Symphony of Lights

Sometimes – quite often in fact – experiences in HK can be ethereally dreamlike. The Symphony of Lights is just one of those experiences. In a nut shell, the Symphony of Lights is basically a timed lightshow combining interactive lights on top of 43 key buildings. Every night at 8pm, syncopated lights flash rhythmically on either side of the harbour in a dazzling display of modern light pollution. The collaborative show is timed to a specific soundtrack and involves 23 buildings on Hong KongIsland and 20 on Kowloon side. The strategically illuminated buildings light up the cityscape with LED lights, searchlights, flood lights and lasers. During summer the show is enhanced further still with a small firework display to complement the lights. The show lasts a total of 13 minutes and has been awarded the largest permanent light and sound show by the Guinness world records.

It is not called a Symphony for nothing because the lightshow is in fact composed of five parts; ‘Awakening’, ‘Energy’, ‘Heritage’, ‘Partnership’ and ‘Celebration’. These themes are represented in the lightshow. For example in the third scene ‘Heritage’, traditional lucky red and gold colours are displayed across buildings on both sides of the harbour, complemented by the introduction of music using Chinese musical instruments.

The best viewing locations to watch the show from include the Golden Bauhinia Square Promenade in Wan Chai, the Avenue of Stars and Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade in Kowloon. Public address systems have been set up at these vantage points to broadcast the synchronised soundtrack during show time from 8 pm to 8.13 pm every day. Additionally, spectators can also listen to the synchronised soundtrack by tuning in to FM103.4 (English), FM106.8 (Cantonese) or FM107.9 (Putonghua); or via their mobile phones by dialling 3566 5665 (English) or 3566 5668 (Putonghua).

Hong Kong’s skyline often resembles a scene out of blade runner and this lightshow enhances the apocalyptical surrealism of the cityscape further. Not to be missed.