Pinewood Battery

Pinewood Battery is an artillery installation built on a hilltop in the Central and Western District at about 307 meters elevation. The structure features gun positions on the upper terrace with a central command post positioned behind them.

The battery was completed in 1905 and originally equipped with two 6-inch guns for coastal defense. During the 1920s, anti-aircraft weapons were added to address the growing threat from aircraft.

The site reflects Hong Kong's colonial-era military infrastructure and how communities lived under the protection of such defenses. Walking through the ruins helps you understand the role these installations played in local life and security concerns of that period.

The site is accessible via established hiking trails and provides picnic areas, seating, and barbecue facilities for visitors. Exploring works best during dry weather when the pathways are in good condition.

This was Hong Kong's highest coastal defense installation, yet it suffered severe damage during Japanese air raids in December 1941 and was never rebuilt afterward. The damaged ruins stand as a reminder of that turbulent period and its impact on the city.