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Showing posts with label Victoria peak. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Victoria peak. Show all posts

Author: Naveen Marasinghe

Standing at a height of 552 meters above sea level the Peak or Victoria Peak is the highest point in Hong Kong. From a historical perspective it served as a natural signaling post for ships coming into Hong Kong harbor and also served a retreat for the wealthy colonialists during the 19 the century.


Today the Peak is known to have the highest land value anywhere in the world and is the home of wealthy businessman, rock stars and affluent politicians. The actual peak of Victoria mountain is demarcated for a telecommunications tower and is off limits to the public. However the rest of the land area is a mixture of houses, residential apartments, parks and a number of leisure centers including shopping malls. The major tourist attraction of the Peak is that it offers spectacular bird’s eye views of the Victoria Harbor and other surrounding areas.


With an annual tourist arrival of about 7 million, the Peak is definitely the most visited tourist attraction in Hong Kong. The large influx of tourists has also spawned the recent development of two major leisure centers cum shopping malls in the area; the Peak Tower and the Peak Galleria are located almost next to each other near Victoria Gap.


The traditional and the most entertaining way of climbing the Peak is by tram, this system has been in existence for over 100 years since 1888. The tram climbs at a very steep angle and offers excellent views of the Harbor and the city below. A few restaurants can also be found at the Peak, the best and most exciting one is the Peak Lookout restaurant that was built way back in 1901 as a room meant for tram workers.


Being Hong Kong’s premier tourist attraction The Peak is a must see attraction for any traveler. The country also offers great accommodation option for travelers as well, a Hong Kong hotel that is situated close to the peak and also provides comfortable lodging is the Cosmopolitan Hotel.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/destinations-articles/the-worlds-greatest-cityscape-454136.html


About the Author

Naveen Marasinghe is an Online Marketing Executive at eMarketingEye which is a search engine marketing company that offers PPC Management and SEO services and specializes in serving the online travel and hospitality industry. (http://www.emarketingeye.com/)

Top Hong Kong Tourist Attractions - At A Glance

Hong Kong stretches the limits of glamour and glitz, and offers endless excitement to holiday makers. A popular holiday destination among families, Hong Kong surely knows how to charm and allure visitors. Be it the retail hotspots, wonderful dining options or the incredibly mesmerising tourist attractions – holidays to Hong Kong gradually grows on your senses and ultimately overwhelms you!

One can visit a lot of places on Hong Kong holidays but there are some that are considered as the biggest charmers of the destination.

Disneyland

Hong Kong holidays are incomplete without a visit to this mesmerising attraction. Disneyland is located near the Lantau Island, and is an ideal place to be if you are travelling with family and kids. A relatively recent addition to the galaxy of city attractions, the Disneyland is what that makes flights to Hong Kong so popular.

Victoria Peak

Victoria Peak is located on the western side of the island and is the highest point of the city. Travellers can enjoy wonderful views of the city from the point, and is the ideal place for those who want to escape the hustle and bustle of city life. There are a number of souvenir shops on the Victoria Peak where one can shop to give away gifts to relatives and friends.

Wong Tai Sin Temple

Wong Tai Sin Temple is a major tourist attraction in Hong Kong that is a combination of Buddhist, Confucian and Taoist traditions. Named after an alchemist called Wong Tai Sin, the temple features latticework decorations and golden ceiling. Wong Tai Sin Temple also gets a unique colourful character from its red pillars. At its best during the Chinese New Year Celebrations, Wong Tai Sin Temple is one of the delights awaiting those on Honk Kong holidays.

Times Square

One of the Hong Kong's greatest retail plazas, Times Square is a huge complex that boasts of nine floors. Just like its namesake in the New York City, the plaza is one of the main gathering points for the Western New Year celebrations in Hong Kong. It is the prefect place to spend the money you saved on tickets on cheap flights to Hong Kong.

Hong Kong Museum of History

The Hong Kong Museum of History is yet another glittering gem adorning the city. The museum is a treasure house that exhibits artefacts dating back from the prehistoric times. The museum's exhibits include village house replicas and old photograph collections along with traditional costume displays. The Hong Kong Museum of History also features an entire street replica.

Mid-Levels Escalator

Measuring approximately at 800 metres, Mid-Levels Escalator is the largest outdoor covered escalator system in the world. It is a major allure for holiday makers who want to take comprehensive views of the dazzling Soho district.

