18 of the very best views in Hong Kong
Awesome, stunning, panoramic views of Hong Kong
Discover the Real Hong Kong with Jamie
The best views in Hong Kong
a personal view of Hong Kong, images by Jamie
I am a bit of a photographer who started taking photography seriously in 2010 when I launched my Private Tour Company in Hong Kong, my first proper digital camera was pretty rubbish it was a cheap Olympus XZ 1 and the results were not very good so I saved up and invested in a Sony RX1r in early 2014 and I am now on version 2 of this camera which is totally amazing - I started learning photography using my fathers Hasselblad film camera (look it up!) when I was 11 years old and almost took up a career in photography in Hong Kong.
I now have on my Flickr image site 167,000 + Hong Kong images and for the first time I have spent a couple of days choosing my favourite images of views in Hong Kong, all 18 of them!
Hong Kong is blessed with what I consider to be the greatest city views in the world.
In this day and age of Social Media everyone is a photographer and yet almost no one is, I am a bit of purist and there just is no comparison between a smart phone and a proper camera as I like to say.. and yet in many respects it is a good thing as it is now so easy for people to record anything and everything when they visit new places, unfortunately the use of filters on smartphones and social media platforms has got completely out of hand and most images just look fake particularly the people in the images and so many images of the same spots completely take away the aura of mystery.
Of the 18 images I am posting only one image had a major filter make over, I do minimal editing, I use photoshop and like I said, minimal editing, you can tell from looking at my images - there is also one image that people swear that it was heavily filtered but it wasn’t I just hit the jackpot with the light and the blue sky and let my Carl Zeiss full frame 35mm lens work it’s magic.
Hong Kong is blessed in many ways because it is hilly (not mountainous) with some quite tall peaks and we also have Victoria Harbour which is a photographers dream.
If you read my blog posts you will know I cannot stand the phrases secret spots and hidden gems, there isn’t any, since Instagram in particular launched it has become a race to find places that are NOT mainstream and personally I think it is pretty much a waste of time, Hong Kong is 426sqm of rock so to speak, as a Private Tour Guide I had to work with guests who had at most 1 or 2 days in Hong Kong to see the best of Hong Kong, spending 2 hours to go to a random rock formation in the New Territories, 2 hours back and 30 minutes at the site make itinerary scheduling all but impossible, many places are just not time compatible.
This is why I concentrate (d) on view points or spots that are easy to plan and then visit…. but then again it was easy for me, I have lived in Hong Kong for 52 years, I am pretty good with timing.!
One of the places I have left out that is quite popular is the view from Lion Rock Peak in Kowloon, you can get close (ish) by car or taxi but then there is a very steep hike along a trail, trust me this is not for most people, the hiking part can take up to 2 hours for fit people and a lot longer for people like me and then you have to walk back again, so it can easily be a 5 hour experience, most of it with you cursing in 17 languages at how bloody steep it is! at least with Kowloon Peak you can drive to the viewpoint, oh and the view at Lion Rock is not that much different from Kowloon Peak., if I recall the last time I went was 1980 ish.
I have added in Kowloon Peak as you can access it in a private car and there is a great lookout point, you can always do a hike to Kowloon Peak but I rather suspect only fit young people in lycra are willing to do that! if you take the walking routes to Lion Rock and Kowloon Peak then bear in mind in the 6 months of summer it is around 33oC and with 95% humidity - good luck with that.
I have also left out the Hong Kong Observation Wheel near the entrance to the Star Ferry on Hong Kong Island, at 60m in height it is simply not worth the time and expense, I have done it a couple of times with guests and it was a “blah” type of experience.
With the exception of the Ritz Carlton Hotel I have not added any other views from bars and restaurants, there are a few okay ones but nothing that comes close to the Ritz, you can always do a google search for bars and restaurants with views.
Now, a word about the Victoria Peak Views from the Peak Tower 428 Sky Terrace and the Lions Pavilion.
Virtually every online Travel and Tourism Website and online Lifestyle Magazines state that the 2 places mentioned directly above are the best places to see the city views from Victoria Peak in Hong Kong.
This is complete NONSENSE with a capital N - not even close, there is no argument that they offer a fine view of Hong Kong but not even close to the magnificent views from the Lugard Road Lookout and Barker Road at Victoria Peak.
A lot of visitors to the Peak get there on the Peak Tram, well the Peak Tram stops in the Peak Tower where the Peak Tower Sky Terrace 428 is located and it costs a small fortune to go to the terrace, so a lot of people exit the Peak Tower, turn left and walk 150 yards (ish) say 2 minutes tops where you can have the Sky Terrace View at the Lions Pavilion for free but it gets very, very crowded and can be quite unpleasant.
