Tsim Sha Tsui promenade a beautiful way to see the most amazing skyline in the world
World-renowned architecture and misty mountains are all on view from the Tsim Sha Tsui promenade
Hong Kong Museum of Art
Tsim Sha Tsui promenade from the Star Ferry
The 1.6-kilometre-long Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade between the Star Ferry and Tsim Sha Tsui East has been a favourite with tourists, who typically outnumber locals.
Star Ferry Terminal, Tsim Sha Tsui
Hong Kong residents are privileged with access to vistas that encompass world-renowned architecture, jagged misty mountains and a sublime ocean harbour.
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The best way to see these vistas is from one of the many public promenades gracing our shores.
Chinese New Year decorations and the harbour at Ocean Terminal, Star Ferry Pier
The Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade was opened in 1982, and one part of it was renovated and rebranded “Avenue of Stars” in 2004.
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But in 2011, it received a poor review from a travel story, something that likely instigated the latest renovations that started in 2015 and were completed at the end of 2018.
Pac-Man characters in ceramic tiles on the side of Star House near Star Ferry
The renovations were designed by landscape architect James Corner, most famous for his High Line Park in New York where he converted a 2.4-kilometre-long stretch of abandoned railroad viaduct into an elevated linear park, greenway and trail.
One of the four 25-tonne arbours facing Victoria Harbour
Corner’s work and the creation of the High Line Park helped to revitalized the surrounding neighbourhoods and communities. Something similar was desired for Tsim Sha Tsui.
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When the Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade reopened in January 2019, media praised the revitalization efforts and called it “a sustainable and welcoming destination for locals and visitors alike”.
Harbour View framed by an arbour
The promenade’s redesign now incorporates greenery and seating and plenty of shade from trees, umbrellas and four 25 tonne arbours.
Bruce Lee and Anita Mui are the stars of the Avenue
All the attractions from the Avenue of Stars are back, and better positioned.
Avenue of Stars – Anita Mui (1963–2003), Cantopop singer and film actress
The Bruce Lee and Anita Mui sculptures stand on barrier-free fountain pedestals, and the immortalized handprints of Hong Kong stars have been moved from the sidewalk to handrails and no longer cause pedestrian traffic jams regardless of the number of photographers.
Statue of the Hong Kong Film Awards
I hadn’t visited the promenade for many years, so on a sunny afternoon, I walked the 1.6 kilometres from the Star Ferry terminal until I reached the end of the path, which is just above the Cross Harbour Tunnel in Hung Hom.
Sunset view from Tsim Sha Tsui
Then, with the sun starting to set, I walked back.
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Looking through the lens of a camera, one starts to appreciate the affluence of this city. The materials used to pave the sidewalks are beautiful and robust.
Avenue of Star along the Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade
Where there might have been an ugly fence or plain cement wall, there is pleasantly coloured paint, a planter, a hedge, or contoured railings.
Recreational fishermen enjoy easy access along the walkway
The plants are immaculately cared for, and I witnessed a craftsman replacing tiles. At that point, I realised there were no cracks anywhere along the promenade.
Dragon Head Fountain
The next surprise was the “Use fishing equipment with care” sign. There were plenty of recreational fishermen obeying the sign.
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On this day there were no tourists, but there was a steady stream of people using the pedestrian overpass coming from and going to Hung Hom.
Harbour view from the Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade
This is a route very popular with joggers. As I walked back, I admired the shady sitting out areas that effectively isolated traffic noise from the nearby Salisbury Road and which provided an unobstructed oasis to view the harbour, which really is the star attraction of the promenade.
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Just past the Tsim Sha Tsui East pedestrian overpass is a two-storey Starbucks, with impeccable seating overlooking the harbour.
Avenue of Stars – McDull, Cartoon character
This is also where the statues of Bruce Lee and Anita Mui are located. Next time I may go for a morning coffee, because in the afternoon the 65-storey Rosewood Hotel casts a long shadow over the café.
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But more likely I will succumb to my inner coffee connoisseur and head by K11 Musea to my favourite coffee shop, Arabica, located in a gold cube-shaped kiosk called the KUBE.
Avenue of Stars -Bruce Lee (1940–1973), Martial artist, actor
Here is where the promenade becomes a “bridge” and where you can find the handprints of the Hong Kong stars along the handrails.
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The pedway is wide with benches, flower boxes and other seating areas along the way. When the tourists come back, this is where they will congregate.
Avenue of Stars – one of 115 hand-prints along the railing
Coming off the “bridge” is the small but well laid out Salisbury Park adjacent to the Hong Kong Museum of Art.
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The museum’s harbour face provides alfresco dining with a pretty view of Central between shady banyan trees that all visitors and locals can appreciate.
Former Kowloon-Canton Railway Clock Tower, next to the Cultural Centre
The Cultural Centre and the clock tower have remained unchanged since 1989 as has The Flying Frenchman bronze sculpture by César Baldaccini, which was installed in front of the Cultural Centre in 1993.
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The Tsim Sha Tsui Star Ferry terminal retains its authenticity, as it has only received cosmetic changes since its completion in 1957.
The Flying Frenchman, César Baldaccini, 1992, next to the Cultural Centre
I never tire of viewing the Hong Kong harbour, and the decades-long Tsim Sha Tsui promenade redevelopment has been a good investment in harbour front public infrastructure.
This is the iconic walk on the Kowloon side of the harbour
I appreciated and delighted in rediscovering this easy to navigate and wonderfully designed walk along Hong Kong’s iconic Kowloon side harbour.
View in front of the Hong Kong Museum of Art
I highly recommend a walk along this fabulous promenade it to all.
Text & photos Martin Wray
