Mount Davis, Hong Kong

Mount Davis

A view of Mount Davis from High West
Highest point
Elevation 269 m (883 ft)
Coordinates 22.277028°N 114.124789°E
Geography
Location Hong Kong
Mount Davis
Traditional Chinese 摩星嶺
Mount Davis and Kennedy Town.

Mount Davis is an area surrounding and including the westernmost hill on Hong Kong Island, Hong Kong. Home to mostly luxury residences, Mount Davis was originally settled after the construction of Victoria Road, Hong Kong by prominent Hong Kong families who were unable to live on Peak due to racially based colonial restrictions.[1]

It is named after John Francis Davis, who was the 2nd Governor of Hong Kong, from 1844 to 1848.

The summit is reached via Mt Davis Path, which comes off Mt Davis Road and Victoria Road.

History

It was an important artillery depot of the British forces since 1911 (proposed in 1900). Five (later three) 9.2-inch guns were installed. It was heavily bombed by Japanese planes during the Battle of Hong Kong. The depot was later demolished by British defenses towards the end of the battle.

Geology

The geology of Mount Davis comprises dominantly pyroclastic rocks of the Cretaceous Repulse Bay Volcanic Group (Sewell et al., 2000). This same kind of rock is common in the south of Hong Kong Island and the east and north New Territories. The rock type in Mount Davis is mainly coarse ash crystal tuff.

Features

Hong Kong Jockey Club Mount Davis Youth Hostel, operated by Hong Kong Youth Hostel Association, is located at 123 Mount Davis Path and it offers a panoramic view of Victoria Harbour.[2] The hostel has undergone a HK$9.54 million renovation, funded by the Hong Kong Jockey Club, and re-opened in 2012. The hostel offers beds in dormitories, as well as two, four and six bed rooms. Self-catering facilities are provided, but no restaurant is available. The hostel provides a free shuttle service to Shun Tak Centre in Sheung Wan.[3]

There is an ionopsheric station housing an ionosonde. The ionosonde was set up in a refurbished bunkhouse by Oulton Walker and Tim Closs of the Hong Kong University Physics department in 1969. There are also microwave towers.

The eastern side of the hill holds the Chiu Yuen Cemetery, the private cemetery of the influential Hotung family. While Kennedy Town is on the north side, the southern and western sides are mostly low-rise developments, primarily residential but also home to West Island School.

See also

References

  1. ↑ http://webb-site.com/codocs/HillDistrictReservationOrdinance.pdf
  2. ↑ "Jockey Club Mt. Davis Youth Hostel". Hong Kong Youth Hostel Association. Retrieved 22 October 2013.
  3. ↑ Joanna Chiu (14 October 2012). "Renovated Mount Davis hostel offers stunning views for just HK$130 a night". South China Morning Post.
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Coordinates: 22°16′37″N 114°07′29″E / 22.277028°N 114.124789°E / 22.277028; 114.124789

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