sell it combined tickets, there is practically no queue:
Tram + museum + observation deck
Adult 315HK$;
Child (aged 3 - 11), Senior Citizen (aged 65 or older) HK$297
Tram + museum
Adult 280HK$;
Child (aged 3 - 11), Senior Citizen (aged 65 or older) HK$188
How to get to the Peak Tram departure station
You need the Central metro station - this is the intersection of the red and blue lines. Exit the subway to exit “J2” (there are a lot of exits in the Hong Kong subway, all of them are marked with letters and numbers from A to infinity). Right next to the metro you will see tourist signs for “Peak Tram”; follow them for 300 meters.
How to get to Victoria Peak by public transport without queuing
If you don’t have a fancy to ride the Peak Tram, then I recommend saving time and effort on standing in lines and going to the observation deck on an ordinary city bus.
So, passwords and appearances.
By bus. You need to go to Hong Kong Station MRT Exit D. You will see the Exchange Squere bus terminal and take bus number 15. You need to go out final stop, at its peak.
Near the same metro station you will see green minibuses (minibus), you need number 1.
My review of Victoria Peak
We went up to Victoria Peak by tram and went back by bus. What can I say.
I do not share the laudatory and enthusiastic reviews on the Internet about the Peak Tram climb. I didn't think it was extreme, it didn't look like anything at all. roller coaster. It's not worth 1.5-2 hours of standing in line for those 8 minutes on the tram.
But I really liked the trip on minibus No. 1. Greyhound driver, steep serpentine road, beauty outside the window.
What to do on Victoria Peak?
At Victoria Peak the most interesting place, in my opinion, is the observation deck Sky Terrace 428. It is from here that everyone takes photos with the famous view of Hong Kong.
The observation point is located in the Peak Tower shopping center. Well, what else: in Hong Kong everything is either in a shopping center, above a shopping center or next to a shopping center. By the way, there is another one next to it.
In Peak Tower on the lower floors you can buy souvenirs at a reasonable price, and there is a large selection.
In addition, there is a famous restaurant based on the movie Forrest Gump "Bubba Gump", where the main product on the menu is shrimp. We decided to eat there, because Chinese cuisine I was already feeling sick.
Restaurant based on the movie Forrest Gump "Bubba Gump"
The main dish in the restaurant is shrimp. Only their preparation will, of course, be American, that is, fatty and juicy. However, in a restaurant you can ask for a table with a panoramic view, something like this.
The restaurant is decorated based on the film.
Here is our ordered food, as you can see, it looks very American.
I liked Victoria Peak, it’s a pity that we never went there after sunset.
By the way, you can watch the Symphony of Lights laser show from here.
I can advise you to skip the tram and go by regular bus and minibus. Ideally, go 1.5 hours before sunset to look at the city both in the light of the sun and in the lights of skyscrapers.
If you love hiking, then walking routes are laid along the peak.
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Victoria Peak is the hallmark of Hong Kong and at the same time the highest point of the island. It is from this equipped platform that those breathtaking views open up.
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The height of the attraction reaches 552 meters above sea level (although the observation terrace itself is 124 meters lower), and it owes its name to the Queen of England, whose monarchy dominated these distant Asian expanses for many years. It is interesting that in those distant times the area in which the tower is located was practically closed to the Chinese. The only inhabitants of the local houses were rich people from Foggy Albion, who were not at all averse to acquiring a foreign villa in this colorful valley.
Today, everyone can visit the peak and take a bird’s eye view of the metropolis. That is why it is never deserted here, and the funicular tirelessly delivers groups of tourists one after another.
There are various ways to get to the main attraction of the city. The metro is available to tourists, where you need to get off at Central station, where recognizable signs will help you find your way. Or take bus No. 15, paying only 4.2 local dollars (about 40 rubles). Buses run daily from 9 am until late at night, and run every 10 minutes. The trip will take up to 40 minutes (depending on the traffic situation).
