The Peninsula Hong Kong
Encyclopedia
The Peninsula Hong Kong is one of the most internationally recognizable hotel
s in Hong Kong
. Opened in 1928, it is Hong Kong's most historical hotel. It is located at the junction of Nathan Road and Salisbury Road in Tsim Sha Tsui
, Hong Kong. Founded by members of the Kadoorie family, the hotel today is part of the Hongkong and Shanghai Hotels
group headed by Sir Michael Kadoorie
, is the flagship property of the The Peninsula Hotels
group. The Peninsula has been voted the world's best hotel on several occasions, and is widely regarded as one of the region's legendary properties.
It was opened in Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon
, Hong Kong in December 1928, built with the idea that it would be "the finest hotel east of Suez
." The location of the hotel was extremely strategic, as passengers arriving in Hong Kong by ocean liner disembarked onto the quays of Kowloon, directly opposite the hotel. Kowloon was also the last stop on the trans-Siberian rail link
that brought travelers from Europe. As such, the Peninsula hotel was ideally situated to take advantage of the increasing number of wealthy visitors to the area.
From the moment the hotel opened its doors to the first guest, the Peninsula name has been synonymous with welcoming the rich, the famous, the titled and the titans of industry to a place of unsurpassed luxury and service. The hotel is also distinguished by its fleet of signature Rolls-Royces, which can be hired by guests. These cars are painted in a distinctive shade of green known as "Peninsula green".
On 25 December 1941, at the end of the Battle of Hong Kong
, British colonial officials led by the Governor of Hong Kong
, Sir Mark Aitchison Young
, surrendered in person at the Japanese headquarters on the third floor of The Peninsula. The Governor was confined for two months in one of the hotel suites before he was shipped to a prison in Shanghai. The resort was then renamed "The Toa Hotel", and the rooms were reserved for Japanese officers and high-ranking dignitaries, while Hong Kong sank into misery and destitution. In his book God Is My Co-Pilot, Colonel Robert Lee Scott, Jr.
, USAAF, commander of the 23d Fighter Group
, China Air Task Force
, described in detail an aerial raid he led on the Japanese shipping anchored in Hong Kong harbour, conducted 25 October 1942, and the lone attack he personally made in his Curtiss P-40
K Warhawk (nicknamed Old Exterminator) upon the famous Peninsula Hotel:
It was restored to its original name after Japan was defeated and the British regained control of the colony.
In 1994, an extension was added to the original hotel in the form of a 30-storey tower, which is topped off by a helipad.
In 1994, the hotel was expanded with a 30-story tower that follows the same style as the existing building. The facade of the existing hotel building was preserved, including the forecourt, the lobby and the front facade. The hotel remained in operation while construction commenced.
The new tower also includes a helipad
for clients. It is one of only two private rooftop helipads in the territory, the other being located on top of the Shun Tak Centre
. The helipads are used to transport the hotel's VIP clients to the Hong Kong International Airport, with flight duration being 7 minutes.
The total number of rooms in the hotel was increased to 300 as 132 rooms and suites were created. There are 10 floors of office space, shops and a series of hotel facilities added to the existing hotel buildings.
, which has one of the first Chef's Tables
in Hong Kong, and the Philippe Starck
-designed Felix. Other notable restaurants include Spring Moon, Imasa, and Chesa, which specialize in Cantonese, Japanese, and Swiss cuisine respectively.
The Lobby of the Peninsula serves traditional English-style Afternoon Tea, reminiscent of Hong Kong's colonial era.
, Dior
, Hermès
, Gucci
, Prada
, Shiatzy Chen
, Louis Vuitton
and Cartier
. Apart from international fashion houses, it has also launched some of the most prominent Hong Kong brands, such as Betty Charnuis Clemos in the 60s, Dickson Poon
in the 70s and Joyce Boutique
in the 80s.
s painted in the hotel's signature green. This was the largest order placed for Rolls-Royce in the history of the company. It replaces a fleet of Rolls-Royce Silver Spurs
.
magazine, Travel + Leisure, and other industry organizations.
starring Roger Moore, where the hotel's fleet of Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow
s is mentioned.
