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Kowloon to Hong Kong Island?
The two sides of Victoria Harbour are connected by roads and rail, but thousands of visitors and locals climb aboard the Star Ferry crafts to transit the waterway.
When asking friends for suggestions of things to do in Hong Kong, one of the first things mentioned was to “make sure to take the Star Ferry and admire the views”.
Star Ferry Company, founded in 1888 as Kowloon Ferry Company is a passenger ferry service operator and tourist attraction in Asia’s World City…Hong Kong. Carrying roughly 70,000 passengers a day, the fleet of twelve ferries operates two routes across the harbor, between Central and Tsim Sha Tsui and Wan Chai and Tsim Sha Tsui. Harbor cruises are also operated which provide a circular route and overview of the skyline and harbor. The famous ferry, often photographed, has appeared in films throughout the years, including, The World of Suzie Wong and the TV miniseries, Noble House.
After emerging from the Tsim Sha Tsui MTR station, we headed south toward the harbor. Walking along Salisbury Road, we passed the lavish Peninsula Hotel and the Hong Kong Space Museum directly across the roadway. Making tracks around the Hong Kong Cultural Center, we admired the famous landmark, the former Kowloon-Canton Railway Clock Tower, which is the only remnant of the original site of the former Kowloon Station on the Kowloon-Canton Railway. Since the clock tower is presently closed for renovation, we continued on to our destination, the Tsim Sha Tsui ferry pier. Walking into the terminal, we followed the signs to the departure point, only to find that we had just missed the boat!
With such regular schedules, we didn’t fret as we knew another would be leaving for Hong Kong Island soon.
Before long, we were climbing aboard, taking seats near the rail and admiring the exquisite skyline as we motored away from the Kowloon coastline. All around us, boats cruised through the harbor, cruise ships awaited their departure and freighters and barges carried their cargo out of the busy port. The blue skies enhanced the incredible architecture, including illustrious and distinctive buildings like 2IFC Towers, Bank of China building and Central Plaza on the Hong Kong side and the ICC Tower on the Kowloon side. Though the ride was short, the breeze was cool and the waters calm. Staring ahead at Hong Kong Island, we looked upward at Victoria’s Peak…our next destination.
There are many things to do in Hong Kong. While getting from one to another, from Kowloon to Hong Kong Island, put the Star Ferry on the top of your list. It’s like killing two birds with…well, you know the phrase!
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Star Ferry
- http://www.starferry.com.hk/en/Fares
- Address: Tsim Sha Tsui, Star Ferry Pier, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon. Central, Central Pier, Central, Hong Kong Island. Wan Chai, Wan Chai Ferry Pier, Wan Chai, Hong Kong Island
- Hours: Tsim Sha Tsui Ferry Counter, 1020-2045. Central Pier Number 7 Counter, 1145-20:05.
- Admission: Central to Tsim Sha Tsui. Lower deck, $2.20, Monday to Friday. $3.10, Saturday, Sunday and public holidays. Upper deck, $2.70, Monday to Friday. $3.70, Saturday, Sunday and public holidays. Wan Chai to Tsim Sha Tsui. $2.70, Monday to Friday. $3.70, Saturday, Sunday and public holidays. The Octopus card or tokens may be used to pay for the ride. Tokens are available in the vending machines at the piers. Direct payment by coins at turnstile is no longer accepted.
- Getting There: TST Star Ferry pier: MTR Tsim Sha Tsui Station, Exit L6. Walk to the Clock Tower along Salisbury Road. Central Star Ferry pier: MTR Hong Kong Station, Exit A2 or MTR Central Station, Exit A. Walk to the pier along Man Yiu Street. Wan Chai Star Ferry pier: MTR Wan Chai Station, Exit A1. Take the skybridge to the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, and descend to Convention Avenue at Harbour Road.