D’Aguilar Peninsula

“Is that a whale skeleton?” a child’s voice echoed across the D’Aguilar Peninsula. D’Aguilar Peninsula stretches out into the South China Sea, a dramatic finger of land at the southeastern edge of Hong Kong Island. This rugged headland, named for Major-General George Charles D’Aguilar, a former Lieutenant Governor of Hong Kong, offers more than just breathtaking coastal scenery. It whispers tales of hidden trails, ancient lighthouses, and the rhythmic pulse of crashing waves. D’Aguilar Peninsula is home to D’Aguilar Peak, standing at 325 meters and crowned with a radio transmission station. Its southernmost point, Cape D’Aguilar, also known as Hok Tsui, marks the location of Hong Kong’s oldest lighthouse, a declared historical monument. While paved trails are common on Hong Kong Island, D’Aguilar Peninsula offers a wilder experience. Unmarked trails wind through dense vegetation and across bare rock faces, leading adventurous hikers up the northern face of the mountain. The climb can be steep, sometimes requiring scrambling on all fours, but the views from the peak are a worthy reward. From the summit, the transmission station access road provides a gentler descent to Cape D’Aguilar and the Marine Reserve. Here, the energy shifts. The solitude of the mountain trail gives way to the vibrant activity of the cape, where visitors marvel at the dramatic interplay of waves against the rugged coastline. And yes, that is the “Bones of Miss Willy,” a whale skeleton displayed outside the Swire Institute of Marine Science, a fitting symbol of the rich marine life protected within the Cape D’Aguilar Marine Reserve. The D’Aguilar Peninsula truly embodies the spirit of Hong Kong: a blend of untamed nature and human endeavor.