You can also get there by minibus No. 1. Travel will cost twice as much as by bus, but tourists will get to their destination a few minutes faster.
The ascent to the observation deck is provided by a funicular, which itself can easily claim the title of attraction. It was first launched in 1888 and represented the only way to travel between the city's residential communities and mountainous areas. It is not surprising that the author was the Scottish inventor A. Smith. Initially, the tram was powered by a steam engine and only several decades later it was equipped with electric traction.
The journey takes on average up to 8 minutes and allows tourists to explore the city and its surroundings. The funicular route runs through historical districts, directly above residential buildings and park areas. This allows you to view the metropolis from different angles.
Please note that there is always a huge queue for the funicular, so be prepared to spend some time queuing for tickets and to board.
Such a journey also has its advantages. The funicular operates from 7 to 24 hours daily and departs every 10-15 minutes. Ticket prices are affordable: a round trip for an adult will cost only 40 local dollars (about 400 rubles), and there is a 50 percent discount for children.
Information about The Peak Tower and Sky Terrace 428
The observation terrace is located on the top floor of the seven-story building The Peak Tower, which includes a whole complex of entertainment and cultural venues, several large boutiques and even restaurants. There are also museums that are popular among tourists. For example, an exhibition of wax figures named after Madame Tussauds, which consists of hundreds of statues of the most famous representatives of the world of show business and cinema. You can get here every day from 9 am to 10 pm, and for the right to see wax copies of your idols you will have to pay only 250 Hong Kong dollars.
The main highlight of the tower is Sky Terrace 428, which is an observation deck. It is available to everyone who is willing to pay a purely symbolic fee for the right to see amazing landscape, which opens onto the city and the bay. Adult and child tickets cost HK$45 and HK$23 respectively. But if you buy a combined ticket for the funicular and the platform, you can save a little.
Operating mode
Sky Terrace is ready to receive guests from 10 am to 11 pm on weekdays. On weekends, the site starts working from 8 a.m. Please note that regardless of the season and time of day, the terrace is always crowded with tourists. Therefore, in order to take a beautiful photo against the backdrop of the opening views without unnecessary people getting into the frame, you will have to stock up on considerable patience.
The terrace offers a phenomenal view of the city and its surroundings. You can see dozens of skyscrapers and hundreds of business buildings, a bay and see the sea. There is nothing like this in any other country in the world. By the way, at the same time as you beautiful panorama can be enjoyed by up to a thousand tourists! And thanks to the established work schedule, you will be able to see what the city looks like in different time days.
The Victoria Peak observation deck is definitely worth including in your excursion program as part of your acquaintance with the Chinese island!
Victoria Peak (Victoria Peak) is undoubtedly Hong Kong's most famous landmark. More than 6 million tourists visit Victoria Peak every year. It is a mountain with several peaks, the highest of which is 552 meters, offering stunning views of the city. The peak was named in honor of the British queen. Since I like to climb higher and look down on everything, I immediately headed there. There are several ways to get to Victoria Peak, about this and much more below...How to get to Victoria Peak
There are several ways:
On foot . Many people prefer this method as the cheapest and most romantic. The path is not short and is always uphill, but you will see more and can enjoy the views of Hong Kong and take photos from anywhere walking route. It is better to start the route on foot from, then follow the map or better yet, GPS.
On the escalator . The path can be shortened if you use the Central - Mid-Levels Escalanor street escalator. This is one of the longest escalators in the world (its length is 800 meters), but it is not made as a single escalator, but in pieces (20 mechanical stairs). The escalator crosses many streets, at each intersection you can enter or exit the escalator. What is noteworthy is that the escalator works from 6.00 to 10.00 for descent, and from 10.30 to 24.00 for ascent. If you decide to use the escalator, you won't be able to do it early. This work schedule was not made by chance, this escalator was made as a form of urban transport to relieve mountain streets; in the morning it takes people down to work, and in the afternoon it takes people back home. Finding the escalator is easy, as the name suggests, it starts near the Central metro station, or rather on Queen's Road Central, but the escalator does not go to the very peak, it will only take you to Conduit Road, and then you will have to walk (about another 30 - 40 minutes). The street escalator is free.