When I was a Private Tour Guide I always took my guests to the Lugard Road Lookout, not because it is free but because you see the greatest city view in the world, it takes your breath away, it might take a little longer to get there and I am always annoyed when I hear that tour guides pass on the Lugard Road Lookout and take the easy option, people are missing out on the greatest city view in the world and they have no idea!
…. and you maybe wondering why I say this with such conviction, well I have been to the Lugard Road Lookout over 6,000 times since January 3rd 1972, I know my views!
…. and you really need a great Private Tour Guide to take you to Victoria Peak (The Peak) to explain in detail what you are looking at, my friends are all master story tellers and really know their stuff.
I have always felt absolutely blessed to live in a city with so many terrific view spots.
The Images I am posting are in random order
The best views in Hong Kong
Our Balcony View | For 15 years now I have woken up this view, this is from our balcony, looking across to the magnificent Airport Bridge and Lantau Island and with Hong Kong Island in the distance.
The Tai O Fishing Village | This is what I call a minor view, it is from a bridge at the Tai O Fishing Village looking at the stilt houses, Instagrammers go crazy when they see this image - there are not many places like this any more in Hong Kong.. I also did a job on the image with filters because this is how it looks like on Instagram, in real life on a sunny day the colours are nowhere near as vibrant.. still I always had a lot of requests to visit the Tai O Fishing Village, from Central Hong Kong you need to allow at least 5 hours (there, visit the village and then back)
Tai Mo Shan | This is an image taken by our youngest son Jack who is a bit of a photographer as well and much better than me, this is an image taken from Tai Mo Shan in the New Territories which is Hong Kong’s highest Peak, topping out at 957m or 3,139ft, you can really see how hilly Hong Kong is, interestingly it is not really on anyone’s wish list unless you are a Hong Kong Resident and you need a guide with a car to get close and then there is a bit of a hike to get there but boy is it worth it.
Victoria Harbour and Hong Kong Island | In a word MAGNIFICENT, the view of Hong Kong Island with Victoria Peak in the background, looking across Victoria Harbour from Kowloon, I took this from the Ocean Terminal Deck which is an extension to the Ocean Terminal Mall, it is a functioning cruise ship terminal and the Deck, is simply the roof… just follow the signs in the Mall….
Victoria Harbour and Hong Kong Island | and this is the magnificent night view of Hong Kong Island with Victoria Peak in the background, looking across Victoria Harbour from Kowloon, I took this from the Ocean Terminal Deck, pretty impressive, right!
NP 360 Cable Car | on Lautau Island in Hong Kong, the cable car goes from Tung Chung and through the hills to Ngong Ping which is where the Giant Buddha is located, the views of Hong Kong Airport, the Hong Kong - Zhuhai - Macao bridge, Lantau Island and the New Territories in Hong Kong are simply breathtaking (and on really clear days you can see Macau) and my favourite experience is doing this ride on a foggy day, to say it is spooky and terrifying is not an exaggeration! This should be a priority for all visitors to Hong Kong if you have the time.
I am always very amused that hardly any Travel and Tourism sites or Hong Kong Lifestyle magazines mention the views you get on the ride which is about 5.7 km in length and takes 25 minutes (ish) one way, it really is something.
NP 360 Cable Car | the foggy view - I always love it when it is like this, spooky or what!!
The Peak Hong Kong | Lugard Road Lookout at Victoria Peak (elevation around 425m or 1,345ft) on Hong Kong Island, I never get tired of saying that it is the greatest city view in the world, this should be number one priority to visit in Hong Kong for every single visitor., please click on the link below, amazingly many visitors that come to Hong Kong do NOT go to the Lugard Road Lookout which is so, so sad. read what I have to say.
Kowloon Peak | From one Peak to another, this is the view from Kowloon Peak which is 602m or 1,975ft high making it taller than Victoria Peak (which you can see in the background) quite a magnificent view… it does have a problem, there is really no public transport that goes to Kowloon Peak, you can get close (like Lion Rock) and then a steep hike - you best option is to book a private tour guide with a car, I have added links to Amy of Hong Kong Greeters and Jacky of This is Asia Tours below who are experts on Kowloon Peak. This image I took at sunrise because Jacky offered to drive me there! thanks Jacky., if you go by car you do not have take a bus and then hike, there is a great view point where the car can be parked.
The Peak Hong Kong | Billionaires row at Barker Road at Victoria Peak, amazingly not many Travel and Tourism Lifestyle magazines in Hong Kong even mention Barker Road as a place to see this magnificent view which is quite different to that at the Lugard Road Lookout.
It is I might add a place that lots of rich young couples with fancy cars go to for the night view! if you go there you will completely understand.
