On July 1, 1997, the Central Government of China presented a stunningly gilded bauhinia statue to Hong Kong. They placed the statue near the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre in front of the scenic Wan Chai waterfront. From then on, it is known as the Golden Bauhinia Square. A flag-raising ceremony is held every day at 8:00 in the morning. It is considered a tourist attraction. It is a must visit since the place is drenched in Hong Kong’s history.
photo by enqvist lau
1. The Monument and the tablets
The Monument in Commemoration of the Return of Hong Kong to China stands in a corner of the square. The said monument is twenty meters high and was formed with a 206 overlapping stone tablets, making it special and a one-of-a-kind statue. Each tablet stands for a year during the time of 1842 until the year of 2047. Six of the tablets have a symmetrical round shape that is made with wonderfully colored granite. They represent the six of the most important years in the history of Hong Kong. The watershed year of 1997 was marked with an extraordinary aura. Upon closer inspection, you can see nine glittering Chinese characters inscribed by the former chairman of the Central Government on the monument’s body. The rings on the top of the monument are a symbol of Hong Kong’s return to China. There are fifty rings, meaning, a way of life that Hong Kong shall remain unchanged for fifty years.
2. Flag raising ceremony
The official daily flag raising ceremony at the Golden Bauhinia Square is held outside the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre and is conducted by the Hong Kong Police Force. There are three kinds of ceremony. First, the Daily Flag Raising Ceremony, which is held every day, except for the 1st day of the month. During the daily ceremony, regular attire and the playing of national anthem are included. Second is the Enhanced Flag Raising, which is held during the 1st day of the month except for the month of July and October. Lastly, the Special Flag Raising Ceremony, celebrated on the 1st day of July and October.
Every year since 2008 on the second Sunday of each month, the flag raising ceremony is conducted by different local youth uniformed groups of UGs. They conduct the ceremony without a band performance.
3. The Victoria Harbor
As a Hong Kong landmark, the Golden Bauhinia Square is constantly visited by the locals and tourists alike. It is certainly a great place to watch the performance of the breathtaking “Symphony of Lights” at night since there is a 400-meter long promenade in the area that offers the view of the Victoria Harbor.
Visiting Hong Kong, there are probably many places you wish to visit including Ocean Park and Disneyland but try to drop by at Golden Bauhinia Square to get inspired with Hong Kong’s history and to enjoy the captivating view of the Victoria Harbor.