Sometimes situations arise in life in which I have absolutely no idea what to do next. This is how it turns out this time too, friends - I have no idea how to meet the time to implement my idea in terms of the completed trip, and also not make you get bored on ours. The only thing that comes to mind is to add something from past travels. For example, how do you like a couple of days in Hong Kong? Yes, yes, this is the same New Year's adventure, which included .
Last time we stopped at the moment when the speedboat brought us to the pier in Hong Kong. I wasn’t thrilled with the trip itself, but we got there and that’s okay. Now you need to go through passport control. I was somehow lucky to get through quickly, but the border guards didn’t like Milin’s passport, well, of course, she’s a young pretty girl who came to a rich, promising with all that it implies city. This would make me suspicious too ;).
In fact, the Chinese border guard simply took her document, checked it, and gave it back. All this took no more than 10 minutes and now we are free to do whatever we want.
Welcome to Hong Kong! Kowloon Park.
Kowloon Park was nearby, so the first thing we decided to do was look there. Since we had already walked around Macau quite a bit, we didn’t spend much time in the classic oriental garden of Southern China. We looked at various birds (by the way, I saw flamingos here for the first time, they are handsome), enjoyed McDonald's ice cream (at that time we did not know that this was the cheapest joy in Hong Kong, 5 GD (20 rubles)), and went in search of cheap housing, which was listed in my guidebook.
The city seemed wider to me than Macau. Yes - the same high-rise buildings, yes - everything is still glowing and burning, yes - everyone around again is looking not at the road, but at their gadget, but still there is more space and there is no feeling as if you are in a huge nightclub. Perhaps because Hong Kong was one of my first “high-rise” cities, and first impressions, as you know, get stuck in the memory, but after it it doesn’t even look so impressive.
Among the numerous bright signs of branded clothes, we could not find the most important thing - a supermarket. Therefore, we had to postpone our grocery shopping until we finished staying in a cheap hotel.
Cheap hotels in the Chunking Mansion skyscraper.
Reading reviews on the Internet, I highlighted one place where you can find cheap hotels in Hong Kong - this is skyscraper Chunking Mansion. We reached it on foot; those who are too lazy can go to the Tsim Sha Tsui metro station or take the A21 bus, which goes straight from the airport. What I liked was the central location of the skyscraper, that is, all popular places are within walking distance.
Finding the skyscraper was not difficult; a huge sign notified us that we were there. In addition, on the street there are many barkers of “Hindu nationality” who will never let a client go. By the way, it is they who run currency exchange offices (the exchange rate is good), shops, shops and cafes on the first floors, and live and rent out rooms on the upper floors.
Some Indian, having caught us on the way to the skyscraper, really wanted to show us his cheap guesthouse hotel. We didn’t mind, especially since the price suited us - 280 GD (1077 rubles) for two people with one bed. We went up to the 15th floor. When I got out of the elevator, I had a complete impression landing an ordinary residential building. And a “guesthouse” in Chunking Mansion is an apartment converted into many (from 7 rooms) rooms with a toilet and shower inside and a security boy for the “apartment” outside. The rooms themselves are no more than a Russian Khrushchev kitchen of 4 square meters. m., an impressive part of which is occupied by the bed. However, it doesn’t matter to us if we have a place to sleep and wash ourselves.
If you, as an independent traveler, are also interested in cheap hotels in Hong Kong, see this convenient hotel map:
Laser show in Victoria Harbour.
By the time we had finished checking into one of the cheap hotels, it was dark outside, which meant a great opportunity to look at Laser show Hong Kong called “Symphony of Lights” in Victoria Harbor, which takes place daily at 20:00.
As I said, everything is within walking distance, so we took our time walking to the Tsim Sha Tsui embankment, where we had a panoramic view of the skyscrapers in the business center of the city. Spectators slowly began to gather, and we also found a free piece to enjoy the spectacle.
Frankly, I didn’t even understand at what point the laser show started, because music started playing so quietly from the side of the large white building that I didn’t immediately hear it through the noise of people.
Then one laser beam appeared in the sky, then a second, and now they were intertwined into a colored grid... Frankly, I expected more from the “largest” laser show in Hong Kong. In general, the performance did not last long. Yes, it’s not bad, but I can’t say “wow” without holding my breath.
There were guys standing next to us, from whom I clearly heard Russian speech. At the end of the performance, Mila and I approached them and asked their opinion about “Symphony of Lights.” I didn’t hear any enthusiastic exclamations from them either, and besides, this is not the first day they have been in Hong Kong. We chatted with them a little about the sights, about moving around the city, and somehow I was so tired of looking at all these boring Buddha statues in Burma that we decided to come up with a different program for tomorrow.