You can click on the link below or book Amy or Jacky (links further down)
Victoria Harbour Hong Kong | This is the view of Hong Kong Island taken from TST Promenade looking across Victoria Harbour, this was in late January as the sun was setting on a gloomy day, the Star Ferry in the harbour makes the picture, popular belief says do not visit Hong Kong in January or February, this is nonsense, there are many sunny days and there is little humidity and it is cool, there are always awesome photographs to be taken even when it is cloudy, it maybe cloudy but it can also be very clear at the same time. ( I trust you get my meaning)
Victoria Harbour Hong Kong | Early afternoon at TST Promenade looking across Victoria Peak to Hong Kong Island, this was an early afternoon shot in February and notice it is sunny and very clear and I was lucky enough to catch the Aqua Luna Junk just about to dock to pick up passengers, I love this image.
Repulse Bay Hong Kong | taken in late March on a very sunny day and that blue sky really did look like that, there are some nice views to be had in Repulse Bay
Up in the clouds | Taken from the Ritz Carlton Hotel located in ICC in Kowloon - I have taken images from the restaurants on the 102nd and 103rd floor restaurants and also from the Guest Lounge on the 116th floor, you can certainly get some very impressive images, this one is looking west to Lantau Island, Hong Kong’s largest island in the distance.
Up in the clouds | Again taken from the Ritz Carlton Hotel looking across to Hong Kong Island and over Victoria Peak
Victoria Peak Hong Kong | Victoria Peak Garden at Victoria Peak, (elevation around 480m or 1,575ft) again another place where hardly any visitors go to visit, I first went there in 1972! this view highlights Lamma Island in the South China Sea (with the 3 smoke stacks at the Electricity Plant providing a point of interest) and other islands of the 263 (ish) that Hong Kong has.
Book a private tour with Amy or Jacky (links further down) or if you want to do it on your own then simply view on your phone my comprehensive and detailed how to get to guide, see link below.
The Peak Hong Kong | The amazing view from Severn Road at Victoria Peak looking down at Aberdeen and the South Side of Hong Kong Island, I would be correct in saying that this is a view point that NO one ever goes to! Victoria Peak is made up of quite a few Peaks and there is a hidden maze of roads that take you all around Victoria Peak - this view point is only accessible by car and I would strongly recommend booking a private tour with Amy (link below) she knows her way around the maze and she was with me when I took this image - thanks Amy.
Victoria Harbour Hong Kong | The view from the upper deck of the Cheung Chau Ferry returning to Hong Kong Island looking towards Western District on Hong Kong Island - the pier you can see behind the Macau Hydrofoil has always been an Instagrammer’s dream particularly at sunset which is when I took this image.
The Peak Hong Kong | Lugard Road Lookout at Victoria Peak - the incredible night view. yes, I have saved the best until last - top that as they say and amazingly it is still the view that hardly any visitor gets to see (refer to my comments earlier in this post) it really does take your breath away.
Braemar Hill Hong Kong Island City View | A panoramic Hong Kong and Kowloon City View - a special mention
Braemar Hill on Hong Kong Island | I have been there 6 times in 52 years but it is not something I did when I was a Private Tour Guide, although it is on Hong Kong Island it is in an awkward place and you do need to do a very short hike, apparently it is a popular place to go to for the Hong Kong sunset. If you type into Google Braemar Hill Hike or Viewpoint there are plenty of articles about it.
I should point out that this is not really a photograph, I paid for it from Shutterstock and sometimes used it in my J3 Private Tour Blog Posts
Amy has a lot of experience in doing car tours and she really knows Hong Kong, one her great strengths is time management.
I took this picture of Jacky at Barker Road at Victoria Peak, he is a real Hong Kong expert.
J3 Group Hong Kong
J3 Consultants Hong Kong | J3 Private Tours Hong Kong
J3 Consultants Private Hong Kong Experience is tailored for individuals who prefer to explore Hong Kong independently, without joining any guided tours.
This unique experience offers an authentic insight into the real Hong Kong, providing a deeper understanding of the city's culture, history, and local way of life.
Led by Jamie, a dedicated Hong Kong specialist and resident for 52 years, the experience covers many aspects of Hong Kong's identity, spanning its time under both British and Chinese rule.
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Jamie, your friend in Hong Kong
52 years living in Hong Kong, our family arrived on January 2nd 1972
I have lived here for 25 years under British Rule, 27 years under Chinese Rule
I have 45 years of Business Consultancy experience in Hong Kong
My wife is a local & has lived her entire life in Hong Kong, her first language is Cantonese
We have 3 Adult sons all born and educated in Hong Kong, 2 still live in Hong Kong
I pioneered the Private Tour Industry in Hong Kong in 2010
2,324 completed award winning Private Tours of Hong Kong from 2011 - 2020
……and yes, I am a bit of an expert on the Hong Kong car culture!
© Jamie Lloyd | J3 Consultants Hong Kong | J3 Private Tours Hong Kong | | 2011 - 2024.
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