View source for Happy Valley, Hong Kong

{{Short description|Residential area in Hong Kong}}
{{Other uses|Happy Valley (disambiguation)}}
{{distinguish|Happy Garden}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2022}}{{Use Hong Kong English|date = August 2022}}
{{More citations needed|date=October 2021}}{{Infobox Chinese
| title = Happy Valley
| pic = Happy Valley 2015.jpg
| order = ts
| t = 跑馬地
| s = 跑马地
| j = Paau<sup>2</sup> maa<sup>5</sup> dei<sup>2</sup>
| y = Paaú màh deí
| ci = {{IPA|yue|pʰǎːu ma̬ː těi|}}
| p = Pǎomǎdì
| myr = Pǎumǎdì
| l = horse-racing ground
| c2 = 快活谷
| j2 = Faai<sup>3</sup> wut<sup>6</sup> guk<sup>1</sup>
| y2 = Faai wuht gùk
| ci2 = {{IPA|yue|fāːi wʊ̀t kʊ̂k|}}
| p2 = Kuàihuogǔ
| myr2 = Kwàihwogǔ
| l2 = Happy valley
| mi = 
| altname = 
}}

'''Happy Valley''' ({{lang-zh|first=t|t=跑馬地}}) is an upper-income residential [[List of places in Hong Kong|area]] in [[Hong Kong]], located on [[Hong Kong Island]]. The area is bordered by Caroline Hill to the east, [[Jardine's Lookout]] to the south, [[Morrison Hill]] to the west, and [[Causeway Bay]] to the north. Administratively, it is part of [[Wan Chai District]].

Happy Valley is considered as an area surrounded by Caroline Hill Road to the east, [[Tai Hang Road]] and [[Stubbs Road]] to the south, [[Canal Road Flyover]] and westbound section of [[Wong Nai Chung Road]] to the west, and [[Leighton Road]] to the north.

The area is home to the [[Happy Valley Racecourse]], [[Hong Kong Racing Museum]], Hong Kong Jockey Club Happy Valley Clubhouse, [[Hong Kong Sanatorium & Hospital]], [[Hong Kong Adventist Hospital – Stubbs Road]], home to a number of sports clubs including [[Valley RFC]] rugby club, Craigengower Cricket Club, [[Hong Kong FC]] football club, and a number of cemeteries including the [[Hong Kong Cemetery]].

It has a population of 32,202 people, 70.7% of them being Chinese. Other ethnic minority groups include Filipinos (12.8%) and whites (6.3%).{{when|date=April 2024}}

==History==
[[File:Happyvalley 1873.jpg|thumb|Happy Valley in 1873]]
[[File:Happy_Valley_Racecourse_1920.jpg|thumb|Happy Valley in 1920]]
[[File:Happy Valley Racecourse 1971.jpg|thumb|Happy Valley in 1971]]
The area now known as Happy Valley was formerly known as Wong Nai Chung Valley, sometimes known as '''Wong Nai Chung Kuk''' ({{lang|yue|黃泥涌谷}}) or '''Wong Nai Chung Valley''' because of the {{ill|Wong Nai Chung|yue|%E9%BB%83%E6%B3%A5%E6%B6%8C}} ({{lang|yue|黃泥涌}}, ''lit.'' yellow mud stream) that leads into the area, where the Wong Nai Chung referred to is a mud-filled river collecting waters from the [[Wong Nai Chung Gap]] and surrounding area. The river nourished the [[Paddy field|rice paddies]] until the construction of [[Happy Valley Racecourse]] in 1846.

In early 1840, the [[British Army]] set a military camp in the area. However, the camp was later closed due to the increasing number of soldiers succumbing to [[malaria]]. The cause of malaria was unknown at the time and the soldiers apparently suffered a then-unknown fever. Early settlers had suggested the area to be used as a business centre, but the idea was shelved due to the valley's marshy environment, which was believed to be causing fatal diseases. The death rate in the area and [[Victoria, Hong Kong|Victoria City]] was high in the early colonial days, and the valley became a burial ground for the dead. As a result, the valley was renamed ''Happy Valley'', a common euphemism for cemeteries. In 1846, the British felt that the valley terrain was ideal for horse-racing, and thus cleared the paddy fields and developed the Happy Valley Racecourse. For this, the Wong Nai Chung river was redirected to the Bowrington Canal, known as Ngo Keng Kan ({{lang|zh-hant|鵝頸澗}}) locally, concurrent with the reclamation of [[Wan Chai]]. The canal is now covered by [[Canal Road, Hong Kong|Canal Road]].

