Being one of the two special administrative districts of China, Hong Kong still exercises a high degree of autonomy except in areas of military and defence. Therefore, having a separate economy from mainland China, Hong Kong has the distinction of being one of the Asian dragons for maintaining an exceptionally high economic growth rate. As a result of its economic success, the region became an internationally important financial centre. Therefore, it is no surprise that the Hong Kong skyline is dotted with many skyscrapers most of which are instrumental in the region’s financial network.
The Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre found in Wan Chai North is one such iconic landmark and has the distinction of being one of the two main exhibition venues on the island. It is also known globally and has received the Best Convention and Exhibition Centre in Asia Award a stunning nine times. The HKCEC overlooks the Victoria Harbour and is majestic in design; when viewed from the harbour, it resembles a sea bird in flight perhaps symbolic of Hong Kong’s soaring economic success.
The Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre can be accessed from the Harbour Road and is linked to other buildings and hotels through walkways as well making visiting the centre a convenient task. Historically, this location is of tremendous importance for it is the place where the administration of the island was officially handed over to China by the British Crown.
As a result, this location known as the Golden Bauhinia Square is visited by tourists to capture the Reunification Monument that inscribes the events that took place at the Handover Ceremony. The square derives its name from the region’s emblem, which is the Bauhinia flower and this historically significant moment is celebrated with the Forever Blooming Bauhinia Sculpture outside the HKCEC.
Travellers wishing to witness the symbolic Flag Raising Ceremony should make their way to Golden Bauhinia Square on Expo Drive before 7.30am. There are two types of ceremonies depending on the day of the month. On the first of every month, the ceremony is conducted by police officers who are accompanied by a rifle unit as well as the police band in a more celebratory fashion whereas on the other days the ceremony is conducted only by the police officers.
It is definitely a sight to see and worth a visit if you are staying at a Hong Kong hotel in the general area as it is a daily ceremony. Opting to stay at Cosmopolitan Hotel Hong Kong provides you with the convenience of accessing the square with ease and this Wan Chai Hotel Hong Kong is guaranteed to make your stay in the region a truly comfortable and luxurious one.