Statue Square

Statue Square charms the visitors with its overwhelming array of modern architectural splendours. The place is home to various landmark city buildings like the Bank of China, Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation, Legislative Council Building and the International Finance Centre, which is among the tallest buildings in the world.

Western Market

Western Market is one of the oldest structures in Hong Kong, and serves as a shopping centre. It is a four storied red brick building that incorporates numerous souvenir stands and curio sellers. The structure's first floor is renowned for exotic silk and other fabrics, and is particularly popular among travellers buying tickets to Hong Kong on airlines.

Star Ferry

The Star Ferry is a passenger ferry service operator in Hong Kong that carries passengers across Victoria Harbour, between Hong Kong Island and Kowloon. It offers some of the most captivating views of the waterfronts.

Hong Kong Tourist Attractions

Hong Kong is a wonderful travel destination. Visitors will certainly never get bored as there are so many excellent Hong Kong tourist attractions for them to enjoy and visit. The most popular attraction in Hong Kong is definitely the Hong Kong Disneyland which opened several years ago and which attracts visitors from around the globe.

There are so many places to visit in Hong Kong and unfortunately most tourists only spend a couple of nights in Hong Kong. We have listed for you the most popular tourist attractions of Hong Kong and if possible you should try to visit all of them during your stay in this former British colony.

Hong Kong Disneyland

No visit to Hong Kong can possibly be complete without a visit to the Hong Kong Disneyland. If you are visiting Hong Kong with your children then they will never forgive you if you don’t take them to this amazing Hong Kong tourist attraction. Hong Kong Disneyland is located on Lantau Island and there are a number of Hong Kong hotels and resorts located nearby to this popular tourist attraction.

Ocean Park

Ocean Park has been one of the most popular Hong Kong tourist attractions for some time now. This excellent theme park is popular with both local residents as well as tourists. There are all sorts of attractions and activities at the Hong Kong Ocean Park including a shark aquarium and various rides and roller coasters. If you are interested in visit the Ocean Park during your visit to Hong Kong then please note that Ocean Park is located on the south section of Hong Kong Island. Opening hours are Tuesday through Sunday from 10:00 until 18:00.

Victoria Peak


One of the most beautiful places in Hong Kong is Victoria Peak. It is located at a height of just over 550 meters and many tourists visit Victoria Peak so as to enjoy the Hong Kong from above. Be sure to take your camera when visiting this popular Hong Kong tourist destination. If you are interested in visiting the Victoria Peak then please note that you should take the Peak tram which will take you all the way to the top and takes only eight minutes.

Wong Tai Sin Temple

Hong Kong is home to some rather stunning temples and one of the most popular of these Hong Kong temples is the Wong Tai Sin Temple. This popular Hong Kong tourist attraction is especially very popular with Chinese people visiting from abroad. The Wong Tai Sin Temple is a Taoist temple and was build in 1921.

Hong Kong For Starters

Hong Kong is absolutely one of the world's excellent towns. Regardless of whether on your first visit or your tenth, you'll undoubtedly be surprised and astounded through the city's pulsing existence, hurried pace and frenzy of several lifestyles. Hong Kong is one of the world's true global metropolises – a kind of Gotham City for Asia where just about anything you wish – be it American donuts or even Australian Shiraz – will be available.

When describing Hong Kong to acquaintances who have not been there, I usually say that it is similar to London plonked down in the middle of Asia. Or London with plenty and lots and lots of Chinese individuals. While a fair enough statement, that still does not do Hong Kong justice, with its variety of several cultures and lifestyles and cuisines.

Getting Around

There are 2 uncomplicated transport possibilities in Hong Kong: the Hong Kong Mass Transit Railway (MTR) and your own 2 feet. With these 2 tools at your disposal, you can see literally all of Hong Kong. When you first arrive, you will definitely want to pick up an Octopus Card, the city's mass transit refill card which permits you to swipe onto any of the public transport alternatives in Hong Kong, which includes buses and trains. This is much like the Oyster Card in London.

Getting to the town is effortless, too, with a lot of cheap flights to Hong Kong from most major world cities, including Europe and North America.

