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Ride the Star Ferry for Night View of Hong Kong Skyline
Published by Camilla Cheung, Writer
Country: China 
The Experience
Hong Kong is one of the world’s most vibrant cities, and for the uninitiated can seem overwhelming. The crush of crowds in Causeway Bay, the polished skyscrapers in Central, the local eateries where servers rush to and fro shouting in Cantonese, the never-ending rush to shop, shop, shop – it all begins to blur a little after a day or two of sightseeing. One excellent way to enjoy local culture and experience a moment of serenity in the middle of the city is to take the Star Ferry across Hong Kong's Victoria Harbour in the evening. One of the city's icons, the Star Ferry ride is cheap, has local flair, and offers a great view of the Hong Kong skyline and harbur front illuminated at night.
The Star Ferry has been in operation by the Kowloon Ferry Company since 1888, making it one of the oldest tourist attractions in the heart of the glittering, modern Hong Kong harbour front. The most famous route is between the areas of Central, on Hong Kong Island, and Tsim Sha Tsui, across the harbour on the Kowloon side. You may recognize the distinctive ferries from the 1961 film, “The World of Suzie Wong”.
Riding the Star Ferry has been incorporated into Hong Kong’s convenient mass transit system, and with a swipe of your Octopus card (the transit card that can be used on the subway, on buses, and even at 7/11s), your fare of about 2 Hong Kong dollars is deducted (about $0.26 USD). From there, join dozens of locals and foreigners as you walk down to the loading area. Once on the boat, choose a seat, preferably near the side, and gaze as the view of the Hong Kong skyline passes quietly by. On the Central side, you can see the Bank of China Tower lit up in jagged lines – the dagger-like building supposedly flings negative feng-shui energy at its neighbour, the HSBC building (which in turn is reputed to have the best feng-shui energy in Hong Kong). Don’t forget to take a look at the International Finance Center Tower, popularly known as IFC, the tallest building in Hong Kong.
If you happen to be taking the Star Ferry at 8pm, you may catch the Hong Kong Symphony of Lights show, which lights up the Central skyline with a phenomenal display of LED lights, lasers, and on special occasions, fireworks. The Hong Kong Symphony of Lights show is the world's largest permanent light show, with performances every evening along Victoria Harbour front. It is better to try and watch the light show while standing on the Tsim Sha Tsui side, however, as you will have an unobstructed view as you watch the 14-minute show.
The Star Ferry has been in operation by the Kowloon Ferry Company since 1888, making it one of the oldest tourist attractions in the heart of the glittering, modern Hong Kong harbour front. The most famous route is between the areas of Central, on Hong Kong Island, and Tsim Sha Tsui, across the harbour on the Kowloon side. You may recognize the distinctive ferries from the 1961 film, “The World of Suzie Wong”.
Riding the Star Ferry has been incorporated into Hong Kong’s convenient mass transit system, and with a swipe of your Octopus card (the transit card that can be used on the subway, on buses, and even at 7/11s), your fare of about 2 Hong Kong dollars is deducted (about $0.26 USD). From there, join dozens of locals and foreigners as you walk down to the loading area. Once on the boat, choose a seat, preferably near the side, and gaze as the view of the Hong Kong skyline passes quietly by. On the Central side, you can see the Bank of China Tower lit up in jagged lines – the dagger-like building supposedly flings negative feng-shui energy at its neighbour, the HSBC building (which in turn is reputed to have the best feng-shui energy in Hong Kong). Don’t forget to take a look at the International Finance Center Tower, popularly known as IFC, the tallest building in Hong Kong.
If you happen to be taking the Star Ferry at 8pm, you may catch the Hong Kong Symphony of Lights show, which lights up the Central skyline with a phenomenal display of LED lights, lasers, and on special occasions, fireworks. The Hong Kong Symphony of Lights show is the world's largest permanent light show, with performances every evening along Victoria Harbour front. It is better to try and watch the light show while standing on the Tsim Sha Tsui side, however, as you will have an unobstructed view as you watch the 14-minute show.
When to Go to Star Ferry
If you are staying in Hong Kong for a few days, it is worthwhile to put down a deposit for an Octopus transportation card, as it gives you a discount on every ride you take on the public transit system. You can buy and recharge Octopus cards at any subway station.
Remember that although Hong Kong weather is mild throughout the year, and downright sweltering in the summer, temperatures can drop at night on the water, so bring a light jacket or sweater in case you get cold. It's a good idea to have some warmer clothing with you anytime, as the air-conditioning inside Hong Kong buildings is notoriously freezing.
Remember that although Hong Kong weather is mild throughout the year, and downright sweltering in the summer, temperatures can drop at night on the water, so bring a light jacket or sweater in case you get cold. It's a good idea to have some warmer clothing with you anytime, as the air-conditioning inside Hong Kong buildings is notoriously freezing.
Odds n' Ends
Tsim Sha Tsui is a popular tourist area, so be cautious of pickpockets and aggressive hawkers trying to sell their wares. Tsim Sha Tsui (TST) has a good variety of international restaurants, though they are expensive compared to other places in Hong Kong. TST is also home to the notorious ChungKing Mansions, a warren of budget guesthouses and seedy apartments which is popular with backpackers looking for the cheapest deal.
Central is a business area, and most of it shuts down at night. However, the Lan Kwai Fong district of Central comes alive at night with bars, restaurants and nightclubs, popular with the expatriate community of Hong Kong. The SoHo area of Central is also a popular destination at night, and has the famous Central elevator, one of the longest in the world.
Central is a business area, and most of it shuts down at night. However, the Lan Kwai Fong district of Central comes alive at night with bars, restaurants and nightclubs, popular with the expatriate community of Hong Kong. The SoHo area of Central is also a popular destination at night, and has the famous Central elevator, one of the longest in the world.
Places to Stay Nearby
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Media References
- Getting Around Hong Kong - NYTimes.com (newspaper)
- Neighborhoods in Brief - NYTimes.com (newspaper)
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