Happy Valley, Hong Kong
Encyclopedia
Happy Valley is a mostly residential suburb of Hong Kong
, located in the northern part of Hong Kong Island
. Administratively, it is part of Wan Chai District
.
There is also a long road going through Happy Vallley called Wong Nai Chung (黃泥涌, lit. yellow mud stream), named after the stream of the same name. Sometimes, this name is used for Happy Valley. For indicating the landscape, Wong Nai Chung Kuk (黃泥涌谷) or Wong Nai Chung Valley is used occasionally.
Happy Valley Racecourse
, one of the two race track
s of the Hong Kong Jockey Club
is located in Happy Valley.
The Hong Kong Racing Museum, Hong Kong Sanatorium & Hospital
, and a number of cemeteries (including the Hong Kong Cemetery) are also located in Happy Valley.
Happy Valley is also the home of Hong Kong First Division's Happy Valley Athletic Association.
The area now known as Happy Valley was formerly known as Wong Nai Chung Valley, where Wong Nai Chung referred to a river collecting waters from Wong Nai Chung Gap
and surroundings. The river nourished the rice paddies
until the construction of Happy Valley Racecourse
in 1846.
In early 1840, the British Army
had set a military camp in the area. However, the camp was later closed due to the increasing number of soldiers succumbing to malaria
. The cause of malaria was unknown at the time and the soldiers apparently suffered a then-unknown fever. Early settlers had suggested the area to be used as a business centre, but the suggestion was put off due to the valley's marsh
y environment, which was causing fatal diseases. The death rate in the area and Victoria City was high in the early colonial days, and the valley became a burial ground for the dead. As a result, the valley was renamed as Happy Valley, a common euphemism
for cemeteries. In 1846, the British felt that the valleyed terrain was ideal for horse-racing, and thus cleared the paddy fields and developed the Happy Valley Racecourse. For this, the Wong Nai Chung river was recoursed to Bowrinton Canal, known as Ngo Keng Kan (鵝頸澗) locally, beside reclamation of Wan Chai
. The canal is presently covered under Canal Road
.
Happy Valley is made up of upper income residential areas, and its residents include of a mix of Hong Kong natives and foreigners. Two of the tallest residential buildings in Hong Kong, "Highcliff" and "The Summit" are located in Happy Valley facing Mount Nicholson
and the rest of Hong Kong.
Happy Valley also provides a number of high end restaurants and hotels, and is a rendezvous point for many Hong Kong celebrities. Because of this, much paparazzi
activities are present in the area. Many Hong Kong television series are filmed in Happy Valley, too.
The Happy Valley Racecourse is still operational today. Whenever a race runs, surrounding traffic patterns have to be changed: Cars will have to enter Happy Valley and the racecourse via Wong Nai Chung Road
in a clockwise fashion, and the road may be heavily congested. The stadium lights in the racecourse illuminates nearby buildings even when the buildings themselves are unlit.
Happy Valley is the location of six cemeteries. From south to north, they are the Jewish Cemetery, the Hindu Cemetery, the Parsee Cemetery, Hong Kong Cemetery
, St. Michael's Catholic Cemetery, and the Muslim Cemetery.
The Hong Kong Tramways
extended into Happy Valley in 1922, and the community have been served by the trams ever since. The extension has one terminus.
Residents can access the Causeway Bay
MTR
station via minibuses.
Aberdeen Tunnel
, Wong Nai Chung Road
and Canal Road Flyover
also serve Happy Valley.
Happy Valley has two bus terminals, one on the hill and one at the bottom. The upper terminus serves one of Hong Kong's oldest bus routes (No. 1) which went from Green Lane of Happy Valley to Central
; it now terminates at Kennedy Town
.
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...
, located in the northern part of Hong Kong Island
Hong 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...
. Administratively, it is part of Wan Chai District
Wan Chai District
The Wan Chai District is one of the 18 districts of Hong Kong, located in the north of Hong Kong island. It had a population of 167,146 in 2001. The district has the second most educated residents with the highest income, the second lowest population and the third oldest residents, and is also the...
.
There is also a long road going through Happy Vallley called Wong Nai Chung (黃泥涌, lit. yellow mud stream), named after the stream of the same name. Sometimes, this name is used for Happy Valley. For indicating the landscape, Wong Nai Chung Kuk (黃泥涌谷) or Wong Nai Chung Valley is used occasionally.
Happy Valley Racecourse
Happy Valley Racecourse
Happy Valley Racecourse is one of the two racecourses for horse racing in Hong Kong. It is located in Happy Valley on Hong Kong Island, surrounded by Wong Nai Chung Road and Morrison Hill Road.-History:...
, one of the two race track
Race track
A race track is a purpose-built facility for racing of animals , automobiles, motorcycles or athletes. A race track may also feature grandstands or concourses. Some motorsport tracks are called speedways.A racetrack is a permanent facility or building...
s of the Hong Kong Jockey Club
Hong Kong Jockey Club
The Hong Kong Jockey Club is one of the oldest institutions in Hong Kong, founded in 1884 to promote horse racing. It was granted Royal Charter and renamed to "The Royal Hong Kong Jockey Club" in 1959...
is located in Happy Valley.