What to discover

What to discover in Hong Kong would depend largely on your own likes and dislikes. The very first stop for most guests is a journey up Victoria Peak Tram, a historical funicular railway that carries people on a near-vertical ascent up to Victoria Peak, the highest point in the city overlooking Hong Kong's amazing skyline. You might also want to test Hong Kong's stunning horse racing culture. Your best bet is to catch one of the city's old street trolleys to Happy Valley

Racecourse, where you could enjoy young horses race on grass under the dim sparkle of tall skyscrapers. In Hong Kong's fashionable Soho area, a series of small streets stacked upon each other bursting with attractive shops, small eateries as well as fascinating buildings, you also can desire to have a ride on the world's longest escalator, Central-Mid-Levels-Escalator.

Hong Kong also offers various attractive galleries, or if you are looking for something a bit more spiritual, you could take the intensive travel up to the 10,000 Buddhas Monastery in Sha Tin, in which hundreds of stairs lead you past hundreds of golden buddha statues to a hilltop monastery. Hong Kong is also a shopper's paradise. From the shops in Soho to the upmarket global business stores and multi-level malls in Causeway Bay or perhaps the funky local markets on the Kowloon side of the city, you may more or less discover anything you're after – in most cases at a great price!

Where to stay

Most of Hong Kong's budget accommodation choices are situated along Nathan Road, where a few high-raised structures house youth hostels and guesthouses run by nearby families. When making your reservation for these types of lodging, make sure that you receive confirmation of your bed and be sure to check out the features before you pay, mainly because some are fairly grotty.


Upscale choices vary from major international hotel brands to local boutique hotels. Most of the time, it's possible to pay for just about any cost for a hotel room or hostel bed in Hong Kong, based on your funds.

What exactly to eat

There is only one thing better than shopping in Hong Kong, and that's eating. From small noodle joints to upscale French restaurant, you will locate all sorts of restaurant, eating hall and snack stall on earth in Hong Kong. The Kowloon peninsula, specifically the Mong Kok neighborhood, is really a haven for local Hong Kong restaurants and snack stalls peddling a variety of unusual and crazy bites to eat. On Hong Kong Island, especially in Soho and Central, there are several elegant international dining places for discerning food enthusiasts.

When to go and exactly what to pack

Hong Kong's weather conditions are virtually always mild, and can easily get quite warm and humid throughout the summer. The very best time of year to go to Hong Kong is during the autumn, winter and spring while the temperatures are most liveable. Summers can be really humid and hot in Hong Kong.

It's ideal to pack light and portable garments which breathes and is relaxing for a day of strolling. When you want to travel during the winter, ensure that you bring at least a lightweight jacket or coat in case of a cold spell.

Book Flights to Hong Kong to Have Ultimate Holidaying Experience!

Hong Kong is home to excellent tourist destinations and is a perfect holiday gateway for the families and honeymoon couples. It is a city which never sleeps and has some chaotic business centers of the world. To have an idea about the most preferable things-to-do while being in Hong Kong, just go through this article. You can always book cheap flights to Hong Kong with the help of an online travel agency.

Weather of Hong Kong

Hong Kong has four seasons, featuring winter, summer, fall, and spring. If you want to visit the city during a warm and sunny weather, book flights to Hong Kong during October to December. Those who book Hong Kong flights on the regular basis feel it is best to visit the city during the spring season.

Places to be Visited in Hong Kong

Booking flights to Hong Kong will satiate your urge of expediting a city which has numerous sights to explore. Hong Kong offers you traveling through coves to coastline, enjoying a dazzling nightlife to shiny daylight, and endless entertainment. Go through the article to know how to make the best of your holidays once you've booked flights to Hong Kong.

Victoria Harbor and Peak

Victoria Harbor is Hong Kong's greatest tourist spot. It is a jewel which leaves the overseas travelers spell bound with its beauty. Those who keep on booking flights to Hong Kong, visit this particular tourist spot for sure. To have a bird's eye view of the Victoria Harbor and the entire Hong Kong Island, you need to trail on the Victoria Peak. You can visit this peak during the day time to check out the crowded Victoria Harbor or at night to enjoy dazzling beauty of the city.

Giant Buddha

Your journey to Hong Kong won't be considered complete if you haven't visited the Giant Buddha. This statue sits serenely on Ngong Ping plateau amidst the stunningly beautiful mountains. If you're booking Flights to Hong Kong with an online travel agent, make sure your schedule surely includes a visit to this holistic place.