To somehow extend myself good mood, we decided to complete our walk along the Avenue of Stars.
Avenue of Stars.
In 2004, on the site of the spice port, the most popular place for walking appeared, from where best reviews to the city - Hong Kong Avenue of Stars.
The pedestrian zone is small - only 400 meters along Victoria Harbor, however, even on such a short stretch you can get tired of taking pictures with all sorts of directors, actors and cartoon characters.
I barely stood in line to see Bruce Lee :).
The “star” path is lined with tiles with colored lighting, where convex stars with handprints of celebrities periodically appear.
We found Jackie Chan immediately when we saw a huge crowd of people gathered at one point. Why not also leave your mark on the Hong Kong Walk of Stars?
Right on the way out I heard singing.
At the very end of the Avenue of Stars they set up a small stage, from where songs were heard performed by young stars in stunning performances. We couldn't help but stay here for a few songs.
On the way back we never found a grocery store, so we had to eat from our backpack supplies for dinner. After which there was a hot shower and a soft bed until the morning. Everyone Good night, continue tomorrow .
Hong Kong is not only the city with the most big amount skyscrapers, and there are already more than 7,700 tall buildings here. Also here is the largest regular (daily) light and sound performance in the world, listed in the Guinness Book of Records - Symphony of Lights.
This show has long become a Hong Kong classic and is considered one of the must-see shows for every tourist.
Since 2004, every evening the Victoria Strait has been transformed. Almost 50 buildings on both sides of the Victoria Strait are illuminated and provide the perfect backdrop for the show.
The Philharmonic Orchestra has recorded a specially new symphony, under which laser lights and LED screens create a show.
On special holidays, a laser show can have a pyrotechnic effect, in other words, fireworks on the roofs of skyscrapers.
The largest light show Where is the best place to watch the laser show?
- One of the most popular observation platforms from where it is convenient to watch the “Symphony of Light” is the Tsim Tsa Tsui embankment. It's from here best views on the skyscrapers of Hong Kong Island and the music of the symphony will be heard. It’s generally pleasant to walk here, it’s quite a tourist area and there’s always a lot of people. Also, before or after the performance, you can take a walk to the Garden of Stars, East Tsim Sha Tsui Station subway exit P1. Here are exhibits of “celebrity palms” from the former Avenue of Stars.
- You can watch from the side of Hong Kong, then a view of Kowloon opens up, laser lights will also be visible. Best places will be at the Golden Bauhinia or along the embankment to the Ferris wheel.
- Of course, the light show can also be viewed from your hotel room if you have a view of Victoria Harbour. Or from a restaurant overlooking the strait. But in this case, you will have to tune into Hong Kong radio to also hear the symphony with the lights shining.
- Probably the best point for observation will be the “Hong Kong Junk with Red Sails” cruising the Victoria Strait. This way you can see the show from all sides at once.
How to get to the light show?
- If you are a tourist, your best bet is to take the Star Ferry from Central or Wan Chai. So you can look at another local attraction, so to speak, a classic of Hong Kong, the oldest ferry, operating since 1888. At Tsim Tsa Tsui, immediately turn right towards the Clock Tower.
- Of course, you can come by metro. Alternatively, first exit at East Tsim Sha Tsui Station exit P1 to look at the Garden of Stars, and then walk along the promenade from where you can see great view to skyscrapers.
Or immediately get off at Tsim Sha Tsui Station, Exit L6 and walk to the Clock Tower.
The show runs every day except on days when there is a tropical cyclone number 3 or higher, or when there is a red or black rain signal.
The play of light begins exactly at 20:00 and lasts only 10 minutes.
Hong Kong Island Lights Show I can't say that you will be amazed by the show, but there is some zest in it. Besides, if this is your first time in this metropolis, it’s still worth checking out the show, because it’s not for nothing that it’s considered one of the business cards Hong Kong.
If you want to visit more interesting places, a list with a description can be found.
And if you want to save on visiting attractions, it is better to use the Hong Kong Pass. Most importantly, it allows you to go to many places without queuing, thereby saving precious tourist time.
The Symphony of Lights is considered one of the hallmarks of Hong Kong. This is a truly impressive spectacle that amazes with its scale and colorfulness. It is believed that if you visited Hong Kong and did not see the Symphony of Lights, then your trip was in vain. After all, watch this great show very simple - every evening 42 skyscrapers of Hong Kong in the business center of the city begin their performance synchronized with music.
