The famous cable car that takes you to Victoria Peak for a breathtaking view of Hong Kong reopened this Saturday, August 27, after a year of closure, although tourists have not yet returned due to Covid-19 measures. The cable car, which opened in 1888, once drew more than six million visitors a year, according to its operator. The $102 million facelift provides a more spacious cable car that can accommodate 210 passengers and a renovated terminal in the heart of Hong Kong’s business district.
The cable car stopped operating in June 2021 when strict border controls in Hong Kong aimed at containing the Covid pandemic put an end to all tourist traffic.
The price of the ticket increases by 70%.
A return ticket for adults now costs HK$88 ($11.20), almost 70% more than during the pre-renovation period. “I hope all visitors will find this price worth itMei Tsang, chief executive of operator Peak Complex, said Wednesday. Tourists were absent on Saturday, with Hong Kong recording just 134,000 visitors for the year, compared to 65 million in 2018.
This sixth-generation funicular is a far cry from the sedan chairs that transported visitors to Victoria Peak in the early days of British colonization. Standing at an altitude of 396 meters, the peak, once an enclave for wealthy and influential Hong Kongers, is an easily accessible spot for locals and tourists alike to enjoy stunning views of the city’s famous skyscrapers and harbor.
At the peak of the pandemic, the Asian city-state imposed some of the strictest restrictions in the world, particularly on international tourists. In early August, the authorities reduced the quarantine imposed on tourists to three days instead of seven. After this isolation in a government-designated hotel, travelers are allowed to visit Hong Kong, but are subject to a four-day medical quarantine. – monitoring during which access to certain places (bars, restaurants, etc.) is restricted.
Source: Le Figaro
