" . . . where little cable cars climb half way to the stars . . ."

The Peak tram however is better, much better, than those great cable cars of San Francisco.

Victoria Peak is the highest point on Hong Kong island and so much cooler in summer than the heat and humidity of sea level. The early British settlers to the area also knew how to beat the heat and the real estate prices in the area reflect the British perchance for the same coolness they have back home.

Each of the two trams that service the line are around four times the size of their San Francisco counterparts. To help passengers maintain a reasonably steady footing, the floors of the twin carriages are scalloped and are needed for the one in four gradients the cable system has to negotiate. The two trams act as counterweights to each other, with a long cable attached to each and in turn, wound around a rotating drum. When one tram is on the down trip, its twin is on the up trip.

The view from the top is stunning and around half the island of Hong Kong is visible. The peninsula of Kowloon is also clearly visible as is a good slice of the "New Territories." We were surprised how mountainous the Hong Kong economic zone really is - however the surrounding hills are the raw materials for land reclamation projects that have dramatically altered the land area as new migrants have streamed in making Hong Kong one of the most crowded places in the world. The additions to the landscape are clearly visible from Victoria Peak.

A trip to Hong Kong is not complete unless a trip to Victoria Peak is included - and the Peak Tram. Best time to travel is late afternoon and stay and enjoy the cooler air of evening while watching the sun set and a new view of the millions of lights of the district - enjoy.