Hong Kong Castle Peak

Hong Kong Castle Peak

Castle Peak is a mountain peak located in Tuen Mun District in the western part of the New Territories, Hong Kong, with an elevation of 583 metres. Castle Peak is also the former name of Tuen Mun, and can refer to the hilly mountainous area in the western part of Tuen Mun District (Castle Peak Firing Range). The mountain separates the barren western area of Tuen Mun District from the new town of Tuen Mun.

In the heart of Castle Peak, there are two scenic spots, "Crescent Valley" and "Pine Red Gully," both of which are natural gorges formed by landslides and weathering. Crescent Valley is a naturally deposited yellow sand cave opening shaped like a crescent moon, hence its name; Pine Red Gully is a red-soil trench filled with sharp rocks and covered in pine trees. Nearby attractions include "Tsing Dai Stream," "Ngau Tau Hang," and "Ng Dut Shui."

Additionally, the area near Castle Peak Village was designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest on June 23, 1976, but was later de-listed. The protected area spanned only 0.1 square kilometres, making it the smallest recorded SSSI, and was home to two ancient trees aged around 40 years. On May 22, 2009, parts of Siu Lang Shui and Castle Peak were rezoned from Green Belt to Site of Special Scientific Interest to preserve an important habitat for butterflies in Hong Kong.

Castle Peak, Hong Kong

Must-visit reason: One of Hong Kong’s most important butterfly habitats