Star Ferry

Amongst the top-rated things-to-do in Hong Kong, riding in a Star Ferry stands on the apex. There are several green and white ferries which are only means of transport from the Central District on Hong Kong Island to Tsim Shs Tsui. While riding on the ferry, you can enjoy the magnificent view on both banks of Victoria Harbor.

Tsing Ma Bridge

One of the world's longest span suspension bridges, Tsing Ma is a landmark of Hong Kong city. This engineering marvel is not only beautiful but one of the busiest bridges in the world. Once the Hong Kong Flights lands at the international airport and you take a car to travel to the main city, you get an opportunity of traveling over this bridge.

Shopping and Eating in Hong Kong

Hong Kong is a place to have unique shopping experience. This place is full of markets and malls to choose from sheer assortment of products. Funky local markets and glitzy malls lure you to buy some souvenirs for your loved ones. Hong Kong is also known as culinary capital of Asia and houses more than 11,000 restaurants. There are pre-defined food districts in the city where you can enjoy specific cuisines as per your choice. Book Cheap Flights to Hong Kong to have an exceptional shopping and culinary experience along with holidaying.

Top Sightseeing Spots in Hong Kong

As the economic and financial center in East Asia, Hong Kong enjoys all the benefits of a dynamic and vibrant metropolis. Hong Kong however still captures the romance and mystery of days gone by in the markets and lanes where East meets West. In addition to its impressive modernity, Hong Kong has many accessible beaches and natural sights for outdoor lovers. Lantua Island for example, provides a relaxing atmosphere for a holiday break.

#One: Hong Kong Park

Hong Kong Park is a small public city park on Hong Kong Island in Central. It is surrounded on one side by the skyscrapers and on the other side by Victoria Peak. But in the small 8 hectare (20 square acres) space between Cotton Tree Drive and Kennedy Road, the Hong Kong Provisional Urban Council and the Hong Kong Jockey Club opened this park in 1991. It is free and attracts a million visits a year. In the big garden is a pond that covers a former tennis court, waterfalls or rapids and several important facilities including a sports facility, a big aviary, museums, a plant conservatory and a children's playground. 

The park has won several awards including one from the United State Urban Services Department for its excellent design and facilities in the crowded urban area. The aviary is a walk through aviary. This means that you can walk on a walkway through the tree canopy so that you can see the birds flying around inside up close. The little Hong Kong Park has a lot of interesting attractions crammed into it and is a major highlight of a visit to Hong Kong Island.

#Two: Avenue of Stars


The Avenue of Stars is basically a sidewalk on the shore of Hong Kong's Victoria Bay that is modeled after the Hollywood Walk of Fame. The sidewalk and pedestrian area has the handprints and signatures of famous Hong Kong actors such as Jackie Chan and metal sculptures of Hong Kong actors or film industry figures such as Bruce Lee. It stretches for about 440 meters along the shoreline, and there are benches and decorative plants. 

To keep people from falling into the ocean below, there is a metal handrail along the sidewalk. Some local people go there to enjoy the sight of the bay and the passing ships, jog, and enjoy the harbor air, and tourists go to see the light show at night and to take photographs. This sidewalk attracts a lot of mainland Chinese. You can see most of the tall buildings on Hong Kong Island here, and at night as part of the light show, music and dialogue are played.

#Three: Man Mo Temple

It is the oldest temple in Hong Kong in the Mid-levels area of Hong Kong Island. It is half the way up Victoria Peak. In the temple, two idols are worshiped, the God of Literature and the God of War. It was built in 1847. People go to the Man Mo temples in China to pray for success in examinations or in their academic or literary endeavors. They also go to Man Mo temples to settle disputes. A bronze bell there was also made in 1847. Though it has been often renovated, the original appearance is preserved, and it is visited by lots of people.

It is said that the ceremony for settling disputes between people of cutting off a chicken's head and burning yellow paper originated during the Qing dynasty. In this ceremony, in order to avoid going to court, people invoke the gods to punish people who don't perform the vows that they publicly make in the ceremony.

#Four: Hong Kong Aberdeen

Aberdeen Harbor is on the southern side of Hong Kong Island. It is on the other side of Victoria Peak from the main Hong Kong urban area. Aberdeen is the largest town on Hong Kong Island outside the main urban area, and the harbor was famous as the place where the Hong Kong boat people lived in the 1960s and 1970s. Movies such as a James Bond movie and a Bruce Lee movie were filmed there, so the harbor is recognized world wide. 

