AVENUE OF STARS
THE AVENUE OF STARS CLOSED FOR REDEVELOPMENT FROM 8th OCTOBER 2015 AND IS EXPECTED TO REOPEN IN THE THIRD QUARTER OF 2018.During its closure some features of the Avenue of Stars have been relocated. From 15th November 2015 Tsim Sha Tsui East Waterfront Podium Garden has become a temporary "Garden of Stars" featuring up to 20 Star handprints, Avenue of Stars sculptures, and paintings showing classic movie scenes and "Star Cinema" photos. The pedestrian subway under Salisbury Road from East Tsim Sha Tsui MTR Station is "Starry Gallery" featuring star photos, movie names, paintings showing classic movie scenes, star imprints and movie posters.
The Avenue of Stars is a 400-metre long bridge section of waterside promenade along the northern side of Victoria Harbour, in front of the New World Centre at Tsim Sha Tsui. The avenue opened in April 2004 and cost HK$40 million to construct It was designed by local architects AGC Design, financed by New World Group and supported by government bodies including Hong Kong Tourism Board, Hong Kong Tourism Commission and the Hong Kong Film Awards Association. On completion it was donated to the Hong Kong SAR Government by New World Development which has managed the avenue under a 20 year contract which was to have run until 2024. However, New World are to be awarded a new 20-year management contract in early 2016 to replace the existing contract and run until 2036 in return for funding the extensive redevelopment 3-year redevelopment programme for the avenue which commenced in October 2015. New World had built and funded the entire Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade, of which the Avenue of Stars forms part, in the early 1980's.
The Avenue of Stars offers panoramic views across Victoria Harbour to Hong Kong Island
The Avenue is based on Hollywood’s Walk of Fame and celebrates stars of the Hong Kong film industry. Set into the promenade’s coloured paving blocks are plaques, each representing present and past stars, many of whom are deceased. The number of plaques has grown from 73, when the avenue first opened, to a current total of 101. Plaques of most living stars contain handprints set in cement and autographs. Some of the stars more familiar to audiences outside Hong Kong include Michelle Yeoh, Jackie Chan, Bruce Lee, Jet Li, Chow Yun-fat and Maggie Cheung.
One of the popular plaques features the handprints of Hong Kong's Hollywood movie star Jackie Chan
The western entrance of the avenue, near to Hong Kong Museum of Art, is dominated by a 4.5-metre tall replica of the statuette awarded to winners of the annual Hong Kong Film Awards.
Replica of the Hong Kong Film Awards statuette
Two of the most popular attractions along the avenue for photo opportunities are a statue of martial arts legend Bruce Lee and a film director on set. In July 2011 local cartoon character McDull, an animated piglet, became the latest "star" to have a bronze statue erected on the avenue.
The statue of martial arts legend Bruce Lee is a popular spot for photo opportunities
Outdoor stage performances often take place at the end of the avenue nearest the Museum of Art and other entertainers can usually be found at other points along the avenue, usually at weekends and during public holidays.
Stage performances often take place on the Avenue, particularly on weekend evenings
A tourist poses with a film director and cameraman "on set"
There are three souvenir kiosks along the Avenue of Stars, including the one shown here which is dedicated to Jackie Chan merchandise and memorabilia
The avenue has panoramic views across the harbour to Hong Kong Island and makes for a pleasant stroll at any time of day, but particularly after dark when the Hong Kong Island’s famous skyline becomes spectacularly illuminated. The avenue is a popular viewing point for the free 14-minute light and sound show “A Symphony of Light”, featuring 45 prominent buildings on both sides of Victoria Harbour, which takes place nightly at 8pm;
The Avenue provides an excellent viewing point for the nightly light and sound spectacular "A Symphony of Light"
The Avenue of Stars is often the venue for temporary exhibitions including, above, "The Upside Down World of Philippe Ramette"
At the eastern end of the avenue are Starbucks coffee shop and Deck N Beer bar. The New World Centre is currently closed and undergoing major renovation and conversion to a 63-storey hotel which is not expected to be completed until 2016 at the earliest.
The New World Centre, partially demolished and now under renovation and conversion to a 63-storey hotel, can be seen immediately behind Starbucks and Deck N Beer bar at the eastern end of the avenue
In August 2015 conditional approval was granted to allow New World Development to extend the Avenue of Stars by 500-metres eastwards along Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade towards Hung Hom. The existing Avenue of Stars will be closed from 8th October 2015 and is expected to reopen at the end of 2018. The proposed project includes a film gallery, dining hub and performance venue. Although the existing avenue is being redeveloped a public consultation took place between late 2015 and early 2016 regarding the proposed extension and updated facilities. Under the original plans the 500-metre section of Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade to be redeveloped would have been close from early 2016 until early 2018. However, revised plans for the redevelopment of the eastwards extension of Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade on a much smaller scale were approved in February 2016 and that section of promenade will now be closed for about one year instead of two. Salisbury Garden will be closed from about early 2016 until early 2017. The tunnel linking East Tsim Sha Tsui MTR Station and Salisbury Garden has become a gallery with photos of film stars and movie stills. Tsim Sha Tsui East Waterfront Podium Garden now houses a temporary "Garden of Stars" featuring some of the handprints from the avenue. New World provided HK$40 million finance for the Avenue of Stars which opened in 2004 and have since managed the tourist attraction under a 20-year contract which is being replaced by a new 20-year management contract running until 2035.
0 comments:
Post a Comment