Peak Tram / Peak Tower Hong Kong

I have a love hate relationship with the Peak, I love it more than I hate it mind, but the commercialisation of the Peak really annoys me.

As a visitor, my opinion should not count, it is likely that this is your first visit so you are unaware of this rampant commercialisation or probably just don’t care, fair enough, I just think that with a little bit more sensitivity and less chasing of the almighty dollar, the Peak would be a truly world class must see visitor attraction.

As a visitor getting to the Peak by the Peak Tram is a must do, absolutely, just beware that it can take 30 minutes on arrival at the Peak Tram station to actually get on a tram and during that time, you are encouraged to purchase souvenirs or have your photo taken by surly and stressed associates who are probably this way due to the fact that most people say no thank you to the service they offer.

The actual Peak Tram ride is brilliant even for a jaded old expat such as myself.. So sit back and enjoy the ride.

Arriving at the Peak Tower (which is next to Victoria Peak, not at the summit) you then suffer what I think is nothing less than a ploy to take as much money of tourists as possible, they have a captive audience and the whole Teak Tower is very clever in how it gets your hard earned money.. I was a businessman for 30 years, I had my own companies and I understand that the Peak Tower is a commercial operation paying big money for this prime locations, they have to make a profit but at what cost??

Essentially the 8 storey Peak Tower built in 1997 is just one big shop selling tourist products at tourist prices, I actually like the building, it is very impressive, all glass and steel but if it were me, I would find the nearest exit on arrival as the whole experience is overpowering.

This brings me onto my pet peeve, the Sky Terrace.

At the Peak Tram station you are encouraged to buy a ticket + a skypass that allows you to visit the Sky Terrace, it costs HK$25(US$3.20) if bought with a tram ticket or HK$30 (US$3.85) if you change your mind and buy at the entrance.

For this, you have to go up 8 floors by escalator, queue if it is busy and then go onto a terrace where you can admittedly get a terrific view, the one seen on postcards. So what’s my beef, simple, it should be free, this is one of the great views of the world and it should be free, the Peak Tower and Peak Galleria Shopping Arcade next door have plenty of opportunities to get your money, the least they can do is offer a free view.

If you are a first time visitor, you probably do not realise that a lovely 15 minute walk will get you the same views and even better views (as the panorama is different) and it will not cost a penny and there are no crowds and no one trying to sell you trinkets and services.

Once you have your pictures either go back to the shopping mall or carry on walking around the Peak.

Walking around the Peak

If you exit from the Peak Tower, just walk about a minute and you will come to the start of the HK Trail which wends it’s way around Victoria Peak, I love to walk this road, it is so quiet and peaceful, the greenery is stunning and 16 minutes after leaving the Peak Tower you will come across a break in the trees to give you magnificent uninterrupted views of Hong Kong, Kowloon and parts of the New Territories, for me you can get much better pictures here, the view is free and you will not be bothered by people trying to sell trinkets or services you have no use for.

At this location it is so quiet that all you can hear is a faint hum, which I reckon is the sound of money being made, it is a lovely sound!

Carry on walking and you travel all the way around the Peak and end up back at the Peak Tower and Peak Galleria shopping arcade.

It takes 16 minutes at an average walking pace to get to the viewing hotspot

It takes 1 hour and 3 minutes at an average walking pace to circumnavigate the Peak, including stops for photo’s and the odd rest.

I am just an average unfit guy so if I can do it, so can you!! It is always a bit cooler up here and honestly the heat and humidity are not that much of a problem.

I love the actual Victoria Peak and so will you, just avoid the shopping areas!

...oh and just to be different catch the no. 15 bus back to Central, it is one of Hong Kong’s more interesting bus rides.