The hotel was prominently displayed in the 1988 NBC
television miniseries Noble House
.
In 2007, The Peninsula was used for a scene in the superhero film The Dark Knight
, involving actors Morgan Freeman
and Chin Han
, who played Lucius Fox
and Lau, respectively. The hotel was chosen, as it was one of the only two private helipads in the SAR and the producers preferred the roof of The Peninsula over that of Shun Tak Centre
.
Hotel
A hotel is an establishment that provides paid lodging on a short-term basis. The provision of basic accommodation, in times past, consisting only of a room with a bed, a cupboard, a small table and a washstand has largely been replaced by rooms with modern facilities, including en-suite bathrooms...
s in Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
. Opened in 1928, it is Hong Kong's most historical hotel. It is located at the junction of Nathan Road and Salisbury Road in Tsim Sha Tsui
Tsim Sha Tsui
Tsim Sha Tsui , often abbreviated as TST, is an urbanized area in southern Kowloon, Hong Kong. The area is administratively part of the Yau Tsim Mong District. Tsim Sha Tsui East is a piece of land reclaimed from the Hung Hom Bay now east of Tsim Sha Tsui...
, Hong Kong. Founded by members of the Kadoorie family, the hotel today is part of the Hongkong and Shanghai Hotels
Hongkong and Shanghai Hotels
The Hongkong and Shanghai Hotels, Limited , , is an investment holding company based in Hong Kong. It is the owner of Hong Kong's famous Peninsula Hotel and its sister hotels, the Peak Tram and many other residential and commercial properties and other businesses...
group headed by Sir Michael Kadoorie
Michael Kadoorie
The Hon. Sir Michael David Kadoorie, GBS is a business executive and philanthropist. As of March 2011, he is the 6th wealthiest person in Hong Kong, with the wealth of his family estimated to be 6.1 billion US dollars according to Forbes' annual list of billionaires.The son of business tycoon...
, is the flagship property of the The Peninsula Hotels
The Peninsula Hotels
The Peninsula Hotels is an ultra-luxury hotel operator based in Hong Kong, part of The Hongkong and Shanghai Hotels, Limited. Their "flagship" hotel, the famous Peninsula Hong Kong, which opened in 1928, used to be known as the 'finest hotel east of the Suez'....
group. The Peninsula has been voted the world's best hotel on several occasions, and is widely regarded as one of the region's legendary properties.
History
Kowloon
Kowloon is an urban area in Hong Kong comprising the Kowloon Peninsula and New Kowloon. It is bordered by the Lei Yue Mun strait in the east, Mei Foo Sun Chuen and Stonecutter's Island in the west, Tate's Cairn and Lion Rock in the north, and Victoria Harbour in the south. It had a population of...
, Hong Kong in December 1928, built with the idea that it would be "the finest hotel east of Suez
Suez
Suez is a seaport city in north-eastern Egypt, located on the north coast of the Gulf of Suez , near the southern terminus of the Suez Canal, having the same boundaries as Suez governorate. It has three harbors, Adabya, Ain Sokhna and Port Tawfiq, and extensive port facilities...
." The location of the hotel was extremely strategic, as passengers arriving in Hong Kong by ocean liner disembarked onto the quays of Kowloon, directly opposite the hotel. Kowloon was also the last stop on the trans-Siberian rail link
Trans-Siberian Railway
The Trans-Siberian Railway is a network of railways connecting Moscow with the Russian Far East and the Sea of Japan. It is the longest railway in the world...
that brought travelers from Europe. As such, the Peninsula hotel was ideally situated to take advantage of the increasing number of wealthy visitors to the area.
From the moment the hotel opened its doors to the first guest, the Peninsula name has been synonymous with welcoming the rich, the famous, the titled and the titans of industry to a place of unsurpassed luxury and service. The hotel is also distinguished by its fleet of signature Rolls-Royces, which can be hired by guests. These cars are painted in a distinctive shade of green known as "Peninsula green".
On 25 December 1941, at the end of the Battle of Hong Kong
Battle of Hong Kong
The Battle of Hong Kong took place during the Pacific campaign of World War II. It began on 8 December 1941 and ended on 25 December 1941 with Hong Kong, then a Crown colony, surrendering to the Empire of Japan.-Background:...
