Route 8 - Peak Road (Gough Hill Path Children's Playground)－The Peak (Peak Galleria Car Park) Flashcards
Route 8 - Peak Road (Gough Hill Path Children’s Playground)－The Peak (Peak Galleria Car Park)
(this section ends at Peak Galleria)
3 Bullet points - 7 minutes
- The Peak
- Peak Galleria
- Information on Walking Tour
The Peak - Points to Mention
1. Location & Overview:
* The Peak (also known as Victoria Peak, Mount Austin, Flag-raising Mountain, Incense Peak) is located at the north-western part of Hong Kong Island.
* It is the highest point on Hong Kong Island at 552 meters.
* It is famous for its cooler, temperate climate compared to the rest of Hong Kong.
* With some seven million visitors every year, the Peak is a major tourist attraction of Hong Kong.
* Its dramatic elevation offers sweeping views of Central and Victoria Harbour, and the South China Sea with its surrounding islands.
* The summit of Victoria Peak is occupied by a radio telecommunications facility and is closed to the public.
2. Historical Background:
* In 1860 Governor Robinson had a path cut wide enough for sedan chairs starting at what is now Robinson Road, just above the Botanical Gardens, then climbing to Victoria Gap (today called Old Peak Road) and on to the top of Victoria Peak (today called Mount Austin Road). At the time, the hillside was bare rock.
* The Signal Station at the top of Victoria Peak, built 1861 for the signalmen, was the very first house on the Peak.
* Sir Richard MacDonnell, the sixth Governor of Hong Kong, built a summer residence on the Peak.
* In 1874, more sedan chair paths and wells were provided, and this created a building boom.
* By the 1880s , there were already 55 houses on the peak. Many homes were for summer use only, to escape the heat of Central, and were referred to as “bungalows”.
* Once the Peak Tram opened in 1888, the Peak stopped being only a place for a summer home, it was now easy to live there year-round.
* Two hotels opened - the Peak Hotel and the Mount Austin Hotel.
* All Chinese people were restricted from living on the Peak by the Peak District Reservation Ordinance 1904 until 1947.
* Sir Robert Ho Tung broke this barrier by becoming the first non-European resident, because at the time he was considered mixed-race. In the 1920’s he built his famed Ho Tung Gardens, symbolizing the rising status of Chinese society.
* Since the late 1900s, the Peak has become the residence of choice for many wealthy and powerful figures in the city.
3. Property Prices & Developments:
* Feng Shui Appeal: The Peak’s natural setting—mountains at the back and water views—creates ideal feng shui conditions, attracting both Chinese and Western elites.
* Some large houses on The Peak with historic values, including homes of consulates, and government buildings were demolished over the decades and redeveloped into smaller houses within managed complexes.
* The Peak now boasts about 1,400 residential units.
* Average Transaction Price: Approximately HK$35,000 per square foot of usable area, corresponding to HK$ 375,000 per square meter.
Example: A basic 1,500 square foot (140 square meter) home would cost at least HK$50 million, reflecting the area’s high-end status.
* The combination of historical prestige, luxurious living standards, and prime location makes The Peak one of the most desirable residential areas in Hong Kong
4. Celebrity & Tycoon Residences:
* Celebrities: Tony Leung, Carina Lau, Stephen Chow, Elaine Yiu, Michelle Yim.
* Business Tycoons: Joseph Lau, the Lee Shau Kee family (Henderson Land), Li Ka-shing, Richard Li, and even the US Consul General.
Pointing out Peak Galleria
An upscale shopping and dining destination, the Peak Galleria offers retail outlets, eateries, and leisure facilities. It complements the Peak Tower in enhancing the tourist experience on the Peak.
Information on Walking Tour
After talking so much about The Peak’s information, I know everyone wants to experience The Peak’s atmosphere.
1. Tour Route: We will get off the bus soon to walk around to the Lion Pavillon, a great lookout.
2. Duration: It is now …, and we will stay there for 15 minutes, before heading back to the bus.
3. Instructions of walking tour:
* Please remember my phone number first: XXXX XXXX, vehicle number XXX.
* Please make sure you have all your valuables ready before getting off.
* When we get off, please follow me.
* I will introduce you to the pick-up location,
* restroom facilities, and
* Hong Kong landmarks before giving you free time.
