One thousand eight hundred and ten feet above sea level stands the Victoria Peak or, more simply, The Peak , arguably one of Hong Kong’s greatest sites. It is the highest mountain on the island and served as a natural place in which to signal cargo ships in the eighteen hundreds. In the summer, it was the place to go for residents of the city to escape the heat; today, seven million visitors a year make it their destination, usually using one of Hong Kong’s most enduring symbols of its past, the Peak Tram.
The Peak Tram was developed by Scotland’s Highland Railway in 1881, connecting the south of Murray Barracks to Victoria Gap on the Peak. Quickly, the Peak became known for its views of the city and harbor, and the Peak Tram itself, over decades, has been seen in a variety of films and television programs. Among other films, the tram was seen in a Clark Cable movie called the Soldier of Fortune in the 1950s, and also in an episode of the 1970s American television program titled The Love Boat.
Originally built in 1888, the Peak Tram was the first cable funicular in all of Asia, and the length of the ride was 1,350 metres or 4,430 feet, and connected with five stations. In that time, the carriages were made of timber with open rows of seats at the front and rear, with a compartment in the middle; the tram’s capacity carried thirty passengers at a time, with first class passengers reserved for the center compartment. Operated with coal-fired steam boilers, the Peak Tram was of use to 600 passengers on its first day, and to around 150,000 people in its first year.
From any Hong Kong hotel , it’s easy to find a way to the tram, where guests will rise out of the busy city to the heights of Victoria Peak and experience not only an amazing view, but a piece of history as well.