The Hong Kong Racing Museum, Hong Kong Sanatorium & Hospital
Hong Kong Sanatorium and Hospital
Hong Kong Sanatorium and Hospital , or HKSH, is a private hospital established in 1922 in Happy Valley, Hong Kong.It is one of the most famous of the Hong Kong hospitals, renowned for its high quality hospital services and comfortable accommodation for patients. All clients can also choose their...
, and a number of cemeteries (including the Hong Kong Cemetery) are also located in Happy Valley.
Happy Valley is also the home of Hong Kong First Division's Happy Valley Athletic Association.
History
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...
and surroundings. The river nourished the rice paddies
Paddy field
A paddy field is a flooded parcel of arable land used for growing rice and other semiaquatic crops. Paddy fields are a typical feature of rice farming in east, south and southeast Asia. Paddies can be built into steep hillsides as terraces and adjacent to depressed or steeply sloped features such...
until the construction of Happy Valley Racecourse
Happy Valley Racecourse
Happy Valley Racecourse is one of the two racecourses for horse racing in Hong Kong. It is located in Happy Valley on Hong Kong Island, surrounded by Wong Nai Chung Road and Morrison Hill Road.-History:...
in 1846.
In early 1840, the British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
had set a military camp in the area. However, the camp was later closed due to the increasing number of soldiers succumbing to malaria
Malaria
Malaria is a mosquito-borne infectious disease of humans and other animals caused by eukaryotic protists of the genus Plasmodium. The disease results from the multiplication of Plasmodium parasites within red blood cells, causing symptoms that typically include fever and headache, in severe cases...
. The cause of malaria was unknown at the time and the soldiers apparently suffered a then-unknown fever. Early settlers had suggested the area to be used as a business centre, but the suggestion was put off due to the valley's marsh
Marsh
In geography, a marsh, or morass, is a type of wetland that is subject to frequent or continuous flood. Typically the water is shallow and features grasses, rushes, reeds, typhas, sedges, other herbaceous plants, and moss....
y environment, which was causing fatal diseases. The death rate in the area and Victoria City was high in the early colonial days, and the valley became a burial ground for the dead. As a result, the valley was renamed as Happy Valley, a common euphemism
Euphemism
A euphemism is the substitution of a mild, inoffensive, relatively uncontroversial phrase for another more frank expression that might offend or otherwise suggest something unpleasant to the audience...
for cemeteries. In 1846, the British felt that the valleyed terrain was ideal for horse-racing, and thus cleared the paddy fields and developed the Happy Valley Racecourse. For this, the Wong Nai Chung river was recoursed to Bowrinton Canal, known as Ngo Keng Kan (鵝頸澗) locally, beside reclamation of Wan Chai
Wan Chai
Wan Chai is a metropolitan area situated at the western part of the Wan Chai District on the northern shore of Hong Kong Island, in Hong Kong. Its other boundaries are Canal Road to the east, Arsenal Street to the west and Bowen Road to the south. The area north of Gloucester Road is often called...
. The canal is presently covered under Canal Road
Canal Road, Hong Kong
Canal Road East , Canal Road West and the Canal Road Flyover are important roads in Wan Chai and Causeway Bay, Wan Chai District of Hong Kong....
.
At present
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....
and the rest of Hong Kong.
Happy Valley also provides a number of high end restaurants and hotels, and is a rendezvous point for many Hong Kong celebrities. Because of this, much paparazzi
Paparazzi
Paparazzi is an Italian term used to refer to photojournalists who specialize in candid photography of celebrities, politicians, and other prominent people...
activities are present in the area. Many Hong Kong television series are filmed in Happy Valley, too.
The Happy Valley Racecourse is still operational today. Whenever a race runs, surrounding traffic patterns have to be changed: Cars will have to enter Happy Valley and the racecourse via Wong Nai Chung Road
Wong Nai Chung Road
Wong Nai Chung Road is a major road in Happy Valley, Hong Kong. It is a U-shaped road that encircles the southern and eastern sides of the Happy Valley Racecourse. It starts northeast at the junction with Leighton Road, then turns southward and meets Blue Pool Road at the southern residential area...
in a clockwise fashion, and the road may be heavily congested. The stadium lights in the racecourse illuminates nearby buildings even when the buildings themselves are unlit.
Happy Valley is the location of six cemeteries. From south to north, they are the Jewish Cemetery, the Hindu Cemetery, the Parsee Cemetery, Hong Kong Cemetery
Hong Kong Cemetery
Hong Kong Cemetery, formerly Hong Kong Cemetery and before that Hong Kong Colonial Cemetery, is one of the early Christian cemeteries of Hong Kong during its colonial era . It is located beside the racecourse at Happy Valley, along with the Jewish Cemetery, Hindu Cemetery, Parsee Cemetery, St...
, St. Michael's Catholic Cemetery, and the Muslim Cemetery.
