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 Kong Island 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.

Admission to the park is Y60, so make a morning or afternoon out of the visit to make it worth the rather high entrance fee.

Du Fu, along with Li Bai, are the two most famous poets in Chinese history. Contemporaries of each other as well as friends, Chinese poets have emulated their poetic styles for centuries. They both lived during the Tang Dynasty (618-906 AD). Du Fu first came to Chengdu in 759, shortly after escaping the after the Anshan Rebellion in Xian, the capital city of the Tang Dynasty. After arriving in Chengdu Du Fu constructed his legendary thatched cottage, which today is Chengdu’s leading historical attraction.

Du Fu composed more than 240 poems here, and although the cottage itself is a replica, it is easy to understand how this bland dwelling was fitting for the timeless and compassionate poet. Du Fu’s works are said to display constant anguish for the state of his motherland and in particular for the countless people who were homeless as a result of the recent political upheavals. Du Fu lived here in 2 stints between 759 and 765 AD with his wife and children.

The cottage is part of a park filled with statues of Du Fu and other poets, shrines, gardens, and two pagodas. There are two small museums or exhibition halls across from each other which display a visual biography of Du Fu’s life and many of his poems. There is a fair amount of English. In Chengdu’s summer heat the heavily shaded walkways, benches, and gardens provide much needed relief to Chengdu residents who can purchase yearly passes to the grounds. Like any park in Chengdu, there is ample space around the edges of the park to relax, play cards, read a book, sip tea, or take a quiet nap.

The park’s north gate is on Qinghua Lu. Buses 17, 35, 82, 84, 301, 309, 503, and 509 all stop across the street from the entrance if you are coming from the center of town. The park is a few kilometers west of the city center; a taxi should cost no more than Y12.