Hong Kong Snapshot (12) – Star Ferry – one of 50 places of a lifetime 香港隨拍(12) – 天星小輪 -人生50個必遊項目

今天剛好要到尖沙咀工作，坐上香港的天星小輪，就讓我介紹一下這個香港的超著名景點吧！
Today, I took the Star Ferry of Hong Kong to Tsim Sha Tsui for work. So let me introduce this famous tourists spot of Hong Kong to all of you!

天星小輪是香港歷史很悠久的渡海小輪服務，於1898年開始提供在維多利亞港兩岸的渡海小輪服務，接截乘客來往香港島及九龍半島。天星小輪曾於2009年獲國家地理雜誌列為「人生50個必到景點」之一，亦曾獲美國旅遊作家協會評為「全球十大最精彩渡輪遊」的第一位，原因是這一段短短的船程能讓你飽覽被稱為「全球三大夜景」的維多利亞港兩岸景色。
The Star Ferry is a famous tourist attraction in Hong Kong. It started operating in 1989 and provided the ferry service across Victoria Harbour between Hong Kong Island and Kowloon. The Star Ferry was rated as one of “50 places of a lifetime” by the National Geographic Magazine, and also rated first in the “Top 10 Most Exciting Ferry Rides” by the Society of American Travel Writers in 2009. Taking the Star Ferry, you may enjoy the view of the Victoria Harbour, which is so called the “Top 3 night view” in the world.

渡海小輪與維多利亞港 Star Ferry and Victoria Harbour

當我翻查天星小輪歷史時，發現了一樣很有趣的事情，原來天星小輪公司最初是由一位來自印度的波斯拜火教教徒米泰華拉創辦。開辦之時，天星小輪只擁有5艘煤炭船，來往尖沙咀至中環的航線，班次為40分鐘一班。當年天星小輪被劃分為頭等和三等，中國人只可以乘坐三等，一直到二次世界大戰結束後，這種觀念才有所改變。
The Star Ferry was founded by Parsee maerchant Naorojee. There were total steam vessels going between Tsim Sha Tsui and Central, providing the ferry service from Hong Kong Island and Kowloon. At the time, the seats were divided into three classes. The Chinese could only take the 3rd class until after the World War 2.

最早期的天星小輪(歷史圖片) The earliest Star Ferry (historic photo)

1933年開始改用雙層船(歷史圖片)It started to use double-deck ferry since 1933 (historic photo)

1941年，日本攻打香港，當時的九龍半島槍炮不斷，但天星小輪仍然維持服務，協助疏散在九龍半島的軍隊及難民，直到12月12日早上，九龍半島正式失守，天星小輪停止服務共3年8個月到日本投降為止。這段期間，天星小輪共有5艘船沉沒。
In 1941, Japan started the attack to Hong Kong. There were guns and cannons all over Kowloon. But the Star Ferry continued its service, assisting in the evacuation of the armies and refugees in Kowloon. On the 12th December, Kowloon was conquered and Star Ferry stopped service for 3 years and 8 months, until the surrender of Japan. In the period, 5 ferries was destroyed.

1927年的尖沙咀天星碼頭(歷史圖片) Star Ferry Pier, Tsim Sha Tsui, 1927 (historic photo)

1950年的尖沙咀天星碼頭(歷史圖片) Star Ferry Pier, Tsim Sha Tsui, 1950 (historic photo)

1970年的尖沙咀天星碼頭(歷史圖片) Star Ferry Pier, Tsim Sha Tsui, 1970 (historic photo)

今日的尖沙咀天星碼頭 (維基百科) Star Ferry Pier, Tsim Sha Tsui, now (Wikipedia)

二次大戰後，天星小輪復辦至今，一直維持服務，縱然現今香港已有三條海底隧道及地下鐵連接香港島及九龍半島，仍未能威脅天星小輪的生存，至今每天仍有超過70000名乘客乘坐天星小輪。
After the World War 2, Star Ferry operated again and keeps it service today. Although now we have 3 cross harbor tunnels and the Mass Transit Railway, there are still 70000 passengers taking the Star Ferry every day.