, British colonial officials led by the Governor of Hong Kong
Governor of Hong Kong
The Governor of Hong Kong was the head of the government of Hong Kong during British rule from 1843 to 1997. The governor's roles were defined in the Hong Kong Letters Patent and Royal Instructions...
, Sir Mark Aitchison Young
Mark Aitchison Young
Sir Mark Aitchison Young, GCMG was a British administrator who became the Governor of Hong Kong during the years immediately before and after the Japanese occupation of the territory.-Early life, service in war:...
, surrendered in person at the Japanese headquarters on the third floor of The Peninsula. The Governor was confined for two months in one of the hotel suites before he was shipped to a prison in Shanghai. The resort was then renamed "The Toa Hotel", and the rooms were reserved for Japanese officers and high-ranking dignitaries, while Hong Kong sank into misery and destitution. In his book God Is My Co-Pilot, Colonel Robert Lee Scott, Jr.
Robert Lee Scott, Jr.
Robert Lee Scott Jr. was a Brigadier General in the United States Air Force. Scott is best known for his autobiography God is My Co-Pilot about his exploits in World War II with the Flying Tigers and the United States Army Air Forces in China and Burma...
, USAAF, commander of the 23d Fighter Group
23d Fighter Group
The 23d Fighter Group is a United States Air Force unit. It is assigned to the 23d Wing and stationed at Moody Air Force Base, Georgia....
, China Air Task Force
China Air Task Force
The China Air Task Force was created in July 1942 under the command of Brig. Gen. Claire Chennault, whose Flying Tigers of the 1st American Volunteer Group were disbanded on 4 July of that month. It consisted of the 23rd Fighter Group with four squadrons, the 74th, 75th, 76th, and 16th Fighter...
, described in detail an aerial raid he led on the Japanese shipping anchored in Hong Kong harbour, conducted 25 October 1942, and the lone attack he personally made in his Curtiss P-40
Curtiss P-40
The Curtiss P-40 Warhawk was an American single-engine, single-seat, all-metal fighter and ground attack aircraft that first flew in 1938. The P-40 design was a modification of the previous Curtiss P-36 Hawk which reduced development time and enabled a rapid entry into production and operational...
K Warhawk (nicknamed Old Exterminator) upon the famous Peninsula Hotel:
"So I looped above Victoria Harbor and dove for the Peninsula Hotel. My tracers ripped into the shining plateglass of the penthouses on its top, and I saw the broken windows cascade like snow to the streets, many floors below. I laughed, for I knew that behind those windows were Japanese high officers, enjoying that modern hotel. When I got closer I could see uniformed figures going down the fire escapes, and I shot at them...I turned for one more run on the packed fire escapes filled with Jap soldiers, but my next burst ended very suddenly. I was out of ammunition."
It was restored to its original name after Japan was defeated and the British regained control of the colony.
In 1994, an extension was added to the original hotel in the form of a 30-storey tower, which is topped off by a helipad.
Expansion
The new tower also includes a helipad
Helipad
Helipad is a common abbreviation for helicopter landing pad, a landing area for helicopters. While helicopters are able to operate on a variety of relatively flat surfaces, a fabricated helipad provides a clearly marked hard surface away from obstacles where a helicopter can safely...
for clients. It is one of only two private rooftop helipads in the territory, the other being located on top of the Shun Tak Centre
Shun Tak Centre
Shun Tak Centre is a commercial and transport complex on the northern shore of Hong Kong Island in Sheung Wan, Hong Kong...
. The helipads are used to transport the hotel's VIP clients to the Hong Kong International Airport, with flight duration being 7 minutes.
The total number of rooms in the hotel was increased to 300 as 132 rooms and suites were created. There are 10 floors of office space, shops and a series of hotel facilities added to the existing hotel buildings.
Restaurants and Bars
The Peninsula Hotel has a collection of highly acclaimed restaurants. They include the gourmet French restaurant Gaddi'sGaddi's
Gaddi's is a French haute cuisine restaurant situated in The Peninsula Hong Kong hotel. It was opened in 1953 and named after a former general manager of The Peninsula, Leo Gaddi. The current executive chef is Britain's David Goodridge. The former executive chef was Philip Sedgwick, the first...
