Hong Kong & Macau Day 2: Star Ferry, Clock Tower & Symphony of Lights

Date of Visit: 18th September 2012

Taking public transportation in Hong Kong is one wondrous adventure. Plus, it's one unique and diverse ways to experience the city as well as the local culture and their daily lifestyle. And the best thing of all is you can explore Hong Kong either by sea, land or even air (but of course the air would be more costly). Whether soak into the sky by taking helicopter tour, or take classic street trams or even enjoy the sea breeze by taking the old-fashioned boats, there's nothing like it! 

And for this time around, finally I managed to catch on this famous icon of Hong Kong, Star Ferry. Although operated for more than a century, this charming Star Ferry is still a highly reliable and efficient form of transport . It has been faithfully transporting more than tens of millions passenger from Hong Kong Island to Kowloon each year. Even National Geographic has rated Star Ferry as "one of the 50 places to visit of a lifetime."

#1: We embarked our journey from the Central Pier.

#2: Take a ride on this Star Ferry for an up-close look at one of the world’s most photographed harbours

#3: I would recommend to take the ride during the night time for the dazzling and spectacular view

#4: This cross-harbour ferry comprises of upper deck and lower deck. Which one is better? Of course the upper deck for better viewing purpose.

To pay for the ride, passengers can use the Octopus card or tokens. Tokens are available in the vending machines at the piers. Direct payment by coins at turnstile is also accepted but take note that no change will be provided. For a ride than last less than 10 minutes, Star Ferry is an inexpensive mode of harbour crossing that cost just HK$2.50 each way for an upper-deck seat on weekdays and HK$3 on weekends.

Tip

Try and catch a sailing just before 8 pm. These boats stop mid-harbor for a few moments so that tourists can take pictures of the nightly Symphony of Lights show.

How To Get To There

• Central Star Ferry pier: MTR Hong Kong Station, Exit A2 or MTR Central Station Exit A. Walk to the pier along Man Yiu Street.
• Tsim Sha Tsui Star Ferry pier: MTR Tsim Sha Tsui Station, Exit L6. Walk to the Clock Tower along Salisbury Road.
• Wan Chai Star Ferry pier: MTR Wan Chai Station, Exit A1. Take the skybridge to the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, and descend to Convention Avenue at Harbour Road.

#5: Once we arrived the Kowloon peninsula, we came across this standing huge and tall Tsim Sha Tsui Clock Tower which located nearby the Victoria Harbour.

Exactly strikes at 8pm daily, it is stage for the Symphony of Lights show at Victoria harbour - a nightly multimedia show that combines coloured lights, laser beams, music, fireworks and even collaboration with 44 waterfront buildings on both Hong Kong and Kowloon that perfectly shows the vibrancy and glamorous night view of Hong Kong.

#6: A Symphony of Lights brightens the Hong Kong skyline

#7: Even it's my third time but I still enjoying watching this marvelous and amazing Symphony of Lights.

#8: Duk Ling Junk right behind me

#9: Most of the spots above began from this busy station, Tsim Sha Tsui

How to Get To Symphony of Lights

Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade along Avenue of Stars to Hong Kong Cultural Centre: MTR Tsim Sha Tsui East Station, Exit J. Follow the signs and walk for around five minutes.

[Credit To: Discover Hong Kong, Time Travel Hong Kong]