A Symphony of Lights

A Symphony of Lights ( Traditional Chinese: 幻彩詠香江) is a synchronised building exterior decorative light and laser multimedia display, featuring 44 buildings on both sides of the Victoria Harbour of Hong Kong accompanied by symphonic music. The technology was developed by Australian firm Laservision and cost approximately 44 million HK dollars. It has attracted over 4 million visitors and locals so far.

Guinness World Records has named A Symphony of Lights the world's largest permanent light and sound show [ [http://news.gov.hk/en/category/businessandfinance/051121/html/051121en03016.htm Guinness world record for harbour show (21 Nov 2005)] ] .

Background

Organised by the Hong Kong Tourism Board. Displayed every night with good weather at 8pm Hong Kong Time, the show is an orchestration of music, decoration lights, laser light displays, and pyrotechnic fireworks. The multimedia light and sound show lasts for about 14 minutes.

The best vantage points include the "Avenue of Stars" on the Tsim Sha Tsui waterfront, on the waterfront promenade outside the Golden Bauhinia Square in Wan Chai and on sightseeing ferries (i.e. Star Ferry) running across the Victoria Harbor. The Show's music and narration live at the "Avenue of Stars" and the promenade outside the Golden Bauhinia Square in Wan Chai every night. On Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays the narration is in English, while it is in Mandarin on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, and Cantonese on Sundays.

Special pyrotechnic fireworks will be added to the show on the rooftop of participating buildings on both sides of the habour or stages off at the Tsim Sha Tsui waterfront. It will be added on special events or holidays, example like Chinese New Year and Christmas.

When Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal No.3 or above or Red/Black Rainstorm Warning Signal is issued by the Hong Kong Observatory at or after 3pm on the Show day, the Show will be suspended. No show will be staged even if the Signal is removed before 8pm on that day. The show may also be suspended in emergencies without prior notice.

Themes

The Show comprises five major themes, taking spectators on a unique journey celebrating the energy, spirit and diversity of Hong Kong:

The first scene "Awakening" begins with flashes of laser lights that give life to a nucleus of light-energy which gradually illuminates participating buildings using an array of dancing lights and rainbow colour. This scene symbolises the genesis and powerful growth of Hong Kong.

The second scene "Energy" is represented by the display of rising colour patterns and the sweeping of the lasers and searchlights energetically across the night sky, signifying the vibrant energy of Hong Kong.

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, symbolising Hong Kong's colourful heritage and rich cultural traditions.

The fourth scene "Partnership" features a display of laser beams and sweeping searchlights scanning across the Harbour, representing an illuminated connection with the opposite side. Beams reach out to symbolically connect the two sides of the Harbour into one greater and unified partnership.

The finale "Celebration" brings out a powerful rhythmic display of swirling, kaleidoscopic patterns of lights and beams dancing lively across the Harbour. The exciting final scene signifies the celebration of the close partnership between the two sides of the Harbour and represents an even brighter future for Asia's world city - Hong Kong.

Participating buildings

The show has been further expanded with the total number of participating buildings increased to 44 on both sides of Victoria Harbor [ [http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/200706/24/P200706240098.htm A Symphony of Lights expanded to celebrate HKSAR's 10th anniversary (26 June 2007)] ] . TThere are different types of lighting effects included in the show, such as laser, searchlights, LED lights, simple lighting and projection lighting. Types of lighting effects are listed in brackets ( [ ] ) after each of the participating buildings below.

On Hong Kong Island

The show ranges from Wan Chai and spreads to the western district. The buildings included are listed below:

# Sun Hung Kai Centre (starting from 17 January 2004) [laser/searchlights]
# Central Plaza, Hong Kong (starting from 17 January 2004) [laser]
# Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (starting from 17 January 2004) [LED lights]
# Hopewell Centre (starting from 23 December 2005) [LED lights/laser]
# Harcourt House (starting from 17 January 2004) [LED lights]
# The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts (starting from 17 January 2004) [projection lighting/LED lights]
# MassMutual Tower (starting from 17 January 2004) [LED lights]
# CITIC Tower (starting from 23 December 2005) [LED lights]
# [http://www.tourism.gov.hk/symphony/english/participating/participating_hk_09.html Queensway Government Offices] (starting from 17 January 2004) [searchlights]
# The Chinese People's Liberation Army Forces Hong Kong Building (starting from 17 January 2004) [searchlights/projection lighting]
# Bank of America Tower (Hong Kong) (starting from 1 May 2007) [LED lights]
# Bank of China Tower (starting from 17 January 2004) [LED lights/searchlights]
# AIG Tower (starting from 23 December 2005) [LED lights]
# Cheung Kong Center (starting from 17 January 2004) [LED lights]
# HSBC Main Building (starting from 17 January 2004) [LED lights/searchlights]
# Hong Kong City Hall (starting from 17 January 2004) [LED lights]
# Standard Chartered Bank Building (starting from 1 May 2007) [LED lights]
# Jardine House (starting from 17 January 2004) [searchlights/projection lighting]
# One Exchange Square (starting from 17 January 2004) [searchlights/projection lighting]
# Two Exchange Square (starting from 17 January 2004) [searchlights/projection lighting]
# Two International Finance Centre (starting from 17 January 2004) [laser]
# One International Finance Centre (starting from 17 January 2004) [laser]
# The Center (starting from 17 January 2004) [LED lights]

In Kowloon

The buildings included are mainly from around the Tsim Sha Tsui Ferry Pier, with some in Hung Hom, Kowloon Bay and Mong Kok. They are listed as follow:
# Ocean Terminal – Harbour City (starting from 26 June 2007) [simple lighting]
# Star House (starting from 23 December 2005) [projection lighting]
# The Gateway - Harbour City (starting from 1 May 2007) [LED lights/searchlights]
# Hong Kong Cultural Centre (starting from 23 December 2005) [searchlights/projection lighting]
# One Peking (starting from 23 December 2005) [searchlights]
# Hong Kong Museum of Art (starting from 23 December 2005) [LED lights/searchlights/projection lighting]
# The Peninsula Hong Kong (starting from 23 December 2005) [simple lighting ]
# Langham Place (starting from 26 June 2007) [LED lights/searchlights]
# Avenue of Stars (starting from 23 December 2005) [searchlights/LED lights]
# Oterprise Square (starting from 1 May 2007) [LED lights]
# K11 (starting from 26 June 2007) [laser]
# Hotel Panorama (starting from 23 December 2005) [projection lighting]
# New World Centre (starting from 23 December 2005) [searchlights]
# Tsim Sha Tsui Centre (starting from 23 December 2005) [LED lights/searchlights]
# Empire Centre (starting from 23 December 2005) [LED lights/searchlights]
# InterContinental Grand Stanford Hong Kong (starting from 23 December 2005) [simple lighting]
# Hong Kong Coliseum (starting from 23 December 2005) [LED lights/searchlights/projection lighting]
# Harbourview Horizon All-Suite Hotel (starting from 26 June 2007) [LED lights]
# Harbourfront Horizon All-Suite Hotel (starting from 26 June 2007) [LED lights]
# EMax (starting from 26 June 2007) [searchlights]
# MegaBox (unknown) [LED lights/searchlights]

A Symphony of Lights New Year Countdown 2007

To celebrate the arrival of the year 2008, on new year's eve of 2007, pyrotechnics were added to the show on the rooftops of participating buildings on both sides of the harbor [ [http://www.discoverhongkong.com/hkwf/eng/festival_overview/symphony.html 2007 Hong Kong WinterFest - A Symphony of Lights New Year Countdown (19 Dec 2007)] ] .

Moreover, for the last 20 seconds before entering the year of 2008 (23:59:40), The International Finance Centre started firing pyrotechnic fireworks from the outer walls, which face the Victoria Harbour, and counting down. For the first 2 minutes of the year 2008, (24:00:00), 16 of the participating buildings of both sides of the habor had a themed pyrotechnic show, along with the International Finance Centre, to celebrate the arrival of the new year. Reuters Earth TV broadcasted the show live to the whole world on that night.

ee also

*Avenue of Stars
*Golden Bauhinia Square
*Hong Kong

References

External links

* [http://www.tourism.gov.hk/symphony/ A Symphony of Lights Official Website]
* [http://www.discoverhongkong.com/eng/showtime/lighting/index.jhtml DiscoverHongKong page]
* [http://news.gov.hk/en/category/businessandfinance/051121/html/051121en03016.htm Named the world's largest permanent light and sound show by the Guinness World Records]
* [http://www.laservision.com.au/page.asp?lid=1&sec=Projects&subsec=Permanent+Attractions&subsubsec=Symphony+of+Lights Laservision:Symphony of Light - Hong Kong] , the webpage of Laservision, the company which develops the Show.