CHUNG HOM KOK BATTERY
Located at the foot of Chung Hom Shan, a hill on a
Southside peninsula that overlooks the South China
Sea, the Chung Hom Kok Battery is a wartime relic.
The striking white, sea-facing half-dome structure
is reminiscent of Greece, according to some
visitors, and it has become known as an Instagram
hotspot as well as a popular backdrop for wedding
photos. The concrete half-dome originally housed a
cannon, as the battery was built in the 1930s by
British forces to provide part of the coastal
defence for Hong Kong Island and put into use
during World War II.
TAI TAM RESERVOIRS
Built between 1883 and 1917 to provide the city with
a steady supply of freshwater, the Tai Tam
Reservoirs are surrounded by lush green countryside
to make for a popular destination among weekenders.
Hong Kong architect and designer Frank Leung enjoys
the Tai Tam Waterworks Heritage Trail, where he can
view 21 historic waterworks structures that have
been declared monuments and architectural marvels.
“You’ve got bridges that are made out of one solid
block of rock, straddling small valleys and little
streams and cascades,” he says. “All the water
engineering work is really quite amazing.”
VIOLET HILL
Located in Tai Tam Country Park, which takes up
one-fifth of Hong Kong Island with its rolling
slopes, Violet Hill is a prized hiking spot. Scale
the hill to the south to be rewarded with stunning
views of the coastline, some of the city’s most
luxurious neighbourhoods including Deep Water Bay
and Shouson Hill, and even stand-alone mansions
nestled into green hills. For Leung, being there
feels like getting embraced by nature. “I hike
regularly, especially in the Southside. The
scenery of Violet Hill changes every season,” he
says.
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SUN, SAND & SEA
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SENSE OF STYLE
