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Victoria Peak is the Hong Kong Island Highpoint. It is often referred to as The Peak. Every year, 7 million visitors go up by road or cog railway. This is where all the amazing night shots of Hong Kong are taken. But, none of these 7 million are peakbaggers so few realize that they are not on the actual highpoint. For us peakbaggers, you will not be enjoying the spectacular views over the city and harbors because all you willl be thinking is....this is not the highest point.
Victoria Peak
Distance: 2 miles
Elevation Gain: 800 feet
Summit Elevation: 552 meters (1,811 feet)
To reach the Peak Tower, take the Peak Tram, a funicular railway that brings passengers up from Hong Kong's Central district. The Peak is also accessible by taxi and private car via the circuitous Peak Road, or by walking up the steep Old Peak Road from near the Zoological Botanical Gardens. From the Tower, walk up Mount Austin Road toward the summit. Follow signs to Victoria Peak Garden. A bit before entering the garden, look for roads and trails that look like they go to the highpoint. You can not miss it, it is riddled with communication towers. I seemed to find it rather quickly on a nice stone staircase. Some information I collected said the summit was restricted but I did not see anything to collaborate that.
Getting There:
This is where I sent my wife while I ran the final few hundred feet to the summit. This is the Governor' old summer residence and is free for hiking, roaming around and watching a wedding party the day I was there. It is a big place, it took some time to track her down.
Back at the tower, there are several restaurants, two shopping centers and other tourist traps. The tower itself is an amazing design worth exploring.
Victoria Tower
From the Peak Tower you can see the summit in distance with all the towers
From the top the smog was so bad you couldn't see most of the city
Victoria Peak Garden
Photo from ParkerStarS. Wikipedia page
The true summit up the hill there from this picture of Victoria Peak Garden
Highpoint from Victoria Peak Garden
Highpoint from Victoria Peak Garden