(with photos)
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The West Kowloon Waterfront Promenade, which features the longest harbour-front timber boardwalk in Hong Kong, has been open to the public since 7.30pm this (September 17) evening.
The promenade is the first project completed under the direction of the Harbour-front Enhancement Committee to offer access to the waterfront for public enjoyment.
Situated at the southern tip of West Kowloon, the promenade occupies a site of 20,000 square metres. Along the waterfront is a timber walkway 400 metres long and six metres wide. The timber walkway and nearby lawns provide an excellent vantage point to take in the spectacular scenery of Victoria Harbour. It is a great place for families to gather.
Visitors will find hundreds of colourful handprints on the timber boardwalk. They are free to sign the handprints to symbolise public participation in the beautification of the harbour-front.
The promenade is also decorated by 70 four-metre-high triangular lighting towers that form a one-kilometre-long "Dragon of Lanterns" winding along the timber boardwalk, then onto the lawn and footpath leading to the entrance.
Adopting an environmentally friendly design, the promenade is a refreshing space created in the most cost-effective and sustainable way: renovated old containers to house toilets and a management office; abandoned seating benches have been fixed and recycled; the boardwalk has been paved with low-cost, unfinished timber boards; and demolition debris has been recycled for use as concrete.
Apart from the timber boardwalk, lawn and footpath, facilities at the promenade include a landscaped area, children's play area and sand pit, pergola and cycling track. The promenade is also equipped with a metered carpark, which provides 30 private-car spaces and two coach spaces.
The promenade is open to the public from 7am to 11pm daily.
To cope with crowds celebrating the Mid-Autumn Festival tonight and tomorrow (September 18), the promenade will extend its closing time till midnight these two evenings. A special service of green mini-bus No.77M running between Austin Road West and Peking Road (Circular) will also be in operation from 7pm to midnight on both evenings.
The entrance of the West Kowloon Waterfront Promenade is at the junction of Austin Road West and Nga Cheung Road, Tsim Sha Tsui.
People can get to the promenade by taking Kowloon Motor Bus No. 8 running between Tsim Sha Tsui Star Ferry Pier and Kowloon MTR Station or green mini-bus No. 77M running between Tsim Sha Tsui East and Kowloon MTR Station, which will stop at Austin Road West near the entrance to the access road for the promenade.
Visitors can also take the MTR to Kowloon Station, which is 15 minutes' walk from the promenade. There is a Public Transport Interchange near Kowloon MTR Station for Bus No. 8, 11, 203E, 215X, 207A and 281A, and green mini-bus No. 26, 74 and 77M. Visitors can also walk for about 10 minutes from bus stops at Western Harbour Crossing Toll Plaza to the promenade.
Ends/Saturday, September 17, 2005
Issued at HKT 20:08
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