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Dizzy new heights
Getting high

If you’re anywhere downtown, when you take a look up in our metropolis your view of the heavens will probably be obstructed by a skyscraper. Admittedly, our urban landscape is wonderfully modern and iconic – but how do we get high without the buildings? Here are the top ten highs in Hong Kong that don’t involve an elevator ride. (Warning: some activities more physically strenuous than others.)

Fly a Plane – 5,517m
The Hong Kong Aviation Club has a fleet for both flight training and leisure flying. If you’re looking to rent, it costs $2,471 per hour to take out a Cessna 152, $2,732 per hour for the fancier C172 & C182s, while helicopters are $3,249 per hour (all prices include fuel and surcharges). If you don’t have a license yet, take the Club’s 40-hour training course to be eligible for a private pilot license (ages 17 and above). Lessons include all the basic manoeuvres and safety training you’ll need to fly, and cost $1,988 per hour for plane and $3,060 for helicopter training (approx. $80,000 and $123,000 respectively for the whole training program). Hong Kong Aviation Club. 31 Sung Wong Toi Rd, Kowloon City. 2713 5171; www.hkaviationclub.com.hk.

Helicopter Ride – 4,572m
While a luxury, a helicopter tour is the easiest way to get high in the city. Indeed, Heliservices refer to themselves as an ‘aerial limousine’. Standard tours are 30 minutes for a whopping $10,000 for up to five guests in a grand tour of Hong Kong Island, Kowloon, and Lantau. And they’ll get you high, about 4572 metres high, promising spectacular views of the city. Professional photographers inspired by the Over Hong Kong series can get even higher, as Heliservices has aerial photography equipment and will fly to just short of 6,000 metres to help you get the shot you want. Brad Pitt hired them for Spy Game, so why not you? Heliservices: 2802 0200; www.heliservices.com.hk.

Tai Mo Shan – 957m
It’s the highest mountain in Hong Kong at 957 metres, beating Lantau Peak by a mere 24 metres. Not bad for a summit whose name literally translates as ‘Big Hat Mountain’. Made of volcanic rock, Tai Mo Shan is also one of the coldest places in Hong Kong due to its high altitude. Indeed, a favourite family activity in wintertime is to journey to the top to see some rare specks of frost in sub-tropical Hong Kong. Though usually covered by clouds and mist, on a clear day you can see all the way to Hong Kong Island from the top. Though the highest point is closed off to visitors (it’s a government weather station) you can still get fairly close by walking up Tai Mo Shan Road. Watch out though, this area is known for its wild cows. For more scenic hikes, visit the Tai Mo Shan visitor centre for suggestions and information. Tai Mo Shan Country Park: take Bus 51 from the Tsuen Wan MTR and disembark at the bus stop on the corner of Route Twisk and Tai Mo Shan Rd. The visitor centre is a 10-minute walk away. 2498 9326; www.afcd.gov.hk.

Paragliding – 762m
Ultimately, the best way to feel the breeze is to fly free as a bird. And, despite what others may have told you, you can paraglide in Hong Kong. The highest you can fly up to is 762 metres in Pat Sin, Ma On Shan Pyramid Hill Ridge and Cloudy Hills, although these spots should only be flown by experienced gliders. Other paragliding sites as permitted by the government, including above Shek O, range from 300 to 600 metres. If you want to learn the tricks of the trade, consult the Hong Kong Paragliding Association and their members will arrange to teach you on a one-to-one basis, costing from $9,000 to $12,000 depending on how fast you catch on. However, the association suggests learning outside of Hong Kong where it’s cheaper and flying zones are easier for novices. Best time to learn? Autumn – when the weather’s not too hot, not too wet, and less windy. Hong Kong Paragliding Association, 9183 1885; www.hkpa.net.