, which has one of the first Chef's Tables
Chef's table
A chef's table is a table located in the kitchen of a restaurant, reserved for VIPs and special guests. Patrons are served a themed tasting menu prepared and served by the head chef. Restaurants can require a minimum party and charge a higher flat fee. Because of the demand on the kitchen's...
in Hong Kong, and the Philippe Starck
Philippe Starck
Philippe Patrick Starck is a French product designer and probably the best known designer in the New Design style...
-designed Felix. Other notable restaurants include Spring Moon, Imasa, and Chesa, which specialize in Cantonese, Japanese, and Swiss cuisine respectively.
The Lobby of the Peninsula serves traditional English-style Afternoon Tea, reminiscent of Hong Kong's colonial era.
Fashion arcade
The Peninsula Hotel has one of the oldest fashion arcades in Hong Kong. Throughout the years, it has hosted world renown brands such as ChanelChanel
Chanel S.A. is a French fashion house founded by the couturier Gabrielle "Coco" Chanel, well established in haute couture, specializing in luxury goods . She gained the name "Coco" while maintaining a career as a singer at a café in France...
, Dior
Dior
Dior can mean:* Christian Dior SA, a French clothing retailer* In J. R. R. Tolkien's fictional Middle-earth legendarium:**Dior Eluchíl, a Half-elven of the First Age**Dior , a Steward of GondorDior is a surname, and may refer to:...
, Hermès
Hermès
Hermès International S.A., or simply Hermès is a French high fashion house established in 1837, today specializing in leather, lifestyle accessories, perfumery, luxury goods, and ready-to-wear...
, Gucci
Gucci
The House of Gucci, better known simply as Gucci , is an Italian fashion and leather goods label, part of the Gucci Group, which is owned by French company PPR...
, Prada
Prada
Prada S.p.A. is an Italian fashion label specializing in luxury goods for men and women , founded by Mario Prada.-Foundations:...
, Shiatzy Chen
Shiatzy Chen
Shiatzy Chen is a Taiwanese fashion house, whose founder and brand innovator Wang Chen Tsai-Hsia is often referred to as the Chanel of Taiwan,and is the eponym of her luxury goods brand. She was born in 1951 in Changhua, Taiwan and founded the company in 1978...
, Louis Vuitton
Louis Vuitton
Louis Vuitton Malletier – commonly referred to as Louis Vuitton , or shortened to LV – is a French fashion house founded in 1854 by Louis Vuitton. The label is well known for its LV monogram, which is featured on most products, ranging from luxury trunks and leather goods to ready-to-wear, shoes,...
and Cartier
Cartier SA
Cartier S.A., commonly known as Cartier , is a French luxury jeweler and watch manufacturer. The corporation carries the name of the Cartier family of jewellers whose control ended in 1964 and who were known for numerous pieces including the "Bestiary" , the diamond necklace created for Bhupinder...
. Apart from international fashion houses, it has also launched some of the most prominent Hong Kong brands, such as Betty Charnuis Clemos in the 60s, Dickson Poon
Dickson Poon
Dickson Poon, SBS is a Hong Kong businessman in the luxury goods retailing sector. Poon is the executive chairman of his Hong Kong listed vehicle Dickson Concepts , which owns companies including Harvey Nichols and S. T. Dupont...
in the 70s and Joyce Boutique
Joyce Boutique
Joyce Boutique Holdings Limited is a famous fashion retailer in Hong Kong. It is engaged in the franchise of internationally renowned fashion, accessories and cosmetics designer brands in Greater China under the name "Joyce" or mono brand freestanding stores. It operates 66 points of sale in...
in the 80s.
