Hong Kong’s Symphony of Lights to end after two decades
Hong Kong’s nightly Victoria Harbour light show, A Symphony of Lights, will end on 18 November after more than 20 years. The government plans to replace it with flexible, seasonal light attractions. The show, launched in 2004, once held a Guinness World Record as the world’s largest permanent light
Hong Kong’s nightly Victoria Harbour light show, “A Symphony of Lights,” will make its final curtain call next Wednesday, 18 November, accompanied by a special fireworks display, according to sources.
The government announced in this year’s Budget that the long-running attraction would be replaced by a new series of light-themed shows staged at different locations and times of the year. Launched in January 2004, “A Symphony of Lights” became one of Hong Kong’s signature tourism attractions, illuminating buildings on both sides of Victoria Harbour with synchronised lights, lasers and music.
In November 2005, it was recognised by Guinness World Records as the world’s largest permanent light and sound show. The show underwent a major revamp in 2017, including a new musical score recorded by the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra. It was temporarily suspended by the Tourism Commission on 9 September this year and resumed on 21 September.
Sources said the Hong Kong Tourism Board has since shifted more attention toward Hong Kong WinterFest and other event-driven tourism initiatives following the cancellation of a planned lighting project at The Peak. Feedback gathered within the government and the HKTB indicated that large-scale events and seasonal attractions had become an increasingly important part of the city’s tourism strategy, the sources said.
They added that maintaining “A Symphony of Lights” as a nightly show involved substantial ongoing costs, while its appeal to repeat visitors had diminished over time. The government therefore plans to retire the show and introduce more flexible light-based attractions that can be refreshed for different locations, festivals and seasons.