Violet Hill
Encyclopedia
Violet Hill, also known as Tsz Lo Lan Shan (Chinese:
紫羅蘭山, literally meaning violet (flower) hill) is located within Tai Tam Country Park
in Hong Kong
. The hill is a popular site for hiking. Hong Kong Government named three trails on the hill, namely Wilson Trail
, Tsz Lo Lan Shan Path and Tai Tam Country Trail. Towards the top of the hill, it splits into three peaks of altitude 436 m, 433m and 430m. It offers beautiful views of Tai Tam Reservoir Group and Wong Nai Chung Reservoir. The hill is well-preserved with few construction on the hill. A rare and protected speicies, Hong Kong iris (Iris speculatrix) with violet flower can be found on the hill.
. Apart from the shore of Deep Water Bay
and Repulse Bay
in its southwest, the hill is surrounded by valleys with other hills on the island. With Mount Nicholson
in its northwest, it forms a crossroad of Wong Nai Chung Gap
where Wong Nai Chung Reservoir is sited. With Mount Butler
in its northeast and Jardine's Lookout
north, a valley leads to Tai Tam Reservoir in its east, an important water supply construction in the early colonial history of Hong Kong. Another mountain pass Tsin Shui Wan Au (淺水灣坳) forms with The Twins and Cheung Lin Shan allows one runs from Tai Tam Intermediate Reservoir to the Repulse Bay.
One of famous residential blocks Hong Kong Parkview
in Hong Kong is at the north of Violet Hill amidst the valley.
, the hill was part of the hostilities near Wong Nai Chung Gap
during the Battle of Hong Kong
and was used by Japanese forces with field gun
s to shell Aberdeen.
. The trail passes among the peaks of hill. Another trail Tsz Lo Lan Shan Path winds west side of the hill along catchwater
of Wong Nai Chung Reservoir and routes south to Tsin Shui Wan Au. Part of Tai Tam Country Trail let hikers go up the highest peak along the north ridge from Wong Nai Chung Gap.
Chinese language
The Chinese language is a language or language family consisting of varieties which are mutually intelligible to varying degrees. Originally the indigenous languages spoken by the Han Chinese in China, it forms one of the branches of Sino-Tibetan family of languages...
紫羅蘭山, literally meaning violet (flower) hill) is located within Tai Tam Country Park
Tai Tam Country Park
Tai Tam Country Park is a country park in the Tai Tam area in the south end of Hong Kong Island. The park was also expanded with the addition of the Tai Tam Country Park...
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...
. The hill is a popular site for hiking. Hong Kong Government named three trails on the hill, namely Wilson Trail
Wilson Trail
The Wilson Trail is a 78 km long-distance footpath in Hong Kong, only 15 km run through non-park countryside or other areas. It was named after David Wilson, Baron Wilson of Tillyorn, who was Governor of Hong Kong from 1987 to 1992. The Wilson Trail was developed by Friends of the...
, Tsz Lo Lan Shan Path and Tai Tam Country Trail. Towards the top of the hill, it splits into three peaks of altitude 436 m, 433m and 430m. It offers beautiful views of Tai Tam Reservoir Group and Wong Nai Chung Reservoir. The hill is well-preserved with few construction on the hill. A rare and protected speicies, Hong Kong iris (Iris speculatrix) with violet flower can be found on the hill.
Geography
The hill is situated in mid-southern Hong Kong IslandHong Kong Island
Hong Kong Island is an island in the southern part of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. It has a population of 1,289,500 and its population density is 16,390/km², as of 2008...
