History of Castle Peak

In the shadow of the mountains, among the cedars, stood the little Rock Crossing school-house. It had been built by the men from the neighboring farms, and under its roof the children n the farms gathered to learn the lessons that were to help them to be true Americans.

But the little school did not prosper. Dry winds came sweeping across the cotton fields, burning up the crops, and wafting away the hopes of the farm folk. They must move away to a country where cooling rains fell, where farms yielded bountiful harvests. Soon there were so few people left that it was decided to move the school-house away.

Again the men of the neighborhood gathered and soon the school-house was on its way. The trip was not a long one and the little building was again set in the foot-hills of the mountains. To the south of it rose the rocky crest where the eagle nests each year-Castle Peak.

Tourist Attractions in Castle Peak

Ching Chun Koon Temple
In this Taoist "Temple of the Green Pirates" there are lamps dating back over 200 years, a jade seal more than 1000 years old and several altar-guards carved 300 years ago in Peking. The principal temple, built in 1959, is dedicated to Lui Tung Piu (or Loi Choi), one of the Eight Immortals of Taoism, usually depicted with a magical sword which enables him to make himself invisible and conceal himself in the sky. The other immortals are Han Hsiang Tzu, Lau Tsai-Ho, Chung-Li Chuan, Chang Kuo, Ho Hsien Ku, Li Tieh-Kwai and Tsao Kuo-Chin.

Two of the buildings in the complex contain thousands of tablets commemorating ancestors, some of them reserved for people who are still alive. Taoist texts are inscribed on the temple walls.

Po Toe Monastery
On the slopes of Castle Peak is the Buddhist monastery of Po Toi, with a small temple. The "Dragon Gardens", with reproductions of old Chinese buildings, ponds, etc. are privately owned but can be viewed by special arrangement.

Victoria Peak
The Peak is one of the most popular attractions in Hong Kong. The view here has been further enhanced by the Peak Tower, a seven-story, futuristic-looking building, incorporating a viewing area, restaurant and entertainment center. Reached by the Peak Tram, that rises 386m (1266ft) up the mountainside within eight minutes, the summit offers an exceptional panorama, whether by day or night. At the foot of the tram lies Government House, the residence of 25 British Governors from 1855 until Hong Kong’s handover to China in 1997.

St. John Cathedral
This beautiful Cathedral, built in the shape of a cross, is in the Central district of Hong Kong Island on Garden Road, just down the hill from the Peak Tram station.

Elvaston Castle
The present building was designed by James Wyatt and built about 1817 for the 3rd Earl of Harrington. The estate belonged to the Stanhope family who held until the mid 20th century, 3 earloms, those of Chesterfield, Stanhope and Harrington. Some of the splendid tombs of the Harrington branch of this family can be found in the church, which is situated close to the Castle, including Canova's beautiful monument to the 3rd Earl who died in 1829.