I love taking pictures of Hong Kong. It’s such a beautiful opposition of landscape and skyscraper. If you’ve been reading the blog for a while you’ll notice that most of my Hong Kong pictures seem to be taken from the same vantage point, and for good reason: they’re taken from the same vantage point.
Sunrise photography overlooking Hong Kong is pretty tough because the Sky Terrace at the Peak Mall isn’t open early enough for sunrise shots. The place to go is on the Lugard Road loop around the Peak. My spot on Lugard Road (I call it “my” spot even though thousands of others know of it and have taken pictures from it) is the only place I’ve found where you can get a complete wide-angle view of the city without any bushes or shrubs getting into the frame. For example, I took this one Wednesday morning before heading back to the USA.
Hong Kong Sunrise from Lugard Road
In my effort to create more video content, I put together a little how-to about how to get to that spot. Hopefully if you’re visiting Hong Kong soon you’ll have time to go get some great sunrise shots of your own!
Let me know if you have any questions in the comments below!
Not sure how you’re able to take some top notch photos. Should do a beginner’s post on how to take photos and edit them.
Jim, I’ve posted quite a few videos like that, if you go to my youtube channel or do a search on the blog you should be able to find them, I need to make them easier to find though!
We are going in late June, taking our daughter. I have been to Peak before but not Lugard. We will give it a shot.
Thanks for the pointer.
Sam
I’ll be going tomorrow and would like to do this but during sunset. Is the spot still good for that?
Thanks for this tip. After having been to Hongkong dozens of times, nice to read some new stuff to do like this one.
It’s wonderful for sunsets! There will probably be some other photographers there as well
I can’t wait to check this spot when I go next week. Thank you for the tip. Praying for clear weather. 🙂
Can I just ask taxi driver to drop us off at Lugard Road or do I need to walk from the Peak?
Thanks in advance!
Lugard Road begins at the Peak Mall, so taking a taxi to the Peak Mall is fine.
Let me know how it goes?
How long does it take to walk from Peak Mall to this point on the trail? I am going in a few days and hope to be able to take this in. Thanks for the notes I would never have found this spot on my own.
Mike
Hi Mike! It’s about a 20 minute walk
Andy, thank you so much for this – I’ve been researching the best places to grab sunset shots when I found this perfectly concise overview. I wanted to ask, what time would you suggest getting up there to solidify having a place to set up a tripod? I’ve found that ideal photographic locations in China can be insanely competitive these days.
Thanks for letting me know when you have a second.
Mike
Hi Andy,
Just found your blog by looking for a singapore suites and the private room reviews. I really like your style and you take amazing photos. I don’t travel much for work but I just scheduled my 40th bday round the world trip in business/first (unfortunately I only have 10 days). I will be passing thru HKG (may 8th) so I’ll make sure to hit the spot on Lugard Road as it looks amazing. Thanks for a great post and the blog. I need to go back now and read more of your trip reports after work.
Szymon (Seattle)
Hey Andy,
Thanks for sharing this great video. I just got back from a great 4 day trip to Hong Kong and made this sunrise trip twice from TST (taxi approx HKD $115). Both days were perfect and a real highlight of my trip. The location is excellent although on a weekend during summer time be prepared to get there at least couple of hours before first light to secure a good spot up against the railing.
I’m so glad you found it helpful!
How many other people are out and about at that time? Traveling as a solo female and I get that Hong Kong is pretty safe, but still don’t want to be out alone.
I’ve been out there all by myself a few times and other times there have been 10+ people. There are usually TONS of people there around sunset though, so I much prefer the sunrise shoots.
Hi,
Do you have an idea how to get to Victoria Peak early in the morning if I am from the Hong Kong International Airport?
Regards,
IvyGee
You could either take a taxi directly from the airport or take the Airport Express train to Central/Hong Kong station and take a taxi from there.
Hey Andy, thanks for great vid! Checked out the spot this morning and it was spectacular. Cheers
Wonderful! I’m so glad it helped!
What size lens did you use for the shots? I’m curious because I have ultra-wide 10mm up to a 50mm prime. I’m just praying I don’t need more zoom, haha.
Hi Adam! I used a 16-35mm lens for this shot and I want to say it was at approximately 19mm on a full frame camera.
Any recommendations on times of year that are best to visit this location?
I’ve been during many different months, Hong Kong’s climate is pretty temperate so I’m not sure there’s a best/worst time to go. Smog and/or haze is going ot be the thing to watch out for and that’s hard to predict unfortunately.
Hi Andy,
Thank you so much for sharing. My husband and I are traveling to Hong Kong this summer. What time do you recommend getting to “the spot” in the morning?
Thank you.
Hi Sarah, I’d check the sunrise times when you’re going to be there. I usually try to be at “the spot” about 30 minutes before sunrise, so if I’m staying on Hong Kong Island I usually will start looking for a taxi about an hour and a half before sunrise.
How would you tell a taxi to go to Lugard Road? Is there a specific point there to tell them or is there a bus to that spot? Would be interested in getting a sunrise shot there but unsure how exactly to get there if the tram isn’t operational at that time.
Hi Jon, I tell the taxi driver to take me to “The Peak Mall” although just saying The Peak works as well.
Thank you! I went this morning! Wish I’d read all the comments and given myself a little more time for predawn but great spot! I’ll definitely be back.
Thanks for the detailed description of how to get to this spot. We went up there two nights ago for sunrise. Taxi at 4am easy to find in tsim sha tsui and cost 110 HKD. The walk from the peak tower to the view point felt safe despite being dark as there were a couple of other photographers walking at that time too. So beautiful watching the sunrise over the city and the photos are amazing!
Harry, thanks so much for your comment, it made my morning! I’m so happy the instructions were clear and got you where you needed to be. It’s one of my favorite spots in the world and I’m glad you got to experience it and capture some wonderful pictures!
Hello,
But at sunrise is better to go to lugard road or to Victoria Peak Deck? (The peak deck is 24 open)?
Best Regards
Carlos Antunes
I do not believe you can get to the deck of the Peak that early in the morning. I could be wrong, in either case I think the composition is better from the Lugard Road spot, as the IFC and ICC end up roughly at the rule of thirds points across the frame pretty nicely.
Thank you so much! Found this easily and had the whole place to myself.