Devil's Peak

Devil's Peak is a 222-metre hill on the Lei Yue Mun channel east of Kowloon, at the narrowest point of Hong Kong harbour. In the nineteenth century Chinese pirates used the spot to control the passage and demand tribute. After the British annexed the New Territories in 1898 the army built forts, bunkers and gun emplacements here, all abandoned after the Second World War. A short trail from Yau Tong MTR station climbs up in about 45 minutes; on top, ruins of the fortifications remain and views stretch across the channel to Hong Kong Island and Lei Yue Mun. Best done early morning or at sunset.