Hong Kong Pulse 3D Light Show

A photo of the HSBC Building light up during the Symphony of Lights

Lazer Lights from the IFC Building

Some friends are coming into town next week, so my husband and I started looking out for some cool things for them to see and do around the city.  We went down to the Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade, just to see if the Symphony of Lights was anything different from the usual…it being Christmas and all…and we stumbled over the Hong Kong Pulse 3D Light Show, which started 5 minutes after the Symphony of Lights ended.  How convenient!

Symphony of Lights Info:
What it is
Onlookers are introduced to some of Hong Kong's famous buildings (e.g. HSBC Building).  Each building lights up and showcases their wonderful little light show.  Then music starts playing and all the buildings around Victoria Harbour start dazzling the crowds with colorful lights.

Location
Around Victoria Harbour

Time
Daily at 8 pm

NOTE:  The best places to hear the introduction of the show is at the Tsim Sha Tsui promenade and the Golden Bauhinia Square in Wan Chai.

1.  The English shows are on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
2.  The Mandarin shows are on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays.
3.  The Cantonese shows are on Sundays.

We bought some sandwiches from City Super and set up shop along the fountain area.  At 8 pm, the Symphony of Lights started and it was pretty much similar to what we've seen in the past…but for visitors to the city, it is a lovely little light show to see.

Afterwards, around the Promenade, an announcement was made through the loudspeakers that the Hong Kong Pulse 3D Light Show was going to begin in 5 minutes.

So, we were quite happy to have been in the right place at the right time to catch this Winterfest show.

Hong Kong Pulse 3D Light Show Info:
Location
At the Tsim Sha Tsui Cultural Centre, below the clock tower.

Time
December 9 - 28 (During the Hong Kong Winterfest Season)

Show Times
8:20 pm
8:45 pm
9:15 pm
9:45 pm

The show lasted for about 8 minutes.

Because it is the Christmas Season, the Hong Kong Pulse 3D Light Show was quite Christmasy.  There is a story that you can follow visually about a little kid who wishes for a pink panda for Christmas.   Some of Santas elves then make the kids wish come true.

But, there are a lot of other elements crammed into this short film, which are pretty fun to see.

I'd never heard of the Hong Kong Pulse 3D Light Show until tonight.  Turns out there are three seasons:  Summer Season, Christmas Season, and the Chinese New Year.  So, there are probably three different short films/shows that you can see throughout the year.

Again, the Christmas show is out until the 28th of December.  Though it isn't the most amazing thing in the world…and I wouldn't go out of my way to see the 3D show, it is a fun little thing to see when you are in the neighborhood.

Suggestions for something to do in the evenings in Hong Kong:

1.  Dinner in Tsim Sha Tsui (there are so many places to eat here)

2.  A walk along the Promenade (where you can also find the beautiful Hong Kong sampan's with their red sails blazing)

3.  Catch the Symphony of Lights show

4.  And walk the streets of Tsim Sha Tsui (soaking in that wonderful Hong Kong vibe!)

Christmas at Harbour City

It's Christmas already at Harbour City and it is only mid-November!  

It's quite lovely to be hearing Christmas music playing here and there.  I've even been hearing it in my local Park N' Shop, too.  It was a surprise…though, to see that all the decorations were up.  I mean, I've only been here two weeks prior.

As per a little tradition, I like going round to the touristy areas and scoping out the Christmas decorations…especially at the malls.  It really reminds me of Christmas back home.  Plus, there are the Christmas lights on the buildings along Victoria Harbour.  There is definitely a Christmasy sort of feeling that is springing up around Hong Kong!

It is another Disney-esque type of theme on the steps in front of Harbour City.  The theme is actually christened "Happily Ever After."

There are supposedly events where Disney characters will be around and spreading the Christmas/Disney joy.  I'm not sure if I would personally make my way down to TST just to take photos with Elsa and Anna, but it does sound like a wonderful way to entertain the kids!

One of the advertised events is called the "Fantasy Lighting Christmas Present - Silhouette Photo with Disney Friends."

This runs from now until the 3rd of January.

Time
Monday - Friday 6 - 9pm
Weekends and Public Holidays from 6:45 - 8:15 pm.

It's like taking pictures with Santa.

All the proceeds go to the Hong Kong Blood Cancer Foundation.

I didn't have much time to line up and get into the venue, but there seemed to be a lot of kids waiting to get in and take photos at the various displays with their folks.  The line didn't seem too long when I was here.  It had about 10 groups of people right in front.

The Symphony of Lights is also quite Christmas themed already!  The show, as usual, is at 8 pm every night.  It's actually quite nice to see all the buildings so into the Christmas Spirit!  Too bad my camera doesn't quite focus so well in the evenings!

My next stop, 1881 Heritage Building!  But, I might head down there next weekend…all this Christmas Spirit is making me feel like I have to do some early Christmas Shopping…

The Avenue of Stars

I think it's pretty cliche to have dinner and a romantic walk along the waterfront, but it is nice to do cliche once in awhile.  

Over the weekend, my husband and I found ourselves in Tsim Sha Tsui (TST) on Granville Road.  We decided on having pizza for the night because it was fast, there were seats, and it was a guaranteed satisfactory meal.

We headed into Paisanos:

12 Granville Road

Tsim Sha Tsui

Open Mondays - Thursdays from 9 am - midnight

Open Fridays - Sundays from 9 am - 1 am

I got the Godfather and my husband got the Classic Paisano's slice.

Paisan's reminds me of the pizza joints that I used to hit up back in college.  Open late, simple, and inexpensive.  For dessert, we walked down Granville Road and headed into Hui Lau Shan Healthy Dessert.

These dessert houses are found all over Hong Kong.  They're my favorite places to go when I want a mango smoothie on a hot summer's day.

We shared a mango, pomelo and sago drink that was delicious!  This place is great because you can either order out or dine in.   I'd definitely suggest taking your order out because these dessert houses get pretty crowded to where people are looming above you…waiting for you to leave!

We meandered through the streets and walked through the 1881 Heritage Building area.  They had a beautiful afternoon tea set displayed in the main courtyard.  One of the benefits of heading down to TST every so often is looking forward to the change of displays at the 1881 Heritage Building.

It was at the 1881 Heritage Building that we started to see laser lights in the buildings above.  Realizing the Symphony of Lights had started, we rushed over to the TST Promenade to catch what we could of the light show.

***Pictures of the Symphony of Lights from the TST Promenade***

You can sort of see how the buildings around Victoria Harbour are lit up in an array of rainbow colors. My camera just can't do night images justice!

Looking out towards Central

Looking over towards Wan Chai

***Pictures of the TST Promenade and Avenue of Stars***

What is the Avenue of Stars?

I think of it as the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Th Avenue of Stars is a strip of the TST Promenade that pays homage to Hong Kong's film industry.  It is also one of the top tourist attractions in the TST area.  Here you can find people walking along the boardwalk taking photos besides the handprints of Jackie Chan or Wong Kar Wai.

A star in honor of Bruce Lee

Jackie Chan's star with his handprints and signature

Jet Li's star with his handprints and signature

Maggie Cheung's star with her handprints and signature

Aaron Kwok's star with his handprints and signature

Leon Lai's star with his handprints and signature

Louis Koo's star with his handprints and signature

I must admit, it is quite fun placing my hands in the handprints of famous Hong Kong actors.  It's also quite fun being apart of the tourist crowd.  Everyone is sharing the same excitement, even if they don't know who these film stars are!

This weekend reminded me just how nice it is to be a tourist in my own city!

***A bit from the Symphony of Lights***