Hong Kong Tuttle Travel Pack. Simon Ostheimer

the pleasure vessels that head to the outlying islands on weekends); except for one, that is. Meaning ‘Clever Duck’ in Cantonese, the Duk Ling is a 50-year-old junk that was once used by Chinese fisherman, and has appeared on screen in films such as Around the World in 80 Days and Taipan. Its iconic outline (a stylized version is used as the logo of the Hong Kong Tourism Board) is unmistakable as it carries passengers on cruises around the harbour and further afield to Lamma and Po Toi. While trips can be booked at any time of the day, nothing can quite match watching the sunset over the city skyline as you sit back on the wooden deck of this ancient craft. To experience a more Western approach to sailing, you might want instead to try riding the waves on board The Bounty, a tall masted vessel that starred in the 1983 film of the same name starring Mel Gibson as mutineer Fletcher Christian. The only such European tall ship in Hong Kong waters, it can often be seen travelling between Central and Lantau.

      www.dukling.com.hk, www.thebounty.com.hk

      Opening Times Mon–Fri 9 am-6 pm (office hours)

      Address 17/E Neich Tower, 128 Gloucester Road, Wanchai, Hong Kong

      Getting There N.A.

      Contact Duk Ling: [phone]; [email protected]; www.dukling.com.hk

      Admission Fee N.A.

      17 The Avenue of Stars

      See the stars along this homage to cinematic icons

      Hollywood has its Walk of Fame, Hong Kong has its Avenue of Stars (www.avenueofstars.com.hk). Inspired by the legendary stretch of sidewalk outside Mann’s Chinese Theater in Hollywood, USA, the New World Group paid $40 million to construct a Hong Kong replica along the boardwalk it owned on the Tsim Sha Tsui waterfront. Upon completion, the stretch was handed over to the Hong Kong Government and made public property. The decision about who gets to have their hand prints immortalized in concrete rests with the Hong Kong Film Awards Association. To date, more than 100 local actors and doyens of the film industry have been accorded the honour, including movie moguls Sir Run Run Shaw of Shaw Studios, and Raymond Chow, founder of Golden Harvest, which launched the careers of Bruce Lee and Jackie Chan. Hong Kong’s two most famous martial artists can be found further along the avenue (a life-size statue of Lee with the harbour in the background is a popular photo opportunity), alongside fellow actors Michelle Yeoh, Jet Li, Gong Li, Tony Leung, Maggie Cheung, Chow Yun-fat and Andy Lau, as well as the ‘Four Heavenly Kings’, namely Andy Lau, Leon Lai, Aaron Kwok and Jackie Cheung. The city’s most famous directors are here too, including John Woo, Tsui Hark and Wong Kar Wai. For any fan of Hong Kong cinema, the Avenue of Stars is a must-see attraction, but even if you’re not familiar with many of the names, the waterfront walk is a pleasant way to take in the dramatic city skyline, especially at night if you’re there when the Symphony of Lights begins (8 pm daily). This visual spectacular involves almost 70 buildings on both sides of the harbour being lit up by lasers and searchlights in a coordinated light show. It makes for a sparkling end to a star-packed day.