The New Avenue of Stars

Avenue of Stars (CN: 星光大道) is Hong Kong’s very own Hollywood Walk of Fame introducing the city’s rich film making heritage and it’s global movie stars. Located on the waterfront at Victoria Harbour in Tsim Sha Tsui it has long been one of the cities top attractions simply for the pleasant ambiance and amazing views.

In early 2019 it was reopened to the public after a US$2 billion facelift as apart of the greater Victoria Dockside Project. The revamped avenue features more seating, more room, and more facilities. The area is open 24hrs and is free entry.

Amazingly, there are 108 stars represented here with by far the most famous being the iconic statue of Bruce Lee.

It is also a popular very place to watch the Symphony of Lights show.

Nearby the Avenue of Stars

• Many restaurants, including a Starbucks
• Salisbury Garden (梳士巴利花園)
• Hong Kong Space Museum (香港太空館)
• Hong Kong Museum of Art (香港藝術館)
• Hong Kong Cultural Centre (香港文化中心)
• Former Kowloon-Canton Railway Clock Tower (前九廣鐵路鐘樓)
• 1881 Heritage
• The Peninsula
• the new luxury Rosewood Hotel
• Intercontinental Hotel (overlooks Avenue of Stars)
• Star Ferry Pier
• Harbour City Mall

Wikipedia Says

History

In 1982, the New World Group built a promenade along the waterfront around the New World Centre in Tsim Sha Tsui East, Kowloon. In 2004, the Group announced it would spend HK$40 million to build the Avenue of Stars, a project supported by the Hong Kong Tourism Board, Tourism Commission, the Leisure and Cultural Services Department of the Hong Kong Government and the Hong Kong Film Awards Association.

The avenue was opened to the general public on 28 April 2004 with an opening ceremony held the previous day, 27 April 2004. The opening ceremony was presided over by a number of government and industry figures, including Henry Tang (Financial Secretary), Stephen Ip (Secretary for Economic Development and Labour), Patrick Ho (Secretary of Home Affairs), Selina Chow (Chair of Hong Kong Tourism Board), Manfred Wong (Director/Actor), and Cheng Yu Tung (Chair of New World Group); in which the privately funded avenue was handed over to the Hong Kong SAR government as public property. At opening, the avenue honoured an initial 73 inductees elected by the Hong Kong Film Awards Association and the readers of City Entertainment.

Redevelopment controversy
After having managed the avenue for 11 years, its contract is due to expire. It was announced in August 2015 that the Leisure and Cultural Services Department of the Hong Kong government would redevelop and expand the avenue jointly with the company. The Hong Kong government declared that the enhancement project would contain limited commercial appeal, and no luxury shops or high-end restaurants would be added. The walkway, very popular with tourists, is to be closed off and relocated to the Tsim Sha Tsui East Waterfront Podium Garden temporarily for three years while the expansion is undertaken.

The decision to award the contract for the redevelopment to the company without putting it out to tender, on the justification that the project was non-profit, sparked controversy locally. Residents’ groups and other development companies owning properties adjacent to the walk expressed discontent, whilst the LCSD claimed that consultations with the local district council had been favorable. In an apparent attempt to defuse the public furor at the apparent collusion between government and big business, the government promised a public consultation.

The Avenue of Stars is the eastern node of several tourist attractions along the Tsim Sha Tsui waterfront. In addition to the promenade and New World Centre, a number of attractions exist including the Museum of Art, Space Museum, Cultural Centre and the Clock Tower.

Entering from Salisbury Garden, a 4.5-metre-tall replica of the statuette given to winners at the Hong Kong Film Awards greets visitors. Along the 440-metre promenade, the story of Hong Kong’s one hundred years of cinematic history is told through inscriptions printed on nine red pillars. Set into the promenade are plaques honouring the celebrities. Some plaques contain handprints and autographs of the stars set in cement, but most of the plaques only contain celebrities’ names as they are now deceased. A 2.5-metre bronze statue of Bruce Lee was erected along the Avenue of Stars in 2005.

The promenade commands a stunning panoramic view across Victoria Harbour. At night it is a popular viewing place for the Symphony of Lights display.

Source: Wikipedia

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