At the end of 2024, I decided to spend New Year’s Eve abroad again this year. Among the candidates were Hong Kong and Bangkok. After much deliberation, the soaring airfare prices towards the end of the year became a factor, and I ultimately chose Hong Kong. For my first blog post of 2025, I would like to document the “Countdown Fireworks 2025.”
The situation at Victoria Harbour before the countdown
The tour assembly was at 6 PM in front of the restaurant. Until then, I walked from around the K11 MUSEA shopping mall to the Star Ferry terminal from a little past 5 PM. Even around Nathan Road, there seemed to be more people than usual, but in front of the harbor, it was almost entirely filled with people, and the front zone was closed off. By the evening, it was clear that it would be difficult to get a good spot to see the fireworks. I was surprised that it was even more crowded than in Singapore.
If you walk west, you will find the cruise ship terminal. There seemed to be fewer people in that area, but it might be because more people board the ships at night. Considering this, it might be better to choose a small paid cruise ship. However, when the fireworks start, people tend to gather in one place, and smaller ships may sway significantly.
The situation at Victoria Harbour before the countdown
After dinner, we were informed about the ferry boarding location, and until the boarding time, we had free time (about 40 minutes). However, the guide said, “We don’t know when the police will close the area due to overcrowding, so please don’t go too far.” The ferry boarding location was near the Star Ferry terminal, so it didn’t seem to be a problem as it wasn’t a place where you could see the fireworks.
Admission to the ferry is on a first-come, first-served basis, so if you want to choose a free seat inside the ferry, you need to line up early.
If you want to see the fireworks clearly, you should secure an outdoor seat. The interior has window glass and you don’t know whether the fireworks will be on the right or left side. Choosing a seat was very difficult.
When I boarded, I was able to enter early, so I secured a seat near the front deck. The inside of the ferry has two floors; the seats on the second floor are good, but they are behind glass. You can look outside from the front and back of that area.
The first floor has wooden benches and no windows. However, since it is the first floor, if a ship stops in front, it becomes difficult to see the fireworks. Additionally, depending on the temperature, you may feel cold while waiting for the fireworks.
I was wondering what course the 3-hour cruise would take, but it actually just proceeded to the fireworks viewing point and then waited there until the fireworks began. The viewing point for the fireworks was at the eastern end of Tsim Sha Tsui. I think the best place to see the spectacular fireworks and laser show is from the cruise ships on the Kowloon side to around the Hong Kong Museum of Art, so it ended up being quite far away.
Drinks and snacks were available for everyone on the cruise ship. I believe it was free drinks, but since it was somewhat cold, I didn’t really want any beverages. The viewing point moved slightly at times, and occasionally the police gave instructions from the boat, causing minor movements. By observing the surroundings, I roughly understood the position, so I waited in an outdoor position 20 minutes before the fireworks started to prepare for the viewing.
The fireworks viewing point was far, making it a bit difficult.
The New Year’s Eve fireworks in Hong Kong only last about 12 minutes from the start of the new year. (In Singapore, the fireworks were launched several times from 11:10 PM.) The screen displaying the countdown numbers was not visible from this location, so the fireworks started abruptly. I couldn’t tell how large the fireworks would be, but from this distance, they seemed quite far away. I had to zoom in twice to record the video. (I would have preferred to shoot it at the original size, though…)
Since it was far away, it was overall beautiful, but it lacked impact. That was a bit disappointing. The fireworks were actually over 1 km away, so it would have been more impressive if they were closer.
The overall fireworks were beautiful, but the distance was a drawback. I expected the climax to increase in intensity all at once, but it didn’t change much and was somewhat disappointing. Additionally, boats and cruise ships in front of us occasionally moved to change their positions. Other ships also approached us at times. Even ships as large as ours or smaller ones had masts that obstructed the view. It was indeed challenging to watch the fireworks without any obstructions, even on a cruise ship tour.
After viewing the fireworks and on the way back
After the fireworks ended, it was supposed to be until 1 AM, but there was no sign of movement. We were just waiting for other ships to move, and it started moving about an hour later. Many other passengers had already returned to the warm interior and were even sleeping (laughs). Eventually, we returned to the ferry terminal around 1:30 AM. Overall, even though it was called a cruise tour, it was just a round trip to the fireworks viewing location.
On the way back, it was already 1:30 AM, so there was no longer any congestion. Since my hotel was the Chungking Mansions in front of Tsim Sha Tsui Station, I had no problem walking back. Nathan Road was bustling with many people, so even though it was late at night, I didn’t feel unsafe on my way. Additionally, if I visit Hong Kong again for New Year’s Eve, I found out that the MTR runs on a special schedule and operates 24 hours, so staying at a hotel a bit farther away should be fine.
It was my first New Year’s Eve event in Hong Kong, and it was quite good. Regarding the cruise ship tour, honestly, the viewing location was disappointing considering the price, but it couldn’t be helped. Seeing how crowded Victoria Harbour was, I think it was good to be able to watch the fireworks leisurely. If I have the chance to go again, I would likely choose a similar tour. In that case, I would choose a tour that specifically describes the viewing point rather than the type of ship. Since it’s a large-scale fireworks display, I would like to see it up close.
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