On 26 February 1918, the [[Happy Valley Racecourse fire]] claimed at least 590 lives. By the next day, as many as 576 confirmed deaths were reported by the Hong Kong Telegraph. It was caused by the collapse of a temporary grandstand, which knocked over food stalls and set bamboo matting ablaze. Most of the dead bodies became unrecognizable and assumed to be "Chinese". They were buried in the nearby [[So Kon Po]] area (now the site of [[Hong Kong Stadium]]). A Chinese-styled memorial site known as "[[The Race Course Fire Memorial|Race Course Fire Memorial]]" was built in the Chinese cemetery (now behind the east stand of the stadium).<ref>{{Cite web |title=HK's most severe fire: Happy Valley Racecourse Fire in 1918 {{!}} Hong Kong {{!}} Greater Bay Area |url=https://www.ourchinastory.com/en/13319/HK's-most-severe-fire:-Happy-Valley-Racecourse-Fire-in-1918- |access-date=2025-04-23 |website=Our China Story}}</ref>

In 1922, the [[Hong Kong Sanatorium & Hospital|Hong Kong Sanatorium and Hospital]] located in Happy Valley started operation.

On 19 December 1941, the [[Japanese Imperial Army]] entered the hill east of the valley and fought their way to Blue Pool Road. On (now [[Blue Pool Road]]) a number of large massacres occurred, most notably the Blue Pool Road Massacre, where civilians were bayoneted. Civilians and soldiers captured were kept in the appalling conditions of 'the black hole of Hong Kong' (a house on Blue Pool Road). The Japanese later advanced up to Wong Nai Chung Gap, where the battle of [[Wong Nai Chung Gap]] occurred, resulting in Japanese control of the gap. Although the low-areas of Happy Valley were captured, areas surrounding [[Leighton Hill]] and Morrison Hill were still contested until later in [[the Battle of Hong Kong]].

The Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC) resumed horse racing in 1947. From the 2010s, the HKJC began promoting Happy Valley as a tourist attraction with "Happy Wednesday" race nights, featuring live music, beer gardens and food stalls attracting around 8,000–12,000 spectators per meeting.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Happy Wednesday - The Hong Kong Jockey Club |url=https://happywednesday.hkjc.com/en-US/ |access-date=2025-04-23 |website=happywednesday.hkjc.com |language=en-US}}</ref>

==Characteristics==
[[File:Happy Valley Racecourse 1.jpg|thumb|Happy Valley in 2008]]
Happy Valley is made up of upper-income residential areas. Residents are relatively diverse as to Hong Kong natives and foreigners. Two of the territory's tallest residential buildings, [[Highcliff]] and [[The Summit (Hong Kong)|The Summit]] are specifically in [[Stubbs Road]], facing [[Mount Nicholson]].

Happy Valley hosts six cemeteries, from south to north, the [[Happy Valley Jewish Cemetery]], the Hindu Cemetery, the Parsee Cemetery, [[Hong Kong Cemetery]], [[St. Michael's Catholic Cemetery]], and the Muslim Cemetery.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Nicolson|first=Ken|url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/j.ctt1xwfhb|title=The Happy Valley: A History and Tour of the Hong Kong Cemetery|date=2010|publisher=Hong Kong University Press|jstor=j.ctt1xwfhb |isbn=978-988-8028-10-8}}</ref>

The [[Hong Kong Racing Museum]] and the associated Happy Valley Racecourse, one of the two tracks of the [[Hong Kong Jockey Club]], is in Happy Valley. Whenever a race runs, surrounding traffic patterns have to be changed: cars have to enter Happy Valley and the racecourse via [[Wong Nai Chung Road]] in a clockwise fashion, and the road may be heavily congested. The stadium lights in the racecourse illuminate nearby buildings even when the buildings themselves are unlit.

Many other sports are participated and competed in by [[Hong Kong First Division League|Hong Kong First Division]]'s [[Happy Valley AA|Happy Valley Athletic Association]].

==Climate==
Happy Valley is often a hot spot in Hong Kong. On 8 August 2015, Happy Valley recorded a temperature of {{convert|37.9|C|abbr=on}}.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Daily Extract of Meteorological Observations, August 2015 - Happy Valley|url=https://www.hko.gov.hk/en/cis/awsDailyExtract.htm|access-date=2021-10-03|website=www.hko.gov.hk|language=en}}</ref>

== Residential developments ==
[[File:HappyValleyHongKonglighting.jpg|thumb|Housing estates]]