The Peak – 552m
An oldie but a goodie – and probably the one that involves the least physical activity – the Peak Sky Terrace is one comfy high. At 552 metres, and with a journey up that involves the ever nostalgic Peak Tram and a series of escalators, a day at The Peak isn’t just for tourists. Though The Peak Hotel burned down in 1938, there’s plenty of hospitality at The Peak, including restaurants, shops, and an arcade. The newly redone Sky Terrace ($20) offers stunning 360-degree views of the north and south of the island. Take the J2 exit from Central MTR station, turn right and walk up Garden Road. The Peak Tram terminus is on your left. The Sky Terrace is open Mon-Fri 10am-11pm and 8am-11pm on Sat, Sun & public holidays. www.thepeak.com.hk.

Ngong Ping 360 to the Tian Tan Buddha – 516m
Reopened six months ago after a six-month closure following an incident in which an unoccupied car fell off the ropeway to smash on the hillside below, Ngong Ping 360 provides breathtaking views in every direction. Covering 5.7km, the 25-minute ride meanders over the Tung Chung valley and docks at the traditionally decorated Ngong Ping village. Whether you’re religious or not, the Tian Tan Buddha (better known as the ‘Big Buddha’) is a must-go as it holds the record of being the ‘largest outdoor, bronze, seated Buddha’ in the world. Aren’t you proud? There are 260 steps to climb to the top, while the Buddha itself is 34 metres tall and totals a height of 516 metres above sea level. Visit the Monkey’s Tale Theatre and Ngong Ping Tea House to get the more bang for your buck. Take the MTR to Tung Chung; the cable car station is a two-minute walk away. Cable car only: Mon-Sat $88, Sun & public holidays $98.With attractions package: Mon-Sat $145, Sun & public holiday $155. www.np360.com.hk.

Jump off the Macau Tower – 233m
The Macau Tower is home to the highest bungee jump in the world at 233 metres ($1,288; second jump $588). Jumping from the platform at the top you’ll reach speeds of up to 200km/h for about five seconds of freefall before rebounding back up 30 metres. Don’t worry, there’s a nice airbag waiting for you at the bottom. The Sky Jump ($688; second jump $299) is another world record holder, though the title of ‘World’s Highest Commercial Decelerator Descent’ admittedly sounds pretty lame. Less extreme than the bungee, the Sky Jump offers 20 seconds of flight at 75km/h with a fan descend. There’s also a Mast Climb where you can climb to the top of the tower, 100 metres from 238m to 338m ($1,688, two-hour round trip) 61/F, Macau Tower, Largo da Torre de Macau, Macau. Mon-Fri 11am-6pm. Sat, Sun 10am-6pm, +853 8988 8656; www.macautower.com.mo.

Cable Cars – 205m
The first in Hong Kong, Ocean Park’s cable cars bridge the two main parts of the amusement park. Considered more transport than an attraction, many people miss the beauty of the ride. The trip is brief (eight minutes) but it’s a soothing break as you take in the tranquil surroundings, away from all the hyperactive screaming and exhilaration from the rides below. The 252 cabins dangle at 205 metres above the South China Sea, and can transport 4,000 visitors per hour. Entry: $208 ($103 concession). www.oceanpark.com.hk.

Abyss Turbo Drop – 62m
The name says it all. You slowly rise to the top and remain suspended at 62 metres above the ground, waiting for the inevitable to happen. Just as you feel a twitch of impatience dangling in mid air for so long, and you’re bored from jeering at how small everyone else look in their kiddy rides on the ground; you plummet to ground in just a few seconds. The ride’s speed reaches 65kph almost instantly, and so the drop you feel beats a free fall. www.oceanpark.com.hk.

Hot Air Ballooning – 61m
Due to military restrictions, real hot air balloons have had their day in Hong Kong (though Ocean Park’s tethered Sky Star helium balloon ride soars to 120m). However, it’s still possible to catch a ride in one of only two privately owned balloons remaining. Cathay Pacific fires up theirs during Chinese New Year celebrations and the Rugby Sevens, while Camp Quality, a charity supporting children with cancer, owns the other. Both balloons can fly at 61 metres when tethered, the height mandated by the government. Prior to restrictions, a balloon could fly up to 3,048 metres when the weather was suitable from September to November. Sadly, you can no longer learn or obtain a license to fly a balloon here, so you’ll have to wait for the events.

Read the other features:
Dizzy new heights
Getting high