Until 1970, this was the only way to travel between the two destinations. In fact, it still is the only way to travel if you are looking for a scenic view with everything Victoria Harbor offers.
These days, the trip has some enclosed tunnels for roads and train tracks but there are still a lot of scenic views along the way. It takes about ten minutes to travel from Hong Kong Island's Central District to Tsim Sha Tsui( a major tourist destination in Kowloon)
Before your journey to Hong Kong Islands, be sure to check out the 90 year old Victorian clock standing by the modern cultural center on Tsim Sha Tsui and at the dock there are preserved aging rickshaws that could be worth your while to examine.
The ferry boats are painted according to their designations. They make a colorful sight on the water. If you are lucky, you may board the Celestial Star, which was built in the 1950's and is still going strong.
As the journey proceeds, you can see the Hong Kong skyline coming closer, a glorious sight by day or night. The Bank of China is distinct and narrow, easily spotted across the harbor as is the Victorian era Legislative Council building.
Other buildings to note include, the Stock Exchange building, and the geometric shape of the Shanghai Bank. You can also see the dome of the Space Museum and the out line of Harbor City, one of Hong Kong's largest indoor shopping centers.
If you take the trip at night it would be an entirely different experience. The skyline of Hong Kong rivals Manhattan. To get the best view, make sure you sit on the top of the double decker boat.
The top deck is regarded as first class. It is fully air conditioned which you would be grateful for with Hong Kong's hot and humid summer temperatures. The cost of the ride is about 2.20 HK or 28 US cents. If you prefer to be closer to the ocean and the humming of the engines, the lower deck will save you some pennies at the price of 1.70HK or 22 cents US.
The ferry service carries around 70,000 passengers a day. There is always one leaving every few minutes both ways so you'll never have long to wait. There is a special ferry that takes about an hour to travel a circular route through all the islands of Kowloon.
When traveling the other direction from the island to Kowloon you can stop at Nathan Road, a major shopping destination near the ferry's terminals. At the terminals, transportation is available. You can go by bus or taxi through Kowloon and the New Territories. The taxi is the better choice, if you are looking for an adventure through Hong Kong's streets.