Happy Valley is primarily an upscale residential area.
{{Div col|colwidth=30em}}
*Blue Pool Lodge (No. 2, 6 & 10 [[Blue Pool Road]])
*Friendship Court (No. 12-22 [[Blue Pool Road]])
*23-39 Blue Pool Road (No. 23-39 [[Blue Pool Road]])
*Valley View Terrace (No. 68 [[Blue Pool Road]])
*The Leighton Hill (No. 2A Broadwood Road)
*Broadville (No. 4 Broadwood Road)
*[[Beverly Hill (Hong Kong)|Beverly Hill]] (No. 6 Broadwood Road)
*Villa Rocha (No. 10 Broadwood Road)
*Villa Lotto (No. 18 Broadwood Road)
*Broadview Villa (No. 20 Broadwood Road)
*Broadwood Park (No. 38 Broadwood Road)
*Caroline Garden (No. 101 Caroline Hill Road)
*Silverwood (No. 109 Caroline Hill Road)
*Celeste Court (No. 10-12 Fung Fai Terrace)
*Felix Villa (No. 10-12A Happy View Terrace)
*Caroline Height (No. 1 Link Road)
*Jade Terrace (No. 3 Link Road)
*Greenway Terrace (No. 5-7 Link Road)
*The Altitude (No. 20 Shan Kwong Road)
*[[Highcliff]] (No. 41 [[Stubbs Road]])
*[[The Summit (Hong Kong)|The Summit]] (No. 41C [[Stubbs Road]])
*The Colonnade (No. 152 [[Tai Hang Road]])
*Winfield Building (No. 1-5 Ventris Road)
*Pioneer Court (No. 17 Ventris Road)
*Ventris Place (No. 19-23B Ventris Road)
*San Francisco Towers (No. 29-35 Ventris Road)
*Panny Court (No. 5 Village Road)
*Village Terrace (No. 35-41 Village Terrace)
*Splendour Court (No. 53 [[Wong Nai Chung Road]])

Several serviced apartments can be found here:
*Eaton Residences (No. 4H Village Road)
*Happy Valley 88 (42 [[Blue Pool Road]])
*The Ellipsis (No. 5-7 [[Blue Pool Road]])
*The Ventris (No. 20 Ventris Road)
*Treasure View (No. 22 Sing Woo Road)
*V Happy Valley (No. 68 Sing Wood Road)
*Eight Kwai Fong (No. 8 Kwai Fong Street)
{{Div col end}}

==Education==
[[File:FrenchSchoolHKBluePoolCampus5.jpg|thumb|[[Lycée Français International Victor Segalen]] Blue Pool Road Campus]]
Happy Valley is in Primary One Admission (POA) School Net 12. Within the school net are multiple aided schools (operated independently but funded with government money) and the following government schools: Hennessy Road Government Primary School and Sir Ellis Kadoorie (Sookunpo) Primary School.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.edb.gov.hk/attachment/en/edu-system/primary-secondary/spa-systems/primary-1-admission/school-lists/2023dpnet-12b.pdf|title=POA School Net 12|publisher=[[Education Bureau]]|accessdate=2022-09-12}}</ref>

Happy Valley is home to a number of prestigious institutions, international schools, and special education.

Located on [[Blue Pool Road]], [[Marymount Secondary School]] is a prestigious all-girls Roman Catholic Secondary School. The school is academically rigorous and students are known for excellence in open examinations, especially for the English Language. Its affiliated primary school [[Marymount Primary School]] is adjacent to the secondary school.

Located on Ventris Road, [[St. Paul's Secondary School]] is a prestigious Anglo-Chinese all-girls Roman Catholic secondary school. The school is renowned for its outstanding basketball team. Its affiliated primary school St. Paul's Primary Catholic School is adjacent to the secondary school.

Located on Blue Pool Road, the [[French International School of Hong Kong|Lycée Français International Victor Segalen]], the French international school, maintains its Blue Pool Road campus, housing the administration and secondary school section, in Happy Valley.<ref>"[http://www.fis.edu.hk/web/Default.aspx?r=1&lang=en-gb&e=1396&h=2;3;-1 Campuses - Blue Pool Road] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924013322/http://www.fis.edu.hk/web/Default.aspx?r=1&lang=en-gb&e=1396&h=2;3;-1 |date=24 September 2015 }}." Lycée Français International Victor Segalen. Retrieved on 25 January 2015. "165 Blue Pool Road, Happy Valley"</ref>

Located on Blue Pool Road, the [[Hong Kong Japanese School]]'s Happy Valley Campus is in the community.<ref name=AboutJIS>"[http://es.jis.edu.hk/index.php/about-jis/jis-hong-kong About JIS]"([https://web.archive.org/web/20150202065226/http://es.jis.edu.hk/index.php/about-jis/jis-hong-kong Archive]). [[Hong Kong Japanese School]]. Retrieved on 12 January 2015.</ref> The Happy Valley campus houses the primary education section, and in April 2018 the junior high school section moved there too.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.hkjs.edu.hk/~hkjssec/ |title=Home |publisher=Hong Kong Japanese School Junior High School Section |date=2018-01-29 |accessdate=2022-02-17 |quote=中学部は、2018年4月の新年度より、以下の所在地に移転します。 No.157 Blue Pool Road, Happy Valley, Hong Kong. (香港校と同じ場所です) |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180129033535/http://www.hkjs.edu.hk/~hkjssec/ |archive-date=29 January 2018 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

Located on Blue Pool Road, {{ill|Hong Chi Lions Morninghill School|zh|匡智獅子會晨崗學校}} offers special education for children with mild intellectual disabilities.

