🛣️【Cape Collinson Road (歌連臣角道)】 is located in Chai Wan, in the Eastern District of Hong Kong Island, winding its way all the way to the coastal Cape Collinson. Stretching for about 4 km, this road hugs hillsides and rocky shores, offering wide-open, amazing views out over the Tathong Channel (Lantern Strait) and Tung Lung Chau. It serves as a major gateway to natural spots like Pottinger Peak and Big Wave Bay, but it’s also a peaceful, quiet road right on the edge of the city, letting you fully take in the vast, rugged beauty of Hong Kong’s eastern corner.
📌 Quick Facts
Item Details Road Name Cape Collinson Road Location Located in the Eastern District of Hong Kong Island, connecting Chai Wan and Cape Collinson Traffic Direction West of Lin Shing Road → One-way westbound; East of Lin Shing Road → Two-way eastbound/westbound Length Around 4.1 km Year Built Late 1930s, officially gazetted and named in 1957 Key Features Cemetery clusters, crematorium, correctional institution Transport Green Minibus 16A, 16M, 18M Surrounding Areas North: Siu Sai Wan; South: Big Wave Bay; West: Shek O Road Terrain Built along the hills, backed by Mount Collinson (348m), facing the Tathong Channel (Lantern Strait) to the east — Aside from the natural scenery, Cape Collinson Road is packed with deep history and cultural memories. Along the way, you’ll find a massive cluster of cemeteries, including the Cape Collinson Chinese Permanent Cemetery, Sai Wan War Cemetery, as well as a crematorium and correctional facilities, making for a pretty unique social landscape. The road was actually named after Thomas Bernard Collinson, a Lieutenant in the Royal Engineers who drew up the very first precise map of Hong Kong back in the mid-19th century. Today, Cape Collinson Road is way more than just a regular street—it’s a historical window linking nature, wartime memories, and local burial culture. —
📖 Historical Background
- Origin of the Name: Cape Collinson was named after Thomas Bernard Collinson, a Royal Engineers officer who was in charge of surveying and mapping Hong Kong from 1843 to 1845.
- Early Records: Back in the 1880s, newspapers already mentioned this place by its local name, “Hak Kok Tau”, which was a notorious hotspot for smuggling and pirates at the time.
- Road Construction: Built in the late 1930s, the road was officially gazetted and named in 1957.
- Burial Ground Purposes: Starting from the 1950s, since it became hard for local families to travel back to the mainland for tomb-sweeping, the government designated this area as a major cemetery zone.
- Heritage Sites: Hak Kok Tau Rock Carving (declared a statutory monument in 2019) and the Cape Collinson Lighthouse (built in 1876).
—
🏛️ Heritage Sites
- Hak Kok Tau Rock Carving: Discovered in 2018 and officially listed as a statutory monument in 2019.
- Cape Collinson Lighthouse: Originally built in 1876 and later renovated in 1966.
- Cape Collinson Battery: A World War II military defense facility, now standing as a historical ruin.
—
🚍 Transport Services
- Green Minibuses: 16A (between Chai Wan Station and Chung Hom Kok), 16M (between Chai Wan Station and Stanley), and 18M (between Chai Wan Station and Cape Collinson Correctional Institution).
- Bus History: China Motor Bus (CMB) actually launched Route 22 (later renamed Route 88) back in 1964, but because almost no one rode it, the line was completely scrapped in 1978.
—
🌄 Surrounding Nature Spots
- Mount Collinson (348m), sitting right next to Wan Cham Shan, gives you a great look down at Big Wave Bay and Dragon’s Back.
- Big Wave Bay, a super popular surfing and hiking destination located just to the north.
- Tathong Channel (Lantern Strait), which Cape Collinson looks right out into, serves as a crucial eastern gateway for vessels entering Victoria Harbour.
—
🏞️ Major Landmarks Along the Road
Location Highlights Cape Collinson Crematorium One of Hong Kong’s main cremation facilities Cape Collinson Chinese Permanent Cemetery A major Chinese burial ground on HK Island Muslim Cemetery Dedicated burial ground for the local Muslim community Catholic Cemetery of the Holy Cross A dedicated Catholic cemetery Sai Wan War Cemetery A beautiful WWII memorial grounds holding the graves of Allied soldiers Cape Collinson Correctional Institution A facility located right at the end of the road, opened in 1958
