山頂的介紹!

Victoria Peak (Chinese: 太平山頂 and other alternatives; see below) is a mountain in Hong Kong. It is also known as The Peak locally, and Mount Austin in some maps or documents. The mountain is located in the southwestern part of the Hong Kong Island. With an altitude of 552 m, it is the highest mountain on the island, although far from the highest in the territory.

The actual summit of Victoria Peak is occupied by a telecommunications facility and is closed to the public. However the surrounding area comprises a mixture of publicly accessible parkland, and high value residential land, and it is this area that is normally meant by the name The Peak. The Peak offers spectacular views over central Hong Kong, the Harbour and surrounding islands, and is a major tourist attraction.



[edit] History
The early history of the Peak was driven by the breezes and generally cooler temperatures which could be found there during Hong Kong's sub-tropical summers, especially in the days before air conditioning was generally available. This made the area a desirable retreat for Hong Kong's more affluent residents. The summer home of Governor Sir Richard MacDonnell was built there around 1868. Other wealthy residents followed suit.[1]

The original residents reached their homes by sedan chair, which were carried up and down the steap paths by their personal staff of uniformed bearers. The difficulty of access limited the development of the Peak, a situation that would remain until the opening of the Peak Tram funicular railway in 1888.[1][2]

The boost to accessibility given by the opening of the Peak Tram increased the demand for residences on the Peak. Between 1904 and 1930, the Peak Reservation Ordinance designated the Peak as an exclusive residential area reserved for Europeans and government officials, as well as reserving the Peak Tram for the use of such passengers during peak periods. The Peak remains an upmarket residential area, although residency today is controlled by wealth rather than race.[1][3]


[edit] Tourism
With some seven million visitors every year, the Peak is the biggest tourist attraction in Hong Kong. It offers spectacular views of the city and bay. The number of visitors has resulting in the building of two major leisure and shopping centres, the Peak Tower and the Peak Galleria, situated adjacent to each other at Victoria Gap.

The Peak Tower incorporates the upper station of the Peak Tram funicular railway that brings passengers up from Central district, whilst the Peak Galleria incorporates the bus station used by the public bus and green minibus services to the Peak. 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 the mid-levels.

Victoria Peak Garden is located on the site of 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 150 metres. Alternatively the Peak Trail leads in a level loop around the Peak from Victoria Gap, starting out on Lugard Road and returning on Harlech Road, and giving the best views of Central district and Kowloon.[4]

There are several restaurants on Victoria Peak. Most of them are located in the shopping complexes, the Peak Tower and the Peak Galleria. However one of the most famous, the Peak Lookout Restaurant, is housed in an older and more traditional building. Originally a rooming house for engineers working on the Peak Tramway, it was rebuilt in 1901 as a stop area for private or public sedan chairs, and opened as a restaurant in 1947.

Governor Sir Richard MacDonnell's summer home (circa 1868) was built there to take advantage of the cooler but humid climes. Soon other wealthy residents followed suit. Many of them traversed up and down the steep Peak paths by sedan chair, which were carried by their personal staff of uniformed bearers. From 1904, the Peak was designated an exclusive residential area reserved only for expatriates although this practice ended in 1947.

Further development of the Peak did not really occur until Alexander Findlay Smith, who had worked for Scotland's Highland Railway, managed to petition the Governor, Sir John Pope-Hennessy, in 1881 to operate tram routes. One of them connected the south of Murray Barracks to Victoria Gap on the Peak.


The Peak had attracted its prestigious residents since
the 19th century.
Mr. Findlay Smith was hoping the tram route would increase visitor traffic and boost business at the erstwhile Peak Hotel, which opened eight years earlier in 1873 on land he owned. Unfortunately, the hotel was destroyed in a fire in 1938.

With a regular and reliable form of public transportation now available, the Peak quickly became renowned for its spectacular views of the city and the harbour. Today, the Peak attracts some seven million visitors a year, making it one of Hong Kong's top tourist destinations.


Getting to The Peak Tram Terminus
At about seven minutes each way, riding the Peak Tram is the quickest and most scenic way to arrive at The Peak. The lower Peak Tram Terminus is easily reachable by foot from the MTR in Central or by public transportation.

By Foot From MTR Central Station

Take the MTR to Central and make your way to the J2 exit of the Central MTR station. Turn right, through Chater Garden, cross Queen's Road Central and make your way up Garden Road. You will pass the Bank of China Tower and Citibank Plaza on your left and St John's Cathedral on your right before arriving at the terminus, which is to your left.


By Bus


Click to Enlarge







Board the Peak Tram shuttle bus No. 15C at the Central (Pier 7)
Bus Terminus.
Daily: 10:00am - 11:45pm (from Central (Pier 7) Bus Terminus)
Daily: 10:10am - 11:55pm (from Lower Peak Tram Terminus)
Frequency: 10-20 minutes
Fare: HK$3.20