[[Hong Kong Public Libraries]] operates the Wong Nai Chung Public Library in the Wong Nai Chung Municipal Services Building.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hkpl.gov.hk/en/locations/wan-chai/library/wong-nai-chung.html|title=Wong Nai Chung Public Library|publisher=[[Hong Kong Public Libraries]]|access-date=2025-10-12}}</ref>

==Transport==
[[File:HK HV Happy Valley Tram Station.jpg|thumb|Trams in Happy Valley]]
[[Hong Kong Tramways]] extended their network into Happy Valley in 1922,<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.hktramways.com/en/museum/index.html |title=hktramways |access-date=16 January 2006 |archive-date=5 December 2005 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051205021421/http://www.hktramways.com/en/museum/index.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> and the community has been served by the trams ever since. The extension has one terminus.

Residents can access the [[Causeway Bay station|Causeway Bay]] [[MTR]] station via minibuses or trams.

[[Aberdeen Tunnel]], [[Wong Nai Chung Road]] and [[Canal Road, Hong Kong|Canal Road Flyover]] also serve as the major thoroughfares in Happy Valley.

Happy Valley has three bus terminals, of which two are located above Happy Valley on [[Tai Hang Road]] and [[Stubbs Road]] and one on [[Wong Nai Chung Road]]. The terminus furthest up the hill serves bus route No. 8X that goes to [[Island Resort (Hong Kong)|Island Resort]], [[Siu Sai Wan]].

The upper terminus (also on the hill) serves one of Hong Kong's oldest bus routes ([[Citybus Route 1|No. 1]]) which spans from Green Lane of Happy Valley to [[Central, Hong Kong|Central]].

The lower bus terminus serves bus route No. 117, going to [[Sham Shui Po]].

== Major thoroughfares, roads and streets ==
[[File:HK HV Happy Valley Broadwood Rd Wong Nai Chung.jpg|thumb|Broadwood Road]]
[[File:HK Happy Valley Amigo Rest 1.jpg|thumb|Wong Nai Chung Road outside [[Amigo (restaurant)|Amigo Restaurant]]]]
{{Div col|colwidth=30em}}
*[[Blue Pool Road]]
*[[Briar Avenue]]
*[[Broadwood Road]]
*[[Broom Road]]
*[[Caroline Hill Road]]
*[[Fung Fai Terrace]]
*[[Green Lane, Hong Kong|Green Lane]]
*[[Happy View Terrace]]
*[[Hawthorn Road]]
*[[Holly Road]]
*[[King Kwong Street]]
*[[Link Road]]
*[[Shan Kwong Road]]
*[[Sing Woo Crescent]]
*[[Sing Woo Road]]
*[[Sports Road]]
*[[Stubbs Road]]
*[[Tai Hang Road]]
*[[Ventris Road]]
*[[Village Road]]
*[[Village Terrace]]
*[[Wong Nai Chung Road]]
*[[Yik Yam Street]]
*[[Yuk Sau Street]]
{{Div col end}}

==See also==
{{Commons category|Happy Valley}}
* [[List of places in Hong Kong]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
* [http://www.happyvalley.hk/ Happy Valley Community Home Page] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170912182813/http://happyvalley.hk/ |date=12 September 2017 }}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20140516201843/http://happyvalley.org.hk/ Happy Valley Residents' Organisation]

{{Geographic location
| Centre    = [[Wan Chai District]]
| North     = ([[Victoria Harbour]])
| Northeast = 
| East      = [[Eastern District, Hong Kong|Eastern District]]
| Southeast = 
| South     = [[Southern District, Hong Kong|Southern District]]
| Southwest = 
| West      = [[Central and Western District]]
| Northwest = 
}}
{{Wan Chai District}}
{{Hong Kong Urban Areas}}
{{Authority control}}

{{coord|22|16|N|114|11|E|display=title|region:CN_type:city_source:GNS-enwiki}}

[[Category:Happy Valley, Hong Kong| ]]
[[Category:Wan Chai District]]
[[Category:999-year leases in Hong Kong and Kowloon]]