Hong Kong is a city that’s vibrant and always changing, especially in downtown areas like the Central district and Tsim Sha Tsui. Filled with glitzy skyscrapers, shopping spots and eateries, these areas that face the beautiful Victoria harbour are an iconic part of the city that we definitely miss!
Credit: Giphy
A visit to Tsim Sha Tsui is a must for travellers to Hong Kong (even if it’s not your first time) because they’re always something new to see! During our last visit to Hong Kong, we had the opportunity to explore Victoria Dockside, a new development on the Tsim Sha Tsui waterfront. With awesome views, stunning architecture and snazzy shops, this IG-worthy attraction is definitely a place you need to visit the next time you’re in the city!
Overview of Victoria Dockside & how to get there
Victoria Dockside is a building complex located on the tip of the Kowloon Peninsula, comprising residences, offices, a shopping mall and recreational facilities. Located right by Victoria Harbour, this development sits on a site that used to be a freight hub that serviced Hong Kong’s bustling port back in the early 1900s ? Later in the 1970s, New World Centre was built there (housing offices, shops and residences) before it was demolished to make way for Victoria Dockside.
To get to Victoria Dockside, you can take the MTR to East Tsim Sha Tsui - from there it’s just a quick 1-minute walk away!
Here are some of the cool things to see and do at Victoria Dockside:
1. Enjoy amazing views of Victoria Harbour
Victoria Dockside is located right along the Tsim Sha Tsui waterfront meaning you’ll find incredible views of the harbour here. Walk along the promenade that stretches along Victoria Dockside facing the harbour. You’ll be able to snap awesome photos of Hong Kong Island that sits opposite Tsim Sha Tsui. If you’re lucky, you might even see a traditional junk passing by!
While we were there, we really enjoyed the wide walking path that made it comfortable to stroll at our leisure without having to jostle with others in the crowd. The path is actually part of the Tsim Sha Tsui promenade, which starts from Salisbury Road, goes past Victoria Dockside, and ends at the Tsim Sha Tsui Star Ferry Terminal (about 1km in total). It makes for a super scenic walking route if you’re up for it!
#HHWT Tip: If you’re at Victoria Dockside at night, it’s a great place to catch the Symphony Of Lights, the nightly light and sound show on the harbourfront that starts at 8pm!
2. Snap photos with your favourite celebrity’s handprints at the revamped Avenue of Stars
Besides being a great spot to enjoy iconic views of the city, Victoria Dockside is also where you’ll find the city’s tribute to Hong Kong’s film scene, Avenue of Stars! This local version of Hollywood’s Walk Of Fame features more than a 100 handprints of notable Hong Kong stars like Jet Li, Jackie Chan and more.
As part of the Victoria Dockside development, Avenue Of Stars underwent a full refurbishment for three years ? The handprints, which were originally laid on the ground, were carefully moved and mounted onto the hand-railing that runs along the promenade. A lot more benches and greenery were added to make it more comfortable for visitors too ? Besides taking photos with the handprints of your favourite stars, be sure to pose next to the statues of some of Hong Kong’s most beloved actors, including Bruce Lee and Anita Mui!
3. Explore a gorgeous mall unlike any other
Among the new developments in Victoria Dockside is a shopping mall called K11 Musea. If there was one word to describe K11 Musea, it’s definitely ‘Instagrammable’! The mall is not just a place to shop but a centre for art, culture and heritage too. When we visited the mall, we could truly see the amount of care and design that went into it (fun fact: it took 10 years of planning and building before the mall finally opened last year!).
The centrepiece of the mall is the Opera Theatre, an atrium where you can see all the way to the top of the mall. As you look up, you’ll see sloping fixtures on the ceilings dotted with lights that are meant to evoke stars in a galaxy ? You’ll also see the Gold Ball (the sphere on the right) which actually doubles as an exhibition area. We couldn’t stop taking pictures of this space!