Peak Tram . The simplest and most touristic way, but it is also the most expensive. This is a tram that takes tourists straight to the peak and back. The path runs along rather steep rails (the angle of inclination sometimes reaches 45° or steeper). In short, I don’t recommend it to the very impressionable, it’s still an attraction.
Getting to the Peak Tram stop is very easy; to do this, you need to exit the Central metro station (exit J2) and follow the “Peak Tram” signs - it’s about 300 meters. You won't miss this place, there's always a queue :)
Tram ticket prices:
- Round trip 48 HKD
- One way 28 HKD
- For children and pensioners the cost is lower.
Peak Tram opening hours
- Every day, including all weekends and holidays from 7.00 to 24.00
- Trams depart every 10-15 minutes
By bus. This is probably the most optimal way based on price-impression. Are you going to double decker bus By mountain road, which of course is already interesting and you can look at everything perfectly. It will take a little longer than on Peak Tram, but it is much cheaper and you don’t have to beat your legs. Victoria Peak can be reached by bus number 15 from Exchange Square Bus Terminal (Hong Kong MRT Station, Exit D). The bus is not very expensive (3-5 HKD), you can pay for it.
Types of transport can be combined, for example, you can go up to Victoria Peak by bus, and go down by tram, or on foot. This way you can save a little money and your legs won’t hurt too much :)
Victoria Peak observation deck
Well, one way or another, we got to the very goal, to the Peak. But to get to the observation deck, you first have to go through shopping mall, located almost at the top. I think its name is Peak Tower. Here it is, looking like a boat lying on a pedestal.
Inside Peak Tower there is a lot of things: shops, cafes, Madame Tussauds and much more. To get to the observation deck you need to take the escalator to the very top. Entrance to the observation deck costs 30 HKD (you can pay). The views from the observation deck are magnificent; Hong Kong is clearly visible.
In fact, the observation deck is located at the very top and a little lower, its height is 428 meters. And those houses over there are located at the very peak (552 meters), I wish I could climb there.
There are a lot of people at the lookout; there are a lot of people here who want to take their photo against the backdrop of the city; you can also use the services of professional photographers for little money. There are paid binoculars for a thorough exploration of Hong Kong. This beauty costs 5 HKD, but don’t waste your money, there’s nothing to see here, everything can be seen.
Due to the fact that there is always some kind of haze or smog in Hong Kong, the photos are not very clear. We were lucky and the sun even came out, but we must assume that in heavy fog and rain there is nothing to do here, you won’t see anything. Night photos also turn out cool, I looked on the Internet, but you need to know how to take photographs.
After walking around the observation deck, you can eat in one of the cafes or go to Madame Tussauds, but we didn’t do either of those, because... It’s expensive to eat here, but we visited a similar museum in Bangkok.
If you are a fan of climbing mountain trails and jungles, then there are several walking routes, you can go down in the direction from which you came, or you can go to the other.
I don’t really like such places, the place is very touristy, everything is put on stream and everything costs money, and a lot of it (but this is a feature of the city). Whether or not to visit this place is up to you.
Victoria Peak on the map
Hong Kong amazing city. You can love it or hate it, but it definitely won’t leave anyone indifferent to its urban beauty. According to most tourists, the best observation deck overlooking the skyscrapers and the bay of the same name is the site on Victoria Peak. Crowds of people come here to see the unforgettable panorama and, of course, take photos against the backdrop of skyscrapers.
Victoria Peak is the highest point in Hong Kong. It received its name in honor of the English Queen Victoria during the British colonization. At that time, only foreigners settled in these surroundings, and the Chinese were prohibited from entering. As a rule, locals simply call it “Peak”.
The height of Victoria Peak is 554 meters above sea level.
The peak has an irregular shape and consists of several peaks. For tourists, observation decks were made here, green parks were laid out, buildings with cafes and restaurants were built.
