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Monarch Laser

Victoria Harbour – The Crown Jewel of Hong Kong

The fame of Victoria Bay of Hong Kong is threefold – as China's largest harbour, for being the third largest in the world and one of its busiest sea ports. Appearing between Hong Kong Island and Kowloon Peninsula, the harbour is a teeming and unceasing hive of activity, its cargo ships, cruise liners and fishing vessels going to and fro regardless of night and day.

The views of Victoria Bay are among some of the most beautiful boasted by Hong Kong, with the natural beauty of the sea and the visually stunning architecture. The city's most modern and highest skyscrapers cluster around the skyline of the Bay; four of the world's tallest buildings all appear within sight of the harbour. Unlike most busy ports of the world, Victoria Bay is largely free of pollution and is designed in lines of the aesthetic pleasure so beloved of Hong Kong architects. The myriad of amusement parks, public zoos, museums and leisure parks cluster around the area, inviting the attention of sight-seers drinking in the fresh sea breeze and azure-hued scenery.

The secession of the harbour to the British Empire by the Treaty of Nanking was a great windfall for the British colonists, as this sea port was an ideal nexus between the major shipping lines that run from Singapore to Japan and therefore one of southern China's most strategically important harbours. They rechristened it in 1861 after the then-ruling Queen Victoria, the oldest and longest-reigning monarch of British history whose rule saw a golden age of industry and prosperity for her country.

The sprawling harbour is divided into two main parts. The section falling between Hong Kong Island and Tsim Sha Tsui is the one seen by most visitors, but the Kwai Tsing Container Port to the northwest is actually the most impressive in terms of activity. The latter is the passage through which most of Hong Kong's enormous export wealth is funnelled.

Being the natural hub of the city to which all urban celebrations tend to gravitate, the harbour plays host to some of the most spectacular public events and festivities in the city. The annual fireworks show in honour of the Chinese New Year is among the most iconic of these,

prompting thousands of tourists to gather in wonder upon the promenades below.However, the Symphony of Lights is by far the most breathtaking spectacle to light up the Bay. Since 2004, over 40 of Hong Kong's skyscrapers take part in creating a massive show of light and sound almost every night. Laser lights and sky beams reflect off the overhung clouds and rippling waves of the Victoria Harbour, presenting an audio-visual extravaganza of epic proportions. This "Symphony of Lights" is entered in the Guinness Book of World Records as the largest permanent light and sound concert in the world. It is also famous for being among the three most beautiful night-scapes in the world.

One can gain some of the best vantage points and panoramic views of the harbour at the following four places:

Victoria Peak is the highest mountain in the city, accessible via a half-hour trek through the city park. You can see the sky set afire when the sun sets onto Lantau Island and many places of refreshment are dotted along the way.

The Avenue of Stars is located along the Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade and is famous for its benches into which are set the handprints of Hong Kong's most famous film stars. The Star Ferry Terminal, the Hong Kong Museum of Art, the Cultural Centre and the Space Museum appear all around this avenue and the speakers out of which the music for the Symphony of Lights emanates are almost right behind.

Golden Bauhinia Square appears on the Wan Chai waterfront at the very centre of the harbour, being surrounded by the Bay on three sides.

The Central Plaza is the third-tallest building in the city; the highest church in the world is set right at its topmost level. As the building sits on the waterfront of the harbour and the chapel has glass panels on all sides, this is one of the best places to watch the passing ships go by in the evening.

In addition to the aforementioned sites, one can also take a ferry cruise along the Victoria Bay. The Star Ferry is the best choice among these tours, providing a magnificent night-time excursion that the National Geographic has listed among the 50 best experiences of a lifetime. When it comes to exploring the best of Hong Kong's sights and sounds such as Victoria Harbour, finding the most strategically placed Hong Kong hotel accommodation is key to a well-rounded sight-seeing experience. Traders Hotel Hong Kong is one of the centrally placed Hong Kong hotels that provide quality service and accommodation ideal for the traveller's functional and budgetary requirements.

About the Author

Pushpitha Wijesinghe is an experienced independent freelance writer. He specializes in providing a wide variety of content and articles related to the travel hospitality industry.

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