Tsim Sha Tsui East Waterfront

TST East - short for Tsim Sha Tsui East - has to be one of the most beautiful waterfront evening strolls you can have with your date. I would say that though it does not have the sidewalk restaurants like those along the river in Singapore, it has the view to make up for it because you can see Hong Kong Island across the harbor with all its buildings. No picture can do it justice - even if you have a large-format camera. This is also the place to view the Symphony of Lights laser show.

If you don't have your camera with you, no problem. There're photographers there to do you a favor - for a small fee, of course. They may even be able to print out the photo right away. One word of caution: read the fine print when it comes to the price. The unbelievably low price in large print is only for the small photo.

On the Tsim Sha Tsui promenade is also the Avenue of Stars where you can take a picture with Bruce Lee and put your hands into Jacky Chan's hand prints.

At the waterfront are also the Cultural Center, Space Museum, and the Museum of Art. You can also enjoy a meal at a restaurant overlooking the harbor facing the beautiful Hong Kong Island skyline.

Since a marriage registration office is nearby, sometimes you will also get to witness the taking of wedding and bridal pictures. On a day deemed lucky to the Chinese, you will even see more than one couple.

Pictured below are brides and a groom posing for photographers at the Tsim Sha Tsui waterfront. No, I don't think the groom is marrying two brides at once. The other groom is just out of the picture, so to speak!

Above: statue at the Avenue of Stars

The Tsim Sha Tsui East waterfront is very easy to get to.

1. Take the MTR and get off at Tsim Sha Tsui.
2. Take exit E.
3. Once above ground, you're on Nathan Road. Go straight (south), cross Middle Road, continute to the corner (Salisbury Road, the Peninsula Hotel is on your right) and turn right.
4. Keep going the same direction. You will first pass Peninsula Hotel, then the Salisbury YMCA, and then you'll have to take a pedestrain tunnel to cross Kowloon Park Drive.
5. Cross Canton Road.
6. Continue straight. Star House will be on your right.
7. Follow the sidewalk and curve left. The Star Ferry pier will be on your right.
8. After passing the Star Ferry pier, you will be at the western end of the Tsim Sha Tsui East waterfront, where you can see the century-old clock tower.

Alternate route from Hong Kong Island:

1. Take the Star Ferry either in Wan Chai or Central district and head for Tsim Sha Tsui.
2. Once the ferry arrives at Tsim Sha Tsui and you are out of the pier area, turn right (east). Within 30 yards/meters, you will be at the western end of the Tsim Sha Tsui East waterfront, where you can see the century-old clock tower.