Monday, September 29, 2008

A Symphony of Lights

A Symphony of Lights 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 . 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 .





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 "" 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 Harbor. The Show's music and narration live at the "" and the promenade outside the Golden Bauhinia Square in Wan Chai every night. On Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays the narration is in , while it is in on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, and 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 . 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
# Central Plaza, Hong Kong
# Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre
# Hopewell Centre
# Harcourt House
#
# MassMutual Tower
# CITIC Tower
#
#
# Bank of America Tower
# Bank of China Tower
# AIG Tower
# Cheung Kong Center
#
#
# Standard Chartered Bank Building
# Jardine House
# One
# Two
# Two International Finance Centre
# One International Finance Centre
# The Center

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:
# – Harbour City
# Star House
# - Harbour City
# Hong Kong Cultural Centre
# One Peking
# Hong Kong Museum of Art
# The Peninsula Hong Kong
# Langham Place
#
# Oterprise Square
# K11
# Hotel Panorama
# New World Centre
# Tsim Sha Tsui Centre
# Empire Centre
# InterContinental Grand Stanford Hong Kong
# Hong Kong Coliseum
# Harbourview Horizon All-Suite Hotel
# Harbourfront Horizon All-Suite Hotel
# EMax
# MegaBox

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 .

Moreover, for the last 20 seconds before entering the year of 2008 , 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, , 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.

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