Lantau Peak, or Fung Wong Shan (literally "Phoenix Mountain"), is a mountain in Lantau South Country Park, Lantau Island, Hong Kong. It is the second-highest peak in Hong Kong and the highest point on the island, with a height of 934 metres (3,064 ft) above the Hong Kong Principal Datum, or around 933 metres (3,061 ft) above mean sea level.[1][2][3]

Lantau Peak
鳳凰山
Lantau Peak rises high above the Tian Tan Buddha.
Highest point
Elevation934 m (3,064 ft)
Prominence934 m (3,064 ft)
Coordinates22°14′59.17″N 113°55′16.69″E / 22.2497694°N 113.9213028°E / 22.2497694; 113.9213028
Geography
Lantau Peak is located in Hong Kong
Lantau Peak
Lantau Peak
Location of Lantau Peak in Hong Kong
LocationLantau Island,  Hong Kong
Lantau Peak
Traditional Chinese鳳凰山
Simplified Chinese凤凰山
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu PinyinFènghuáng Shān
Yue: Cantonese
Yale RomanizationFuhng wòhng sāan
JyutpingFung6 wong4 saan1

Name origin

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The mountain is made up of a pair of peaks. The taller peak is known as "Fung Fung" (Chinese: 鳳峰 lit: male phoenix summit), and the lower peak is known as "Wong Fung" (Chinese: 凰峰 lit: female phoenix summit). Together, they form "Fung Wong Shan".

Location

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Starry light and galaxy in Lantau Peak

Lantau Peak is located within Lantau South Country Park, near the center of Lantau Island, and west of Sunset Peak, which is the second-highest peak on the island. Lantau Peak is reachable by the Lantau Trail. At the foot of Lantau Peak, a tourist spot called the Wisdom Path (心經簡林) can be found.[4]

Geology

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Lantau Peak is formed by Volcanic rocks, including porphyritic rhyolites,[5] like many of the tallest mountains in Hong Kong, such as Tai Mo Shan. Some shorter mountains in Hong Kong are formed by older Granitic rocks.

Lantau Peak is also the source of water for Tung Chung River, a major river on Lantau Island.[6]

 
Geological map of Hong Kong showing the distribution of faults and different rock types in Hong Kong. Lantau Peak is in the Green area (Volcanic Rock) on Lantau Island

Climate

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Lantau Peak is located in central Lantau Island, with an elevation of 934 meters above sea level (23 metres shorter than Tai Mo Shan, Hong Kong's highest peak).[1] Under the Köppen climate classification, Lantau Peak features a subtropical highland climate. Due to its elevation, strong winds and fog occur throughout the year. Winter is cold with temperatures often dipping below 0 °C; summer is warm with temperatures reaching tops of 18-22 °C; spring is cool and humid; autumn is cool and dry. Because there is no weather station at the top of Lantau Peak (934m), the Ngong Ping Weather Station of the Hong Kong Observatory (593m)[7] can be used as reference for the temperature at the summit.

Climate data for Lantau Peak
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 8.3
(46.9)
10.2
(50.4)
11.9
(53.4)
14.2
(57.6)
16.6
(61.9)
17.8
(64.0)
18.5
(65.3)
19.2
(66.6)
18.7
(65.7)
16.6
(61.9)
13.5
(56.3)
10.0
(50.0)
14.6
(58.3)
Daily mean °C (°F) 4.9
(40.8)
7.2
(45.0)
9.0
(48.2)
13.1
(55.6)
14.8
(58.6)
16.3
(61.3)
16.9
(62.4)
17.1
(62.8)
16.3
(61.3)
13.8
(56.8)
10.6
(51.1)
6.8
(44.2)
12.2
(54.0)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) 2.3
(36.1)
4.9
(40.8)
6.8
(44.2)
10.0
(50.0)
13.1
(55.6)
14.7
(58.5)
15.3
(59.5)
15.3
(59.5)
14.5
(58.1)
11.9
(53.4)
8.4
(47.1)
4.2
(39.6)
10.1
(50.2)
Source: Climate Data for Lantau Peak — Hong Kong Observatory
 
Lantau Peak (middle) and Kau Nga Ling (left)

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "Lantau South". afcd.gov.hk. Retrieved 18 September 2019.
  2. ^ Lands Department (January 2023). "Hong Kong Geographic Data" (PDF).
  3. ^ Lands Department (2018). "Explanatory Notes on Geodetic Datums in Hong Kong" (PDF).
  4. ^ "Tourism Commission - Completed". www.tourism.gov.hk. Retrieved 18 September 2019.
  5. ^ "Lantau Volcanic Group (undifferentiated) - Jlu". www.cedd.gov.hk. Retrieved 26 April 2020.
  6. ^ "JC WISE - Rivers@HK Database | Faculty of Social Sciences, HKU". jcwise.hk. Retrieved 15 April 2021.
  7. ^ "Variation of Wind Direction and Speed". www.hko.gov.hk. Retrieved 18 September 2019.