1912年的中環天星碼頭(歷史圖片) Star Ferry Pier, Central, 1912 (historic photo)

1940年的中環天星碼頭(歷史圖片) Star Ferry Pier, Central, 1940 (historic photo)

1980年的中環天星碼頭(維基百科) Star Ferry Pier, Central, 1980 (Wikipedia)

今日的中環天星碼頭(維基百科) Star Ferry Pier, Central, 1912 (Wikipedia)

今日的天星小輪共有2條航線，由尖沙咀分別來往灣仔及中環兩地，由9艘雙層船隻運作。每一艘船都有它自己的名字，並以「星」為名，歷史最久的是「午星」及「日星」，於1958年服役，至今已接近60年。9艘船中有7艘船仍保留了一百年前上半身白下半身綠的顏色，寓意白為天，綠為海，集上天下海於船身，天海合一，與維多利亞港的景色和諧並存。
Today, there are 2 cross-harbour routes, go between Tsim Sha Tsui and Central, Wan Chai. The ferry team now consist of 9 diesel-electric ferries. Each ferry has its name, which is named with the word “Star”. The oldest ferries still operating are the Meridian Star and the Solar Star, which start operating since 1958. Among the 9 ferries, 7 are in the color of white (upper body) and green (lower body). White stands for the sky and Green stand for the sea, which imply the meaning of harmony with the Victoria Harbour.

今日航線 (官方網站) The routes nowadays (Official website)

日星號 Solar Star

今天的我從灣仔出發前往尖沙咀碼頭！
Today, I started my jorney from the Star Ferry Pier Wan Chai!

等船的時候如有需要也有吃的喝的。
You may buy something to eat when waiting for the ferry

在碼頭等船的時候已能欣賞維多利亞港的景色！如果是晚上的話，會更美！
We can enjoy the view of the Victoria Harbour at the pier. It is much more beautiful at night!

有船了！
The ferry arrives!

我這次坐的是「曉星」！
This time, I was taking the Morning Star!

船艙是這樣的！
Here’s the cabin!

如果你打算拍照的話就要快點上船，因為兩邊的位置都很搶手！
If you want to take good photos you need to get the best seat in a hurry!

船上有足夠的救生設施
Life-saving equipment on the ferry

在船上拍下中環一帶的景色
The view of Central

剛好有一艘天星小輪經過，不知是那一艘呢？
There’re another ferry

這是尖沙咀文化中心，就是每年香港金象獎舉辦的地點了，附送一艘假帆船
The Hong Kong Cultural Centre. It’s the venue that the HK film awards is held.

到尖沙咀了
Tsim Sha Tsui we are coming!

香港島也開始遠去
Goodbye! Hong Kong Island!

要下船了
Time to get off the ferry

如果大家對這段旅程有興趣，其實天星小輪有一個「天星維港遊」服務，你可坐在船上一個小時時間，盡覽維港兩岸景色！
It you are interested in the journey, actually you may join the Star Ferry Harbour/Water Tour. In the 1 hour trip you may enjoy the beautiful view of the Victoria Harbour!

路線圖 (官方網站) The route (Official Website)

到達尖沙咀，我們就能看見香港著名的文化中心及鐘樓，還能盡情欣賞香港島的景色，不過這就是另一個故事了～
Arriving Tsim Sha Tsui, we may see the famous Hong Kong Clock Tower and the Hong Kong Cultural Centre, and we may take a look at the view of Hong Kong Island! Let me tell more in the next articles!

P.S. 碰巧我回程的時候也是坐天星小輪，就拍了一張香港島的夜景照，可惜當時身上沒有拍夜景的設備，拍得不好><
P.S. I took the ferry again when I went back home. And I took a night view photo of the Hong Kong Island. Unfortunately, I didn’t bring the equipment of night view photography. So bad!

謝謝你能抽空閱讀這篇文章，我平日喜歡分享香港的故事，希望大家多多支持，我會繼續努力！

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