Morning Trail
The Morning Trail is a popular route to Victoria Peak among tourists visiting Hong Kong. You can not only climb up along it, but also take a walk at the observation deck level, viewing the city at 360 degrees. Locals They love to play sports here. There are often people running on the trail. There are also areas with outdoor exercise equipment.
To get to the trail, you first need to climb Old Peak Road from the tram up and then follow the signs to Harlech Road and Lugard Road. You can immediately clarify that the trail is a conditional name, since the main road is very landscaped and has all the necessary amenities. There are branches from it that go into the green zone of the parks. They are mainly used by athletes involved in outdoor activities or mountain biking.
Tram to Victoria Peak
To climb to the top of the peak, tourists mainly use a special retro tram. It is also called a funicular. The road for it at an inclination of forty-five degrees was built back in 1888. Ticket offices are located at the foot of the mountain at the Central metro station, exit No. J2. Upper station— next to The Peak Tower building, where the paid observation deck is located. The first flight goes up at 07:00 in the morning. The last one arrives down at midnight. Thus, it is possible to be on Victoria Peak both in the morning and at night. The trams operate every ten minutes.
The only thing you need to prepare yourself for is crowds of tourists and a kind of fence of tripods for photographic equipment at the top. The influx is especially noticeable on the day following bad weather or fog. The average time you need to wait in queues at the bottom stop is about an hour.
Peak Tram round trip fare is HK$52 for adults, HK$23 for children. If you take a ticket only to go up and walk back down, you can save a little. In this case, the cost for an adult will be HKD 37, for children - HKD 14. By purchasing a ticket in advance on the official website, you can avoid standing in line at the box office.
Observation deck Sky Terrace 428
The paid observation deck at Victoria Peak is located in The Peak Tower. The tower was built according to a design by a European architectural bureau. The design resembles a rice bowl. Not long ago a major reconstruction took place here. There is entertainment inside tourist complex. There you can visit a wax museum and gaming rooms. A tram stops next to it.
It is believed that it opens from here best view from the mountain, although some might argue with that. It got its name due to the fact that it is located at an altitude of 428 meters.
Admission is HK$50 for adults and HK$25 for children. The site is open daily. On weekdays from 10:00 to 23:00, and on weekends from 08:00 to 23:00.
How to get there
There are several options for climbing Victoria Peak in Hong Kong. You can take a special funicular (tram), bus, car or walk up. But first you need to get to the foot of the peak.
Metro
Using the metro, you can speed up your movement around the city. The nearest station is Central, exit J2. Follow the signs to go to the funicular ticket office or climb to the surface and begin the ascent on foot.
Buses
Buses that stop near the lower funicular station run along route No. 15C. Get off at Garden Road. Having reached here, you can continue your route by transferring to bus number 15, going to The Peak Tower. Buses operate daily from 09:00 to 00:00.
Funicular
You can take the funicular (tram) from the lower station, the entrance to which is located at the Central metro station. You need to follow the Peak Tram signs.
Automobile
The fastest way to the peak is by car, as there will be no queues of tourists. A distance of about 7 kilometers is covered in 20 minutes. The route goes along Magazine Gap Rd and Peak Rd.
Walking route
Climbing to the peak on foot takes a little over an hour. You should move from the funicular station to the Central-Mid-Levels escalator. It takes you to Old Peak Road, which leads to the top of the mountain.
Our route will start from the bottom station (Peak Tram). This type of transport is a funicular and is now owned by the Hongkong and Shanghai Hotels Group, which also owns famous hotel The Peninsula in Kowloon. The line has a length of 1365 meters, rising to a height of 400 meters with a maximum slope of 27 degrees. Peak Tram uses a two-rail track system with one siding, Russian gauge - 1520 mm, although it first appeared in England in 1748.