As you explore the different floors of the mall, you’re bound to get side-tracked by the various beautiful corners (as we did! ?). For one thing, there are many eye-catching art installations displayed throughout the mall, representing the works of artists from around the world. But even more mundane areas of the mall like the washrooms, elevators and side-corridors have all been decorated with stunning interior design. Each floor of the mall has a different design theme, such as nautical, Art Deco, and street art, with gorgeous details and furnishings everywhere for each one!
P.S. Looking for more IG-worthy spots in Hong Kong (that’s also near halal food)? Check this list out!
4. Shop for exclusive merchandise or brands you can’t find anywhere else
Hong Kong’s shopping scene covers a vast spectrum from street markets to malls and boutique stores that are pretty hard to compete with! But at Victoria Dockside, K11 Musea sets itself apart by having a unique requirement for its stores: most stores there are either the flagship store for that brand in Hong Kong, the brand’s first outlet in the city, or sell exclusive merchandise that can’t be found elsewhere ?
You’ll find plenty of mid to high-end stores at K11 Musea, from streetwear favourites like Adidas and Champion to iconic luxury brands like Gucci and Mulberry. You should also check out the MOMA Design Store (the store associated with New York’s Museum of Modern Art) for cool contemporary design products. It’s definitely something we can’t find back home as the only other MOMA Design Stores outside of New York are in Japan!
5. Get your hipster coffee fix at aesthetically pleasing cafes
Credit: @k11musea
Are you a coffee-lover? Then be sure have a coffee pit-stop at Victoria Dockside which has some awesome artisan coffee spots! There’s an Arabica outlet (the popular independent coffee shop from Japan) located in an artsy golden kiosk on the ground floor right outside K11 Musea (facing the waterfront). Be sure to also check out Bloom’s Coffee on the second floor. Founded by a local actor named Moses Chan, the cafe boasts a sleek, copper and gold-toned aesthetic. We really enjoyed the coffee here (about HKD40 per cup) and even bought coffee beans that were available for sale back home as a souvenir!
Disclaimer: Do note that the cafes mentioned above are not halal-certified. The coffee drinks are made with only coffee and milk. We advise you to consult with staff directly about any additional ingredients and recommend that you dine at your own discretion.
#HHWT Tip: If you’re a tea-lover instead, check out the Fortnum & Mason store! This iconic British brand opened its first-ever store outside of the UK at K11 Musea. Here, you’ll find an endless variety of teas, including a special blend that’s exclusive to the store!
5. Discover pretty hidden gems
Victoria Dockside is home to some hidden gems that are just waiting to be discovered. One of them is K11 Musea’s rooftop garden (called the Bohemian Garden)! Located on the seventh floor of the mall, this green space is open to the public and features a lawn where you can chill and hangout. There’s a playground here for kids too, though do note it requires spending HKD300 on purchases at the mall to access ? To get to the Bohemian Garden, you have to take the escalators from the fifth floor, which is covered by an awesome set of arches. It makes for the perfect spot for a photo! ?
Credit: @maya.kamarulzaman on Instagram
Another gem you might want to check out is Salisbury Garden. This public lawn located between K11 Musea and the Hong Kong Museum of Art is a popular recreational spot with locals. As part of the refurbishment of Avenue of Stars, the garden was given a facelift by James Corner, a prominent British landscape architect and is a nice green space to enjoy in the middle of the bustling Tsim Sha Tsui. Snap a photo at the fountain at the centre of the garden with its iconic wall of greenery!
Victoria Dockside is a wonderful addition to Hong Kong and the vibrant Tsim Sha Tsui area. With incredible views of the harbour and its stunning architecture, it’s definitely a place that will up your Instagram game! So the next time you’re in Hong Kong, don’t forget to check out this fascinating new development at the heart of the city!
P.S. Check out our new itinerary 4D3N itinerary for Hong Kong which includes Victoria Dockside to start planning your trip.
This article was brought to you by the Hong Kong Tourism Board.
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