Hong Kong is covered with hills, and Hong Kong Island, where most of the business skyscrapers are, is no different. If anything, this just makes for a very striking contrast when you have forested hills and skyscrapers juxtaposed with each other. While the famous Peak view lets you see Hong Kong’s Central business district from above, Braemar Hill provides fine views of Hong Kong Island’s business district and the tip of Kowloon from the east.

More specifically, these fine views can be seen atop a pile of boulders that form a vantage point called “hong xianglu feng” (紅香爐峰) in Chinese (according to Google Maps). From the main photo on top, what you see on the left is Wan Chai and the Hong Kong Convention Center by the waterfront, and on the right is Kowloon. Further to the left or behind you can see lush forested hills that make up Tai Tam Country Park. It was a bit hazy on the day I went, so the views would be even better on a fine day. The dirt path to the boulders lies just off the main trail which is a concrete path.

The hike itself is not very hard, taking less than one and a half hours walking from the ground, though there are several trails that extend further south and towards higher hills. I headed up to Braemar Hill from Mount Parker Road which is several minutes walk west of Tai Koo MTR Station. I followed. Mount Parker Road and then turned onto the Quarry Bay Jogging Trail. From there, I headed westwards in an anti-clockwise direction. There is an alternate route (I did it the same way but in the opposite direction from east to west).

How to get there: From Tai Koo MRT on the Island Line, leave from Exit B and head west to Mount Parker Road and follow the signs.