Now, the harbor area is mainly an anchorage for the yachts and pleasure boats of the Hong Kong suburban dwellers in the area. But there are still some famous floating restaurants and local fisherman using the bay, so it is a place to go for seafood on a boat and to see the scenery and the area tourist destinations like Hong Kong Ocean Park.

#Five: Victoria Peak

Victoria Peak is the highest peak in Hong Kong Island with an altitude of 554 meters and has been considered as a landmark of the island. It is the best spot to have a bird's eye view of the Victoria Harbor and the whole thriving island. Viewed from the peak, the scenes are different between day time and night. At day time, you can see high and crowded buildings and the busy Victoria Harbor. 

At night, lit up by colorful lights, the whole scene is dazzling as a fairly-tale world. The best spot to enjoy the scene is the Peak Tower and the Lion Kiosk beside the peak tram terminal. To reach the Victoria Peak, you can take the peak tram which was put into service in 1888. Its steepest point has an angle of 27 degree which definitely can give you an unforgettable experience. Recommended Hong Kong Travel, Hong Kong attractions and Tours to Hong Kong.

Visiting The Po Lin Monastery In Hong Kong

In today's world, it seems that almost any topic is open for debate. While I was gathering facts for this article, I was quite surprised to find some of the issues I thought were settled are actually still being openly discussed. It's really a good idea to probe a little deeper into the subject of Po Lin Monastery. What you learn may give you the confidence you need to venture into new areas. Sited atop Lantau Island on the Ngong Ping plateau, lies one of the most frequently visited sights in Hong Kong - the Po Lin Monastery.

There's enough to see and do in and around the monastery to consume a vacation day or more, so plan ahead. The trip there is an adventure in itself. Take the MTR (the excellent Hong Kong subway system) to Tung Chung. Outside at the bus terminal, board the No. 23. The ride can take an hour or longer and winding your way up the mountainside provides a pair of delights. Riders get to see some of the superb countryside and seaside near Hong Kong and at the same time experience the harrowing joy of a typical Chinese rollercoaster bus ride.

Founded in 1924 as a sanctuary for Buddhist monks, the Po Lin Monastery offers superb sights both inside and out. The view from the top looking out over the sea and mountainside is breathtaking. You'll be free to look around at the exterior, which provides a superior example of the architecture and art of the period and style. The monastery is festooned with small statues and inscriptions. The surrounding grounds make it easy to imagine the tranquility that motivated the monks to make it their home. You can experience a small taste of that lifestyle for yourself by purchasing a meal ticket and enjoying the vegetarian lunch prepared by the monks in the dining hall.

Inside the temple, it isn't necessary to remove your shoes, nor to wear long pants as required by Buddhist temples elsewhere. Simply acquire an incense stick and offer three bows to the ancestors who watch over the monks and their sacred building. Place your incense sticks in the holder and then enjoy the many colorful and intricate carvings and decorations. Visitors can even stay overnight and see the rising sun the next morning. The view of the light spilling onto Fong Wong Shan Mountain, twice the height of Victoria Peak, has inspired the monks for decades in their peaceful retreat.

From the temple gate, look out toward the top of Muyushan Mountain. You'll be able to clearly make out a large copper statue of the seated Sakyamuni, reaching 26 meters (85 feet) high. Sakyamuni was the sage of the Sakyas, a Buddhist-Lamaist (Tibet) god and the historical Buddha. Here known as Tian Tan or The Big Buddha, the statue was constructed over a steel frame and completed in 1993 after a 10-year construction effort. It sits atop the plateau, reached by climbing 268 steps.

Stand at the base and take in the setting first. Around the pedestal is a three-story exhibition hall containing a large bell. Rung 108 times per day, it is said to relieve the 108 vexations. As you listen to the chimes, you can take in the many finely carved Buddhist figures. Then walk up and glance around to take in the view the Buddha has, from an island twice the size of Hong Kong itself. You'll begin to feel, perhaps, as the monks do about Lantau Island and the Po Lin Monastery. Now you can be a confident expert on Po Lin Monastery. OK, maybe not an expert. But you should have something to bring to the table next time you join a discussion on Po Lin Monastery.