. Apart from the shore of Deep Water Bay
Deep Water Bay
Deep Water Bay is a bay on the southern shore of Hong Kong Island in Hong Kong. The bay is surrounded by Shouson Hill, Brick Hill, Violet Hill and Middle Island.Beneath the hill of Violet Hill is a beach, Deep Water Bay Beach...
and Repulse Bay
Repulse Bay
Repulse Bay is a bay in the southern part of Hong Kong Island, located in the Southern District, Hong Kong.-Geography:Repulse Bay is located in the south of Hong Kong Island, to the east of Deep Water Bay and to the west of Middle Bay and South Bay...
in its southwest, the hill is surrounded by valleys with other hills on the island. With Mount Nicholson
Mount Nicholson
Mount Nicholson is a tall mountain located on Hong Kong Island, Hong Kong.Camellia hongkongensis and Rhododendron hongkongensis, two plant species native to Hong Kong, are found on the mountain....
in its northwest, it forms a crossroad of Wong Nai Chung Gap
Wong Nai Chung Gap
Wong Nai Chung Gap is a geographic gap in the middle of Hong Kong Island in Hong Kong. The gap is between Mount Nicholson and Jardine's Lookout behind Wong Nai Chung. Five roads meet at the Gap Wong Nai Chung Gap Road, Tai Tam Reservoir Road, Repulse Bay Road, Deep Water Bay Road and Black's Link...
where Wong Nai Chung Reservoir is sited. With Mount Butler
Mount Butler
Mount Butler is a 436 m high hill on Hong Kong Island, Hong Kong."Mount Butler H.F. Radio Receiving Station" is situated on Mount Butler. Masts of the stations can be seen from a distance...
in its northeast and Jardine's Lookout
Jardine's Lookout
Jardine's Lookout is a mountain and a residential area on the Hong Kong Island in Hong Kong. It is located Southeast of the Wan Chai district and South of the Tai Hang area, at an altitude of about 433 metres. Nearby hills include Mount Nicholson, Violet Hill and Mount Butler etc.It is named after...
north, a valley leads to Tai Tam Reservoir in its east, an important water supply construction in the early colonial history of Hong Kong. Another mountain pass Tsin Shui Wan Au (淺水灣坳) forms with The Twins and Cheung Lin Shan allows one runs from Tai Tam Intermediate Reservoir to the Repulse Bay.
One of famous residential blocks Hong Kong Parkview
Hong Kong Parkview
Hong Kong Parkview is the largest private housing estate in Tai Tam, Hong Kong. It is located at Mount Nicholson, Wong Nai Chung Gap, with the east of Wong Nai Chung Reservoir Park. Its three sides are surrounded by Tai Tam Country Park...
in Hong Kong is at the north of Violet Hill amidst the valley.
History
During World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, the hill was part of the hostilities near Wong Nai Chung Gap
Wong Nai Chung Gap
Wong Nai Chung Gap is a geographic gap in the middle of Hong Kong Island in Hong Kong. The gap is between Mount Nicholson and Jardine's Lookout behind Wong Nai Chung. Five roads meet at the Gap Wong Nai Chung Gap Road, Tai Tam Reservoir Road, Repulse Bay Road, Deep Water Bay Road and Black's Link...
during 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:...
and was used by Japanese forces with field gun
Field gun
A field gun is an artillery piece. Originally the term referred to smaller guns that could accompany a field army on the march and when in combat could be moved about the battlefield in response to changing circumstances, as to opposed guns installed in a fort, or to siege cannon or mortars which...
s to shell Aberdeen.
Hiking
The Violet Hill marks the difficulty of the first stage of the Wilson Trail from StanleyStanley, Hong Kong
Stanley is a town and a tourist attraction in Hong Kong. It located on a peninsula on the southeastern part of Hong Kong Island. It is east of Repulse Bay and west of Shek O, adjacent to Chung Hom Kok...
. The trail passes among the peaks of hill. Another trail Tsz Lo Lan Shan Path winds west side of the hill along catchwater
Catchwater
A catchwater is a large-scale man-made device for catching surface runoff from hills and channelling it to reservoirs for later usage as a part of the public water supply....
of Wong Nai Chung Reservoir and routes south to Tsin Shui Wan Au. Part of Tai Tam Country Trail let hikers go up the highest peak along the north ridge from Wong Nai Chung Gap.