Victoria Harbour, Hong Kong

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The Symphony of Lights in the Victoria Harbor is a must see in Hong Kong.

The show is a display of lights and lasers with the background of symphony music which is really amazing! I took a ride of the star ferry just for fun while watching the show and for the experience. The star ferry fare is around HK$2… as far as I can remember. At that time, I don’t want to go far from Tsim Sha Tsui (since it’s where I stay) so I decided to have a ride just to the next pier (pier 5)… then back again to TST (Tsim Sha Tsui). I think that’s the effect of traveling alone…???

The show starts at 8pm having the display of lights and lasers that comes from the country's famous buildings in the Victoria Harbor like the HSBC tower, Bank of China, etc. It’s a very nice thing actually especially when all you want is to relax.

The Duk Ling is available for private tours and charters but a couple of times a week the Hong Kong Tourism Board gives tourists the opportunity to cruise the harbour on this beautifully restored Chinese Junk. It is a few years since I was onboard, but the Duk Ling is still giving visitors the chance to step back in time, though for a fully authentic experience you have to imagine the harbour without so many skyscrapers.

Bookings for rides must be made in advance at the HKTB Kowloon Visitor Centre in the Star Ferry Terminal Concourse. The one hour sailings are only on Thursday afternoons and Saturday mornings. Participation is on a first come first served basis and only 30 places are available for each ride. You are required to present your passport when registering at the TST Visitor Centre. If my memory serves me correctly rides on the Duk Ling used to be free of charge. Tickets are now HK$100 per person.

Most people congregate at the Avenue of Stars solely to watch The Symphony of Lights show held nightly at 8pm (see my separate review) and finding an uncrowded spot to view the show can sometimes be difficult. During the day however, this nicely laid out promenade can be enjoyed in a much more relaxed way.

The Avenue of Stars is part of the Tsim Sha Tsui Waterfront Promenade and was constructed by a private company with the support of the Hong Kong Tourism Board. At its opening in 2004 the promenade was handed over to the Hong Kong goverment . Today the Avenue is a public throughfare holding many musical performances throughout the year. Stars of the Hong Kong film industry are honoured in a similar way to the iconic Hollywood Walk of Fame with plaques bearing their names. Bruce Lee is honoured with a large bronze sculpture.

The Avenue of Stars is a great place to take panoramic photos of the Hong Kong Island Skyline

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There is always something to watch and take your interest if you are chilling on Victoria Harbour, and one of my favourite things to do whilst on holidays is to "people watch" and there is no better place to do that than on the Harbour, especially on the Kowloon side. Whether it just be watching the people stroll by, or watching the Star Ferry go backwards and forwards non-stop, or the junks or barges going up and down or just staring in amazement at the size of some of the HK buildings .... there is always something to watch :)

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The bay is the gem of Hong Kong, and with total justice: no matter in which side you are, either at low or high level, the views of the bay are always gorgeous.

Crossing the bay in a ferry is a mandatory experience, and no one misses the light show at night.

We felt sorry, because we saw it under several weather conditions, but never under a bright sun.

I think, there will be sun in Hong Kong… sometimes, but not for us.

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Inspired in Hollywood hall of fame, between the New World Centre and Viactoria harbour waterfront there´s a pedestrian avenue celebrating cinema.

All local great stars are evoqued, with statues and inscryptions celebrating one century of movies. The avenue is one of the best places to see the symphony of lights show.

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Victoria Harbour separates Hong Kong Island from Kowloon. It is a wonderful natural asset for Hong Kong but is gradually getting smaller and smaller due to land reclamation. There are three road tunnels under the harbour plus tunnels for the MTR lines. The best way to cross the harbour with a view is to cross it by Star Ferry. You can board the ferry at pier 7 Central and go to Tsim Sha Tsui in Kowloon. It only takes a few minutes and costs next to nothing. There are two decks to the ferry: upper deck costs slightly more than lower deck. The star ferry was founded in1880 by Dorabjee Naorojee Mithaiwala a Parsee resident of Hong Kong. All the Star Ferries have star in their name such as Morning Star, Evening Star etc. The Star Ferry Company also does Harbour Tours.

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Victoria Harbour is a naturally formed harbour situated between Hong Kong Island and the Kowloon Peninsula in Hong Kong. The harbour has deep and sheltered waters making it the ideal place for the British to build their trading post for that part of Asia. Both shorelines have changed over the years due to development and some reclamation but the harbour is still used as an international port.

The harbour is one of the best tourist attractions of Hong Kong giving an excellent viewpoint for the famous skyline on Hong Kong Island and the means of support for another major tourist attraction - the Star Ferry. The best view of Victoria Harbour is from Victoria Peak.

One of the best ways to enjoy the harbour is to take a Victoria Harbour cruise especially at night to view the Symphony of Lights

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It's one of the most famous skylines in the world - the view from Kowloon across the harbour to Hong Kong Island. Day or night, the view is spectacular. And ever changing. Land reclamation or simple demolition/rebuild results in constantly shifting skylines.

But its night that the Harbour comes into its own and whether looking across from Tsim Sha Tsui or down upon it from the Peak, its a spectacular sight.

Every evening at 8 o'clock, Hong Kong shows a brighter side.
The light show is a symphony of music and lights on buildings on Hong Kong island and Kowloon surrounding Victoria harbour. The best vantage point is from the Kowloon side, by the Avenue of Stars and in front of the Cultural Centre.

it is fun to watch at least once for adults, most kids will like it too.