Shirl and Dew's Blog: Happy Valley and Cemeteries

We have lived near Happy Valley Race Track and the many cemeteries that surround it for 15 months and decided it was finally time to take a tour. This may sound really boring, but it was extremely interesting. Happy Valley was one of Hong Kong’s proposed early business districts, but because of the swamps there many people came down with malaria and died, so instead, it became the happy resting place (or graveyards). The swamps were finally drained and it was developed.

Happy Valley race track and sports complex

Happy Valley is away from the hustle bustle of Hong Kong and has a totally different look and feel. The streets are lined with small shops, furniture showrooms, delis, and apartments. We started off following the same route we follow in the early morning to walk, but ventured farther. We came to a staircase going up into the trees and found a Tin Hau temple tucked at the top. We then came down and climbed stairs again up to the Hong Kong Jockey Club. The Jockey Club House is located where the horse stables used to be located when Happy Valley was the main Race Track in Hong Kong. As we were taking pictures of the Christmas decorations, it was one BMW after another entering the car park.

As you come down near the Happy Valley Race track there is one cemetery after another. There is a cemetery for Indians, Catholics, Jews, Muslims, and a very large Hong Kong Cemetery for everyone else.

Hiking up to the Jockey Club above Happy Valley

By the time we got home we were both really tired, we must have walked for miles. We took a short break and then went out to Tony Romas for dinner. It was really a nice day.