Light and sound laser show in Hong Kong
Symphony of Lights began operating in 2004. The project technology was developed by the Australian company LaserVision, and the implementation cost approximately 44 million Hong Kong dollars.
What is this grand project? Within 10 minutes, on both sides of Victoria Harbor, the roofs and facades of skyscrapers begin to be illuminated with multi-colored lights. The most powerful spotlights are used for this. You can see beautiful fairy-tale dragons, heroes of Chinese folk legends, beautiful flowers and a variety of geometric figures. The colorful images are reflected in the bay, creating a truly unique spectacle.
In addition to the spotlights, fireworks are launched simultaneously and fireworks thunder over the skyscrapers. Loud sounds are heard from speakers installed directly on skyscrapers. classical music in modern processing. Same musical accompaniment can be heard from city loudspeakers or by tuning into a specific radio wave.
The show includes five acts, each of which is filled secret meaning, as has been the ancient Chinese tradition: awakening, life, heritage, cooperation, celebration.
- A year after its opening, the Symphony of Lights entered the Guinness Book of Records as “the world’s largest permanent light and sound show.”
- At the very beginning of its appearance, the Symphony of Lights passed only along one side of the bay, and twenty skyscrapers took part in it.
- The most convenient way to observe this landmark of Hong Kong is from the Avenue of Stars - it is from there that you can best see every detail of the grandiose performance.
- Thousands of Hong Kong residents and many tourists gather here every evening to capture these amazing moments in their memories and in their cameras.
Helpful information
Light and sound show opening hours: daily at 20:00.
Best view of the Symphony of Lights: from Tsim Sha Tsui embankment.
How to get there:
- Take the metro to Tsim Sha Tsui or East Tsim Sha Tsui station. Go to exits L6 and J. Then follow the signs to Tsim Sha Tsui embankment.
- you can get to the embankment at Golden Bauhinia Square in Wanchai by metro, get off at Wanchai station, walk along pedestrian bridge to exit A5.
- Take a cruise around Victoria Harbor to see the Symphony of Lights from the water.
Symphony of lights on the map of Hong Kong
The Symphony of Lights is considered one of the hallmarks of Hong Kong. This is a truly impressive spectacle that amazes with its scale and colorfulness. It is believed that if you visited Hong Kong and did not see the Symphony of Lights, then your trip was in vain. After all, it’s very easy to watch this grandiose show - every evening 42 skyscrapers of Hong Kong in the business center of the city begin their synchronization..." />
Laser show « Symphony of Lights» takes place in Hong Kong every day in the skyscrapers of the business center of Hong Kong. It makes sense to include it in your tourist program and take a walk to the embankment, look at the Avenue of Stars and at the same time see this show.
Hong Kong Laser Show start time
Since the laser show starts in the evening at 20.00 and lasts 15 minutes. The viewing point is located not far from, and it makes sense to look at the Avenue of Stars in daylight, so I recommend coming here around 17.00. This way you can look at the Avenue of Stars, then at about 18.00 - 18.30 it will get dark, you can have a snack somewhere on Nathan Road and come to the embankment to enjoy the spectacle.
How to get to the Hong Kong Laser Show
The embankment and the Avenue of Stars itself are located on the Koloon Peninsula, on the Tsin Sha Tsui embankment. In fact, the laser show can be seen from many points in Hong Kong or Kolung, but the best place to see it is from the embankment. You can get to the embankment by. To do this, you need to get to Tsim Sha Tsui station, then walk a little along Nattan Road towards the sea.
The second way is to take the ferry from Hong Kong Island (Star Ferry). Its pier is located near the Avenue of Stars. .
The most convenient, but at the same time the most wasteful way is a taxi. .
Laser Show “Symphony of Lights”
The show itself consists of music flowing from speakers on the embankments and a show of laser beams that wink at each other, sometimes not in time with the music. Well, what did you want for free? Experienced travelers probably won’t be impressed, but if you’re watching something like this for the first time, you might like it. In any case, it looks better in the photo than in reality.
Also during the show this building is illuminated in different colors.
In general, the laser show in Hong Kong did not particularly impress me. Another question is that there is nothing special to do in Hong Kong in the evening, except go to this show or hang around shopping centers and spend money.
Reference
- Laser Show “Symphony of Lights” takes place on the embankment every day
- Watch the show for free
- Laser show in Hong Kong starts exactly at 20.00 and lasts 15 minutes
- The best place to watch the show is from the Kolun Peninsula, from the embankment (Tsim Sha Tsui)
- When you come to the Laser Show, you can also look at.
