Garden Hill

Introduction

If you enjoyed the opening scene of the original Blade Runner, you might very well enjoy the night view from Garden Hill. The similarity is striking, yet in the case of Garden Hill, no CGI is required.

Often overlooked by locals, Garden Hill offers a breathtaking view of one of the most densely populated areas in the world: Kowloon.

Located only a stone’s throw away from Sham Shui Po’s main attractions, Garden Hill might very well add that extra picturesque souvenir photo to any visit to Sham Shui Po, whether by day or by night.

What is it?

Garden Hill, as the name implies, is a hill. It stands 91 meters (300 feet) tall and is located in the neighborhood of Pak Tin, on the northeastern edge of the Sham Shui Po district; the second most densely populated district in Hong Kong—behind Kwun Tong—with 47,000 inhabitants per square kilometer (approximately 122,000 inhabitants per square mile). To put that number into perspective, Manhattan has a population density of only 28,000 inhabitants per square kilometer (73,000 inhabitants per square mile).

Garden Hill derives its name from the nearby Garden Bakery building—an industrial bakery that produces most of the bread-based products consumed in Hong Kong. This building will serve as a perfect landmark when searching for Garden Hill. In Cantonese, Garden Hill is usually referred to as 嘉頓山 (gā dùn shān), a literal transliteration from English.

From the top of Garden Hill, one can enjoy a breathtaking view stretching over the highly urbanized district of Sham Shui Po, all the way to Mong Kok, with its distinctive Langham Place, and beyond. Looking westward, the view extends to Tsing Yi and the port of Hong Kong—one of the busiest ports in the world.

How to Get There?

Although most Hong Kongers have never heard of Garden Hill, as it is not readily visible from downtown Sham Shui Po, it is, in fact, easily accessible, as it is located in one of the most densely populated districts of Hong Kong: namely, Sham Shui Po.

As such, the easiest way to get to Garden Hill is by MTR. Get off at Sham Shui Po station and exit the station through exit D1. Once outside the station, walk toward Golden Computer Arcade. From here, there are two ways to get to Garden Hill, but, to keep things simple, once you’re in front of the entrance of Golden Computer Arcade, take a turn left, on Fuk Wa Street. At the end of the street, take a turn right on Yen Chow Street.

From here, you should see the large Garden Bakery building as well as Garden Hill behind it. Stay on the right hand side of the road, and walk toward that building.

Once you’re in front of the Garden Bakery, cross the Castle Peak Road and turn right. You’ll need to cross the next road as well, before turning left and crossing Tai Po Road.

Turn right and walk through the small park. At the end of the park, turn left on Berwick Street. At this point, you’ll have to carefully look for a small alleyway right before the Mei Ho House, a grade 2 historic building, part of which now serves as a youth hostel. The other part was turned into a heritage museum you can visit if you so wish.

Once you’ve found the small alleyway on your right, you’re almost there. Walk through the alleyway toward the stairs, which are 75 meters (250 feet) further ahead. All that’s left to do now is to walk up the stairs to the summit of the hill.

Worth a Visit?

Accessibility

Easily accessible by MTR, Garden Hill is just a stone's throw away from Sham Shui Po’s famed Golden Computer Arcade and other popular landmarks such as Dragon Centre and Apliu Street. Although not very well indicated and not directly visible from the MTR station, the hill is relatively easy to find, as it is located one street further up from Garden Bakery’s massive white building. Just be sure not to miss the small alleyway that leads to the hill’s stairs.

Once at the foot of Garden Hill, a walk of five to fifteen minutes up the stairs, depending on your pace, will bring you to the summit. From there, you can enjoy a panoramic view of all of Sham Shui Po and parts of the Kowloon Peninsula. However, be aware that the summit is not accessible to people in wheelchairs and can be challenging—though not impossible—to reach if you have young children with you.

Cultural Significance

Definitely not as impressive as Victoria Peak on Hong Kong Island, Garden Hill offers a mesmerizing panoramic view over Sham Shui Po and Kowloon. However, if you have time to dedicate to a proper hike, you'll enjoy a much more impressive view of the entirety of Kowloon, parts of Hong Kong Island, and even sections of the New Territories from more prominent peaks like Lion Rock, Kowloon Peak, or any of the eight peaks that form the mountain range separating Kowloon from the New Territories.

However, if you have limited time in Kowloon or if you're not into hiking, climbing to the top of Garden Hill is a worthwhile addition to any visit to Sham Shui Po.

Appeal

Unfortunately, Garden Hill itself is not a very appealing landmark. The hill is covered in concrete, which gives it a dull and, in some places, dystopian appearance. Likewise, the top of the hill is buried beneath a large slab of concrete, on which a few benches have been installed haphazardly, it seems. If anything, nobody would visit Garden Hill for Garden Hill itself. Rather, you’d go to Garden Hill despite Garden Hill.

Pricing & Opening Hours

Garden Hill is open 24/7, and access is free of charge. That said, similar to the Peak, the view over Sham Shui Po is most impressive at night when the city’s lights give the district a unique vibe.

Unlike the Peak, however, Garden Hill is much less crowded and remains very quiet throughout the day and night. On the flip side, there is no iconic funicular tramway climbing to the top of Garden Hill, and you won’t find any restaurants, malls, or convenience stores at the top of the hill either.

Conclusion

Although Garden Hill doesn’t hold much value in and of itself, its location makes it a great addition to any visit to Sham Shui Po. If you are in the neighborhood, it’s well worth spending an extra half an hour to climb on top of the hill and admire the view over southern and western Kowloon.

Its appeal, however, lies primarily in the view it offers of Kowloon; but also to its proximity to other attractions in the vicinity and its ease of access, which, all in all, makes Garden Hill an interesting goal, from which one can truly appreciate the dystopian reality of overpopulation.