A Symphony of Lights


A Symphony of Lights is a daily light and sound show in Hong Kong. It is the world's largest permanent light and sound show according to Guinness World Records. As of 2017, there are 42 participating buildings in the show.

Background

The show is organised by the Hong Kong Tourism Board and is displayed every night with good weather at 8 pm Hong Kong Time. An orchestration of music, decoration lights, laser light displays, and pyrotechnic fireworks, the multimedia light and sound show lasts for around 14 minutes and was conceptualised, created, and installed by LaserVision.
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 running across the Victoria Harbour. 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 harbour or stages off at the Tsim Sha Tsui waterfront. They are used on special events or holidays, like Chinese New Year and Christmas.
When Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal No.3 or above or a Red or Black Rainstorm Warning Signal is issued by the Hong Kong Observatory at or after 3 pm on any given day, the show is suspended for that evening, even if the warning is subsequently rescinded prior to the 8 pm start time. The show may also be suspended in emergencies without prior notice. The show is also suspended during days of mourning and the night of Earth Hour.
night view of Victoria Harbour with Symphony of Lights. Many buildings in this photo also have Chinese New Year decorations on their outer walls.

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 "" 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 "" 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 "", 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 "" 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 "" 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 47 on both sides of Victoria Harbour in 2007. As of 2017, it has been reduced to 42. There are different types of lighting effects included in the show, such as laser, searchlights, LED lights, simple lighting and projection lighting, indicated with brackets below.

The first phase

Since 17 January 2004, by the Symphony of Lights in Hong Kong Island North Shore walls of 18 buildings as a performance venue, after gradually extended to 20. From east to west, including:
The buildings included are listed below:
  1. Sun Hung Kai Centre^
  2. Central Plaza, Hong Kong ^
  3. Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre
  4. Hopewell Centre^
  5. Harcourt House ^
  6. The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts
  7. MassMutual Tower
  8. CITIC Tower^
  9. Queensway Government Offices^
  10. The Chinese People's Liberation Army Forces Hong Kong Building
  11. Bank of China Tower
  12. Cheung Kong Center^
  13. HSBC Main Building^
  14. Hong Kong City Hall
  15. Jardine House^
  16. One Exchange Square
  17. Two Exchange Square
  18. Two International Finance Centre^
  19. One International Finance Centre
  20. The Center

    The second phase

Since 23 December 2005, Symphony of Lights extended to the Kowloon peninsula.
There is a building added in Hong Kong Island:
  1. AIA Central
There are 12 buildings added in Kowloon Peninsula, from west to east include:
  1. Star House
  2. Hong Kong Cultural Centre^
  3. One Peking^
  4. Hong Kong Museum of Art^
  5. The Peninsula Hong Kong
  6. Avenue of Stars
  7. Hotel Panorama^
  8. New World Centre^
  9. Tsim Sha Tsui Centre
  10. Empire Centre^
  11. InterContinental Grand Stanford Hong Kong
  12. Hong Kong Coliseum

    Since 2007

There are two building added in Hong Kong Island, from east to west include:
  1. Bank of America Tower
  2. Standard Chartered Bank Building
There are nine building was added in Kowloon Peninsula, from west to east include:
  1. The Gateway – Harbour City
  2. Ocean Terminal – Harbour City
  3. Langham Place
  4. 26 Nathan Road^
  5. K11
  6. Harbourview Horizon All-Suite Hotel
  7. Harbourfront Horizon All-Suite Hotel
  8. EMax
  9. Megabox

    Since 2012

There is a building added in Kowloon:
  1. International Commerce Centre

    Since 2014

There is a building added in Hong Kong Island:
  1. CCB Tower
There is a building added in Kowloon:
  1. Kai Tak Cruise Terminal

    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 harbour.
Moreover, for the last 20 seconds before entering the year of 2008, Two 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,, 18 of the participating buildings of both sides of the harbour had a themed pyrotechnic show, along with Two International Finance Centre, to celebrate the arrival of the new year. Reuters Earth TV broadcast the show live to the whole world on that night.

2008

Thousands of spectators gathered along both sides of Victoria Harbour for Hong Kong's 2009 New Year Countdown celebrations. Before entering the new year, there was a 60-second countdown by LED lights with pyrotechnic effects launched on facades of the two International Finance Centre towers.

2009

Hong Kong welcomed 2009 with a 4-minute pyrotechnical show on 10 landmark buildings on Hong Kong island. The show was orchestrated with a special theme song written and produced by Hong Kong musician Peter Kam to illuminate Victoria Harbour, to signify a bright and hopeful New Year for Hong Kong and the world.
A similar display was also launched before entering the year 2010, followed by fireworks with an installation set on the facade of Two International Finance Centre.

2010

Special countdown activities were held before entering the year of 2011.

Lights Out Hong Kong

is a campaign in Hong Kong to protest against the city's light pollution. Organisers of the campaign urged people in Hong Kong to switch off their lights for 3 minutes at 8 pm on 8 August 2006 as a statement of protest. However, chief executive Donald Tsang refused to support the campaign with a delay of the nightly light show. In a reply to the request made to delay the light show, Donald Tsang said that the campaign could "give adverse publicity to Hong Kong as an international metropolis and a major tourist attraction."