Victoria Harbour
Picture taken by Wing-Chi Poon
Victoria Harbour is the deepwater harbour between the Kowloon Peninsula and Hong Kong Island. Throughout Hong Kong's history, Victoria Harbour has always been a natural focal point for the territory.
The last few decades have seen an increase in skyscrapers on the Island side of the harbour with ever increasing height. So much so, it now has what is widely regarded as the most spectacular city view in the world. Until 1998, the old Kai Tak Airport on the Kowloon side of the harbour meant that height restrictions were in place but as that airport is now part of Hong Kong history, it is likely tall buildings will play a part of the Hong Kong Skyline on both sides of the harbour in the future.
The harbour itself and its views are major tourist attractions in their own right. Add to this the stunning annual fireworks displays and light shows, involving many buildings, it's a must see for visitors.
One of the best ways to see the harbour is a trip on the Star Ferry, which runs between Tsim Tsa Tsui (the tip of the Kowloon Peninsula) and Central and Wan Chai Districts on Hong Kong Island. The trip is so cheap, it might as well be free but its gives you a wonderful, if short trip across the harbour that you won't forget.
Over the years, the harbour has been something of a victim of land reclamation, such is the demand for extra space. Future plans to reclaim even more of the harbour have been met with fierce opposition from many quarters and one of the most vocal oppositions to the reclamation process has come from 'The Society for Protection of the Harbour'. The Harbour is considered a precious asset by many that should be preserved and there is considerable resentment to the reduction in size of the harbour.
The waters around Hong Kong are busy ones, with various types of passenger vessels darting between places like Macau and outlying islands. Hong Kong also has one of the busiest port facilities in the world, handling hundreds of thousands of ships each year. It is also not unusual to see large cruise ships passing through the harbour for it's passengers to enjoy the spectacle of the city lights.
Need advice? Got a question? Go to our Hong Kong Forum