Castle Peak (Hong Kong)

Mountain in Hong Kong
the area in Hong Kong formerly named after Castle Peak

Castle Peak (, sometimes transcribed Tsing Shan) or Pui To Shan is a 583 metre (1,913 feet) high peak in western New Territories, Hong Kong. It is also the highest granitic hill in Hong Kong. In contrast to its Chinese name, which means green hill, Castle Peak is notorious for its severe loss of vegetation and weathering of its granite surface.

The hill looks to be triangular, with two other peaks surrounding the hill in its north and south (with heights of 539 metres (1768 ft) and 517 metres (1696 ft) respectively). Much of this large rocky hinterland is a designated firing range used by the People's Liberation Army and police forces in Hong Kong, and is named the "Tsing Shan Firing Range". Warnings are issued to the public before live military exercises are carried out. Sometimes the Firing Range is open to the public, but before venturing into the restricted areas, it is best to confirm the days on which the hinterland firing range is open to the public by searching for "firing range" in the Hong Kong Government press release website. The press releases concerning the firing range for any given month is typically released one week prior to the start of that month. Generally speaking, Saturdays, Sundays and Public Holidays are open days. There are many hills that are considered sub peaks of Castle Peak within this hinterland. Mountains Kon Shan and Por Lo Shan are frequently visited by hikers because the area's terrain has been compared to that of the Grand Canyon in the US, but on a smaller scale. The summit of Castle Peak is not part of the Hinterland and is accessible daily, some of the routes leading up to the summit, namely from the north and west, may be closed because of military exercises on select days.

The name Pui To Shan was associated with a Buddhist monk Pui To Sim Shi In Cantonese, Pui means "cup", To means "water crossing", Sim Shi means "Monk of Zen". Legend has it that the monk had travelled over water in a cup and finally reached the Castle Peak. He established a monastery on the hill, which became the present day Tsing Shan Monastery. Early records have indicated that the peak was an island once named Tuen Mun Island Its former channel with Kau Keng Shan of an important sea route in South China. Defence structures were built on both hills.