Braemar Hill

The Red Incense Burner Summit above Braemar Hill is a bare rocky top on the northern edge of Hong Kong Island, and it looks straight down the harbour: Kowloon opposite, the towers of Central and Wan Chai to the left, North Point and the eastern harbour below, with nothing in the way. That directness has made it one of the most photographed viewpoints in the city, particularly at sunset and after dark. The approach is short but is not a path in any maintained sense: a scramble on eroded rock and roots, unlit, awkward in the dark, and busy with people carrying tripods. Many visitors arrive in unsuitable shoes and descend after nightfall.

What you actually see

• A direct view down the harbour - Kowloon and Central without obstruction.
• Sunset and night lights - the reason for the evening crowds.
• Bare rock summit - the open top above the trees.
• North Point below - the eastern harbour and the ferry routes.

When to go

October to April for clear air; sunset is the busiest and best time. Half a day allowing for the climb, the wait and a descent in the dark with a torch.

Honest expectations

The trail is eroded, steep and genuinely hazardous in the dark, and people are injured on it regularly. There is no lighting and no railing at the top. Crowds compete for position on a small rock. Haze frequently ruins the view.

Nearby

North Point is below; Tai Hang lies west.