Published : 2025-05-25
The Hong Kong Government recently announced nine tourist attraction projects, including the development of mountain-themed "Four Peaks" Tourism. Among them, Victoria Peak and Lantau Peak can be reached by cable car, which enriches the hiking experience.
Travelling in Hong Kong, taking a cable car tour is a good choice. Let's take this opportunity to go through the cable cars of Hong Kong, discovering hiking routes while reminiscing the history of Hong Kong.
130-year-old Peak Tram witnessed development of colonial HK
Speaking of the most famous cable car system in Hong Kong, it must be the Peak Tram on Hong Kong Island.
The Peak Tram, which has served Hong Kong for over 130 years, was refurbished a few years ago (in 2022) with brand new panoramic windows, making the 1.4 kilometre uphill views even more open.
As one of the earliest cable car systems in Asia, the century-old cable car system to Victoria Peak was put into service as early as 1888, initially serving the elite on the Peak.
During the British colonial period, the area around Victoria Peak was a prestigious residential area with racial discrimination, prohibiting Chinese people from living there, and the restrictions were not lifted until 1947.
Looking over Victoria Harbour from the Peak, the skyline of the landmarks on both sides comes into view.
The Peak Tram slowly ascends, crossing one street block after another, with colonial names gradually receding.
From the bottom to the top of the mountain, the journey takes less than 10 minutes but is the best witness to Hong Kong's transition.
Read more: A glimpse into HK's history: Development of Peak Tram and Victoria Peak
Visitors can enjoy the brilliant Hong Kong night view at the Peak, which was once rated as one of the "World's Three Best Night Views" by Japan's "Night View Tourism Convention Bureau".
Taikoo Cable Car was the world's 1st passenger cable car
Over a hundred years ago, Hong Kong once had two cable car systems operating simultaneously: one was Peak Tram, and the other was the now-defunct Taikoo Cable Car, also known as the "Mount Parker Cable Car" (柏架山纜車).
After Hong Kong Island was ceded, the eastern part of the island became the base for the British-owned firm Taikoo Swire Group (formerly known as Butterfield & Swire).
After purchasing the land, Taikoo Swire Group started massive construction, building a sugar refinery, dockyard around the current Quarry Bay area, and facilities such as dormitories, clubs, and sanatoriums for employee use near these industrial facilities.
Among these, villas and residences for senior foreign employees were also built on Mount Parker.
To facilitate transport for the employees, Taikoo Swire Group spent 5,000 pounds, and in 1892, constructed the Taikoo Cable Car system, which was 2.3 kilometres long, connecting King's Road to Mount Parker's "Tai Fung Au"(大風坳).
It was said to be the world's first cable car system designed exclusively for passenger transportation at the time, with an avant-garde design.
However, due to the low usage rate of the sanatorium and the high maintenance costs of the cable cars, both were eventually dismantled in 1932.
Read more: A Battle between Taikoo Sugar Refinery Street and Sugar Street in Causeway Bay
Ocean Park cable car with the highest passenger capacity in the world in 1970s
Apart from the "first cable car system in Asia" Peak Tram and the "world's first passenger-carrying cable car" Taikoo Cable Car, Hong Kong also has a cable car system that once held the highest passenger capacity globally — the Ocean Park Cable Car.
The Ocean Park cable car was inaugurated in 1977 and was made in Italy. It is 1.5 kilometres long and can carry 5,000 passengers per hour, making it the largest passenger capacity cable car system at the time.
Despite being hit by waterspouts and tornadoes in the 1970s and 1980s, it ultimately remained safe without incident.
Since the inauguration of the Ocean Express (海洋列車) in 2009, the cable car is no longer the sole transportation between the upper and lower areas of Ocean Park. However, its unique riding experience still makes the cable car irreplaceable.
Read more: The transformation of Hong Kong Ocean Park over 40 years
Ngong Ping 360: Top 10 Cable Cars in the World
In recent years, the consumption habits of tourists visiting Hong Kong have shifted. Besides shopping, more people prefer to embrace nature.
On Lantau Island, the Tian Tan Buddha, Po Lin Monastery, and the Wisdom Path (心經簡林) are among the most popular routes, accessible via the Ngong Ping 360 Cable Car.
The Ngong Ping 360 cable car, which began operations in 2006, has a total length of 5.7 kilometres. At the time of its completion, it was Asia's longest dual-cable cable car system, linking Tung Chung Town and Ngong Ping.
In a 25-minute journey, passengers can enjoy panoramic views of the South China Sea, the verdant North Lantau Country Park, and view the Hong Kong International Airport, Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge, Tian Tan Buddha, and Ngong Ping Plateau from above.
Although the cable car faced several challenges in its early days, continuous improvements in management and maintenance have since made it to become "Top 10 Cable Car Experiences in the World" as recommended by international media like CNN and TripAdvisor.
Read more: The past and present of Ngong Ping 360