Fleet
Since December 2006, the hotel has had a fleet of 14 Long Wheelbase Rolls-Royce PhantomRolls-Royce Phantom
Rolls-Royce has used the Phantom name on luxury cars over the past century:* Rolls-Royce Phantom I, 1925–1931* Rolls-Royce Phantom II, 1929–1936* Rolls-Royce Phantom III, 1936–1939* Rolls-Royce Phantom IV, 1950–1959...
s painted in the hotel's signature green. This was the largest order placed for Rolls-Royce in the history of the company. It replaces a fleet of Rolls-Royce Silver Spurs
Rolls-Royce Silver Spirit
For the cruise ship see MS Silver SpiritThe Silver Spirit is a British saloon automobile made by Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, in England. It was launched in 1980.The Silver Spur was a long-wheelbase version of the Silver Spirit, produced at the same time....
.
Awards
The Peninsula Hotel Hong Kong has been recognised as an internationally leading hotel in many areas. It has received awards from Condé Nast TravelerCondé Nast Traveler
Condé Nast Traveler is a US magazine published by Condé Nast. It has its origins in a mailing sent out by the Diners Club club beginning in 1953, listing locations that would take the card. It began taking advertising in 1955. In order to attract more advertisers, it became a full-fledged magazine,...
magazine, Travel + Leisure, and other industry organizations.
Notable guests
- Michael PalinMichael PalinMichael Edward Palin, CBE FRGS is an English comedian, actor, writer and television presenter best known for being one of the members of the comedy group Monty Python and for his travel documentaries....
visited the Hotel in 1988 for the BBC's Michael Palin: Around the World in 80 DaysMichael Palin: Around the World in 80 DaysAround the World in 80 Days is a BBC television travel series first broadcast in 1989. It was presented by comedian and actor Michael Palin. The show was inspired by Jules Verne's classic novel Around the World in Eighty Days, in which a character named Phileas Fogg accepts a wager to...
. - Israeli Journalist Nimrod Kamer visited the hotel in 2010 for an extensive travel guide on Hong Kong for mako.
In popular culture
The hotel is mentioned in Paul House's novel Harbour, and the James Bond film The Man with the Golden GunThe Man with the Golden Gun (film)
The Man with the Golden Gun is the ninth spy film in the James Bond series and the second to star Roger Moore as the fictional MI6 agent James Bond...
starring Roger Moore, where the hotel's fleet of Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow
Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow
The Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow is a luxury car that was produced in Great Britain in various forms from 1965 to 1980. It was the first Rolls-Royce to use a monocoque chassis, a response to concerns that the company was falling behind in automotive innovation....
s is mentioned.
The hotel was prominently displayed in the 1988 NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
television miniseries Noble House
Noble House (TV miniseries)
Noble House was an American television miniseries that was produced and broadcast by NBC in 1988. Based upon the novel Noble House by James Clavell, it featured a large cast headlined by Pierce Brosnan as business tycoon Ian Dunross and was directed by Gary Nelson...
.
In 2007, The Peninsula was used for a scene in the superhero film The Dark Knight
The Dark Knight (film)
The Dark Knight is a 2008 superhero film directed, produced and co-written by Christopher Nolan. Based on the DC Comics character Batman, the film is part of Nolan's Batman film series and a sequel to 2005's Batman Begins...
, involving actors Morgan Freeman
Morgan Freeman
Morgan Freeman is an American actor, film director, aviator and narrator. He is noted for his reserved demeanor and authoritative speaking voice. Freeman has received Academy Award nominations for his performances in Street Smart, Driving Miss Daisy, The Shawshank Redemption and Invictus and won...
and Chin Han
Chin Han
Ng Chin Han , usually credited as just Chin Han, is a Singaporean actor of stage, film and television whose career has spanned over twenty years. He starred in Masters of the Sea, Singapore television's first foray into English-language drama. In recent years he broke into the Hollywood film...
, who played Lucius Fox
Lucius Fox
Lucius Fox is a fictional character appearing in Batman comic books by DC Comics. He was created by Len Wein and John Calnan, and first appeared in Batman #307 . As a supporting character, he acts as Bruce Wayne's business manager who supposedly unknowingly runs the business interests that supply...
and Lau, respectively. The hotel was chosen, as it was one of the only two private helipads in the SAR and the producers preferred the roof of The Peninsula over that of Shun Tak Centre
Shun Tak Centre
Shun Tak Centre is a commercial and transport complex on the northern shore of Hong Kong Island in Sheung Wan, Hong Kong...
.
External links
- The Peninsula Hong Kong official site