Avenue of Stars Place guide

Want to see that iconic skyline view of Hong Kong, often captured in postcards? Then make sure to plan a visit to the Kowloon side of the territory. Set sail across Victoria Harbour and towards Tsim Sha Tsui, the arts and culture center of Hong Kong.

While the area is best known for the promenade that leads to the Avenue of the Stars, the Cantonese version of Hollywood’s Walk of Fame (closed for renovation until 2018), Tsim Sha Tsui is also home to many of Hong Kong’s museums and galleries. These include the Hong Kong Museum of Art (to reopen in 2018), Hong Kong Space Museum, and the Hong Kong Cultural Centre. All are located just a few meters from the Avenue. Another popular landmark, the Clock Tower, is also near the Avenue; it was once the terminus of the Kowloon-Canton Railway. And it doesn’t end at the wharf area—cross the street to see another batch of iconic buildings in Hong Kong, which include the Peninsula Hotel, the 1881 Heritage shopping arcade (former Marine Police Headquarters), and the Chungking Mansions (along Nathan Road).

As one of Hong Kong’s popular tourist hubs, expect the area to be quite busy, especially on weekend nights. If you want to avoid the crowds, go during daytime; buskers and street performers are also a common sight at the waterfront during nighttime. On the other hand, professional photographers have set up shop along the waterfront, offering to take souvenir photos with Hong Kong’s iconic skyline as your background. And make sure to wear comfortable footwear, as there’s lots of walking to be done in the area.

Of course, with these attractions being located at the waterfront, the best way to reach them would by ferry. Just take the Star Ferry from two piers: one at Central, right beside IFC; and another at Wan Chai, near the Hong Kong Convention Centre. These ferries, which depart every 10 to 20 minutes, dock right at the Tsim Sha Tsui pier located beside the Clock Tower. They are also the cheapest yet most scenic way to reach the area, with a weekday trip costing only HKD 2.50 one-way (HKD 3.40 on weekends) and offering stunning views of the skyline at night. Other options are by MTR and bus. By MTR, simply disembark at Tsim Sha Tsui or East Tsim Sha Tsui stations; walkways connect both stations to the waterfront. Meanwhile, a number of bus routes have stops at the Star Ferry pier, Hong Kong Cultural Centre, and the Hong Kong YMCA (near 1881 Heritage).