Tram to the Peak
The line has six stations, of which the intermediate four are on-demand stops. Although this is a funicular, it is still called a tram, since the route changes its slope as it moves, and the shape of the cars is not specially “skewed”, like, for example, the Vladivostok funicular, so on large slopes passengers fall onto their seats, and it’s very difficult to stand difficult.
Let's tell the story of the Hong Kong cable car. By 1883, Hong Kong's population had reached 173,000, but only 30-40 families called the Peak home. Although the Peak Hotel opened in 1873 and attracted a certain clientele, access was only possible on foot or by palanquin. In May 1881, Scotsman Alexander Findlay Smith developed a plan to speed up the development of hill settlements by introducing a new tram system that would link Murray Barracks with Victoria Gap on the Peak.
The necessary approvals took two years, and in 1882 the Hong Kong High Level Tramways Company appeared. But Mr. Findlay was in no hurry to implement the project: he traveled extensively throughout Europe and America, studying almost all the then existing methods of work railways on steep slopes, and returned to Hong Kong with full confidence in the feasibility of his ideas. Construction itself began in September 1885, and on May 30, 1888, Peak Tram went into operation, becoming the first funicular in Asia.
Tram to the Peak
The first carriages were made of varnished wood with open rows of benches at the front and rear and a closed compartment in the middle. Each carriage was designed to accommodate 30 passengers in three classes, with a central first class compartment in which, from 1888 to 1949, a bronze plaque was affixed to the backs of the first two seats with the inscription: “These seats are reserved for His Excellency the Governor.” They could not be occupied until less than 2 minutes remained before departure.
In September 2007, the Peak Tram Historical Gallery was opened at the lower station. This small museum, designed in the form of a time tunnel, is divided into 15 zones, telling the history of the funicular throughout the 19th and 20th centuries. More than 200 exhibits are on display here, among which it is worth noting the recreated electric engine room of the first generation of trams, which replaced the steam one in 1926. This was a very bold investment at the time, as many did not believe that the tram could compete with motor transport after the opening of the Old Peak Road in 1924. However, the Peak Tramways Company was confident that the need for a funicular would continue. Another exhibit in the museum is a replica of the first carriage, a four-axle "California" type carriage with 30 seats.
One of the sections of this museum is the funicular staff office, where the conductor’s uniform, composter, ticket case and, in fact, tickets are displayed. As for tickets, from its earliest days the Hong Kong High Level Tramway used a system known by the name of the Bell Punch Company Limited. It was founded in London in 1878, received patent rights for a manual composter (bell punch) from the Americans, which by that time was already used in London, as well as in other transport companies in Glasgow and Liverpool.
Appearing in Hong Kong, the composter was converted from round to square, from which it received the name “box” or “chest composter.” Hong Kong conductors liked this idea, since such a composter could be attached to a strap and worn on the chest, thereby freeing up their hands for issuing tickets and returning change. But the main thing remained: as its name says (bell - bell), it still made a joyful ringing when the tickets were punched.
Tram to the Peak
At the beginning of each shift, the conductor was given a wooden pencil case filled with tickets, placed in bundles at face value. In 1888, the cost of travel to the Peak in first class was 30 cents, by 1945 the price rose to 60 cents, and 10 cents were charged for transporting one dog.
In 2013, a study was conducted at the University of Hong Kong that showed that cable car passengers experience a vivid visual illusion during the trip: it seems to them that the high-rise buildings outside the tram window are falling towards the Peak. This illusion arises from a change in subjective verticality caused by the visual tilt of the environment and the passenger's body position inside the carriage.
Operating hours: 07:00 - 24:00 Frequency: 10 - 15 minutes Ticket prices: adult one way - 28 HK$, round trip - 45 HK$, children (3 - 11 years old) and passengers over 65 years old - 18 HK$, round trip - 11 HK$ Cost of travel and visiting the observation deck Sky Terrace 428 (Peak Tram Sky Pass): adult one way - 83 HK$, round trip - 71 HK$ children (3 - 11 years old) and passengers over 65 years old - 40 HK$, round trip - 33 HK$ Website: