CheckerBoard Hill 格仔山

This hill, at ~100 meters, is the natural high point in Kowloon.  There used to be a red-and-white checkerboard pattern painted on the south facing side to guide landing planes to turn right, in order to align with the runway for landing.  Hence the name.  

There is a covered fresh water service reservoir at the top of the hill.  Standing on top of the hill, one may not realise that one is on top of a reservoir.  

At the top, one should be able to see practically all of Kowloon from the east, to the south, and to the west.  Unfortunately, there is a fence all around the field on top of the reservoir and many trees outside that block one’s view.  

Walking around the reservoir, and asking around, we did find and squeeze through a small hole in another fence to get to the south facing edge of the hill.  We were essentially on top of the checkerboard pattern.  The pattern has faded terribly and, in fact, covered by some construction work.  

It was a cloudy day yesterday, a Sunday.  But one can still see the whole of Kowloon under our feet.  To the east, on our left, Kowloon City, the old Kai Tak airport and its runway, To Gwa Wan, Hung Hom and part of the harbour.  

To the south, Kowloon Tong, Mong Kok, Tsim Sha Tsui.  

Many tall buildings.  Some recognisable to us.  Some not.  

To the West, Kowloon Tong, Tai Hang East, Mong Kok Stadium, Shum Shui Po, Shek Kip Mei, …  

Many recognisable landmarks.  

I saw a school that I used to attend.  The original building was torn down and the space sold to a real estate developer.  In its place is now some high price private residential buildings.  The new school building occupies our old soccer field.  I have never seen it from this angle.  

There is a lot of construction on the south facing slope.  The place may look very different in the future.