Transport
Hong Kong Tramways
Hong Kong Tramways is a tram system in Hong Kong and one of the earliest forms of public transport in Hong Kong. Owned and operated by Veolia Transport, the tramway runs on Hong Kong Island between Shau Kei Wan and Kennedy Town, with a branch circulating Happy Valley...
extended into Happy Valley in 1922, and the community have been served by the trams ever since. The extension has one terminus.
Residents can access the Causeway Bay
Causeway Bay (MTR)
Causeway Bay is a station on MTR's Island line on Hong Kong Island, Hong Kong.It serves Causeway Bay and its vicinity.-Station layout:...
MTR
MTR
Mass Transit Railway is the rapid transit railway system in Hong Kong. Originally opened in 1979, the system now includes 211.6 km of rail with 155 stations, including 86 railway stations and 69 light rail stops...
station via minibuses.
Aberdeen Tunnel
Aberdeen Tunnel
Aberdeen Tunnel is a two-tube tunnel linking Happy Valley and Wong Chuk Hang near Aberdeen on the Hong Kong Island, Hong Kong. It shortens the travel time between the north and the south of the Hong Kong Island. It connects the Wong Chuk Hang Road in the south, and Canal Road Flyover in the...
, Wong Nai Chung Road
Wong Nai Chung Road
Wong Nai Chung Road is a major road in Happy Valley, Hong Kong. It is a U-shaped road that encircles the southern and eastern sides of the Happy Valley Racecourse. It starts northeast at the junction with Leighton Road, then turns southward and meets Blue Pool Road at the southern residential area...
and Canal Road Flyover
Canal Road, Hong Kong
Canal Road East , Canal Road West and the Canal Road Flyover are important roads in Wan Chai and Causeway Bay, Wan Chai District of Hong Kong....
also serve Happy Valley.
Happy Valley has two bus terminals, one on the hill and one at the bottom. The upper terminus serves one of Hong Kong's oldest bus routes (No. 1) which went from Green Lane of Happy Valley to Central
Central, Hong Kong
Central is the central business district of Hong Kong. It is located in Central and Western District, on the north shore of Hong Kong Island, across Victoria Harbour from Tsim Sha Tsui, the southernmost point of Kowloon Peninsula...
; it now terminates at Kennedy Town
Kennedy Town
Kennedy Town is at the western end of Sai Wan on Hong Kong Island in Hong Kong. It was named after Arthur Edward Kennedy, the 7th Governor of Hong Kong from 1872 to 1877...
.
Residential developments
- Beverly HillBeverly Hill (Hong Kong)Beverly Hill is a high-class private housing estate in Happy Valley, Hong Kong, jointly developed by Henderson Land Development and Hang Lung Properties in 1988. It has ten 37-storey residential blocks built at a very steep slope of Broadwood Road and Link Road.-References:...
- Beverly House
- Blue Pool Lodge
- Broad View Villa
- Broadville
- Broadwood Park
- Celeste Court
- Colonnade
- Friendship Court
- Gracedale
- HighcliffHighcliffHighcliff is a 252.4-metre tall skyscraper located on a south slope of Happy Valley on the Hong Kong Island in Hong Kong. The 75 storey building's construction began in 2000 and was completed in 2003 under a design by DLN Architects & Engineers...
- Hooley Mansion
- Horace Court
- Leighton Hill
- Race View Apartments
- San Francisco Towers
- The Summit
- Valley View Terrace
- Ventris Court
- Ventris Place
- Victoria McKenna-Yao Holdings
- Villa Lotto
- Villa Rocha
- Village Terrace
- Winfield Building
Major roads and streets
- Wong Nai Chung RoadWong Nai Chung RoadWong Nai Chung Road is a major road in Happy Valley, Hong Kong. It is a U-shaped road that encircles the southern and eastern sides of the Happy Valley Racecourse. It starts northeast at the junction with Leighton Road, then turns southward and meets Blue Pool Road at the southern residential area...
- Sing Woo Road
- Blue Pool RoadBlue Pool RoadBlue Pool Road is a road linking Happy Valley and Wong Nai Chung Gap on the Hong Kong Island, Hong Kong. It starts in Wong Nai Chung Road, breaks at a roundabout, and continues in Tai Hang Road where it ends in a dead end. It is steep, and is mainly lined with residential apartments, although...
- Ventris Road
- Shan Kwong Road
- Village Road
- Broadwood Road
- King Kwong Street
- Yik Yam Street
- Yuk Sau Street
- Stubbs RoadStubbs RoadStubbs Road connects Happy Valley and The Peak area on Hong Kong Island, Hong Kong, through an area near the Wong Nai Chung Gap. It goes through a residential area of luxurious high-rise tower blocks....
- Tai Hang RoadTai Hang RoadTai Hang Road is a major road on the north side of Hong Kong Island in Hong Kong. Starting low from Tai Hang at Tung Lo Wan Road, Causeway Bay, it winds up to So Kon Po and further up to the mid-levels of Jardine's Lookout and Mount Nicholson, passing through Wong Nai Chung Gap...
- Stubbs Circle