Hong Kong - Victoria Harbour

The bustling gateway to China

(photos of 2005-2009)

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Victoria Harbour from the air

Hong Kong (map, Wikipedia), since 1997 a Special Administrative Region of China, enjoys one of the world's most spectacular harbour settings, thanks to its multiple islands, bays and inlets. The following panorama, shown in two versions, covers much of Victoria Harbour (Wikipedia) -- first as an annotated overview, next as a more detailed scrollable view.

The view looks southeast (at left), south (center) and southwest (at right) from an airplane flying above Hong Kong's Northern Territories (map). This plane is lined up to land at the new airport (out of sight at right), while the old airport (closed in 1998) is still clearly visible in Kowloon Bay at left.

Victoria Harbour snakes from Kowloon Bay toward the right (toward the west), and separates the city of Kowloon (Wikipedia) from Hong Kong Island (Wikipedia). The main harbour installations, such as container terminals, are at right (where two towers signal that the new Stonecutter's Bridge was under construction). Beacon Hill in the foreground is 457 m high.

Victoria Harbour from sea level

We now switch to a view from a ferry boat on the western side of Victoria Harbour, near here, on the way to one of the many islands of Hong Kong. The incomplete Stonecutter's Bridge is visible toward the left. Hong Kong's tallest peak (Tai Mo Shan, 957 m) is under a cloud left of center. The top of Beacon Hill (457 m) is marked by a white radome, with Lion Rock (495 m) to its right. The cluster of taller buildings comprise Kowloon's Union Square (map), which includes the International Commerce Center (ICC) under construction, to become the tallest building in Hong Kong, 484 m high.

The next panorama extends our view further to the right, into the narrower part of Victoria Harbour between Kowloon on the left and Hong Kong Island on the right. It was taken 18 months later from another ferry boat, closer to the Central district, the financial center of Hong Kong. The ICC tower has almost reached its final height, now challenging the International Finance Centre ("2IFC", 416 m high, seen at right, map). The two large cruise ships, seen tail-on, are moored at Kowloon's waterfront, Tsim Sha Tsui. Also visible on Hong Kong Island is the Convention Centre with its wing-like roof (map).

The next two views show the amazing concentration of skyscrapers on Hong Kong Island, as well as the iconic green/white Star Ferry serving many destinations around Victoria Harbour.

Victoria Harbour from Victoria Peak

In the last photo above, the peak at right is Victoria Peak (Wikipedia), also called "The Peak" or Mt Austin (552 m high). The low point (map), of the ridge between this peak and the peak to its left is also illogically called "The Peak". This traditional "must-see" spot for tourists is marked by a characteristic mushroom-like overhanging building housing the famous Peak Tram. Also noteworthy is that the temperature up there is about 3 degrees Celsius cooler than at harbour level.

From "The Peak" the view is spectacular in daytime and at night, as seen in the next scrollable panoramas. The first panorama, which shows the classic tourist view, includes Victoria Harbour, the Central district, Kowloon and the New Territories beyond the hills (including Tai Mo Shan at upper left). Mt Austin (the real Victoria Peak) is now at top left, while the Peak Tram is seen at bottom right. The second panorama was taken at night from essentially the same spot, and the third was shot a bit farther to the west. Housing here is among the most expensive in the world.

Sunsets over Victoria Harbour, seen from Tsim Sha Tsui (Kowloon)

The next sequence of panoramas shows sunsets, as seen from different spots along the Kowloon waterfront at Tsim Sha Tsui (map, Wikipedia).