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Travel bucket list idea:

Symphony of Lights

  • Hong Kong, China

Last updated: 05 April, 2024

Every night at 8pm – on the dot – the Hong Kong cityscape lights up in a blaze of colour. The multi-media extravaganza, first begun in 2004, encompasses 39 buildings along both sides of the harbour, using gigantic LED screens, laser beams and flashing lights.

The show is choreographed with a classical music soundtrack, which can be downloaded from the free Symphony of Lights app.

Logistics

Price: Free
Minimum age: 0
Age suitable: 4+
Frequency: daily
When: 8pm daily
Duration: 10 minutes

Getting there & doing it

There are a number of fantastic vantage points to enjoy the show from the street, including the Bauhania Square waterfront promenade in Admiralty and the Tsim Sha Tsui waterfront in Kowloon, outside the Hong Kong Cultural Centre and along the Avenue of Stars.

Or you can opt to watch over drinks at one of Hong Kong’s many rooftop bars. Try Sevva – this swish rooftop bar in Central has IMAX views of the HSBC bank building, which puts on a stunning multi-coloured display during the show.

Other, more imaginative locations to watch include taking a night cruise on the Star Ferry, the traditional Aqua Luna junk or from the viewpoint at the top of Victoria Peak, the highest point on Hong Kong Island.

When to do it

The show performs nightly at 8pm, come rain or shine – it even looks good in the rain.