Golden Bauhinia Square

 

Facts to Know About the Golden Bauhinia Square

Chinese Name: 金紫荆广场 Pronunciation: Jīnzǐjīng Guăngchăng

Building Time: 1997

Opening Hours: 24 Hours

Suggested Visiting Hours: 1 Hour

Admission Ticket Fare: Free of Charge

Best Visiting Time: October-March of the following year

Address: No.1 Expo Drive, Wan Chai, Hong Kong Island, China

Function: That the government built the Golden Bauhinia Square is to celebrate the handover of Hongkong to China after 150 years of British rule.     

 

Flag-raising Ceremony Time

On normal days: 7:50—8:13
1st, 11th, and 21st of each month: 7:45—8:13

 

Popular Activities

A flag-raising ceremony is held every day at 8:00 am.

People watch the performance of ‘A Symphony of Lights’ at night.

People Enjoy the sightseeing of Victoria Habour.

 

Overview of the Golden Bauhinia Square

The Golden Bauhinia Square is located in the Expo Promenade beside Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Center. The sculpture – the Forever Blooming Bauhinia Sculpture, stands on the Golden Bauhinia Square. The Golden Bauhinia Square was set up to celebrate the handover of Hong Kong to China. It is surrounded on three sides by the Victoria Harbour, and in the face of Tsim Sha Tsui on the opposite bank. The site is of great significance and historical importance to Hong Kong.   
 

On July 1, 1997, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China was established. The Central People’s Government presented a bronze statue of a golden bauhinia to Hong Kong as a gift. The bronze statue was placed next to the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Center, facing the sea. This square was then named Golden Bauhinia Square at that time. The sculpture, 6-meter-high bronze statue, is officially called “the Forever Blooming Bauhinia Sculpture”, which means Hong Kong will always be prosperous. The Chinese national flag and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Regional flag have been fluttering in the Golden Bauhinia Square since that time.
 

The Forever Blooming Bauhinia Sculpture and the monument for “the Return of Hong Kong to China” stand together in the Golden Bauhinia Square beside the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Center in Wan Chai. The Square witnessed the return of Hong Kong in 1997. Flag raising and lowering ceremonies are held daily in the square. This is also the best viewing point to appreciate the “Symphony of Lights”.

 

Must-visit Highlights at the Golden Bauhinia Square

Golden Bauhinia Sculpture

The bronze sculpture of a golden bauhinia flower is 6 meters high. In terms of design, the golden bauhinia is located on a warm red granite base. The shape of the base is designed with a square city wall, which represents the Great Wall of China. The seat is square at the bottom and round at the top, which means China’s land. The bauhinia represents Hong Kong. The whole design symbolizes that Hong Kong is located within China’s territory, and Hong Kong is a part of China.
 

Flag-raising Ceremony

The flag-raising ceremony is held at 8am every day. On the 1st, 11th, and 21st of each month, 15 police officers in formal uniforms, including ten gun team members, flag-raisers, and police band members, will perform the flag-raising ceremony. The Police Silver Band will play the National Anthem during the flag-raising ceremony. After the flag-raising ceremony, the Police Bagpipe Team will play other music for about 10 minutes.
 

A grand flag-raising ceremony will be held here on the anniversary of establishing the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region on July 1 and National Day on October 1 every year. The Chief Executive of the Special Administrative Region leads the government officials to attend the ceremony. Fireboats will also perform water spray performances, attracting many citizens and tourists to come to watch.
 

The Police Force has adopted new arrangements for the flag-raising ceremony at the Golden Bauhinia Square. It is expected that the ceremony will become one of the many tourism projects that attract local citizens and tourists.
 

The procedures for the flag-raising ceremony are as follows:

The Police Silver Band comes in Golden Bauhinia Square at 7:45 am.

The flag-raising team enters the square at 7:50 am.

Playing the National Anthem and raising the flag at 8:00 am.

The flag-raising ceremony is over at 8:02 am, and the flag-raising team and the Police Silver Band leave.

The Police Bagpipe Team enters the venue at 8:03 am and plays music for about ten minutes.

The Police Bagpipe Team leaves the square at 8:13 am.
 

The Reunification Monument

The Monument for Commemoration of the Return of Hong Kong to China is at the Golden Bauhinia Square corner. The monument is about 20 meters high and 16 meters wide. It consists of three parts: the stone foundation, the column, and the column head. The stone foundation and the column are made of solid and durable granite while the column head is made of turquoise wrought copper. The front of the column is engraved with the inscription of the former President Jiang Zemin. The white ring on the top of the monument symbolizes China’s sovereignty over Hongkong, while the 50 rings above represent that the way of life of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region will remain unchanged for 50 years.
 

The monument is formed by 206 pieces of stacked slabs, every slab representing one year from 1842 to 2047. Among them, 6 round pieces are made of light-colored granite, representing the years of 1842, 1860, 1898, 1982, 1984, and 1990. The only slab with built-in light ring represents the year 1997, which marks the official return of Hong Kong to China in 1997.
 

Waterfront Promenade

There is a seaside promenade near the square, where visitors can stroll freely and enjoy the scenery on both sides of the Victoria Harbour. It is about 400-meter-long. There are thousands of handprints for visitors to sign on the promenade. The promenade also has seventy triangular light boxes for lighting in four-meter height. The light boxes are set on a one-kilometer-long route, sometimes crossing the walking path, sometimes through the grass, and extending to the promenade's entrance, forming a unique lighting corridor, which is very beautiful.

 

You Can Travel in This Order

Get to the Golden Bauhinia Square → Golden Bauhinia Sculpture → The Reunification Monument → Waterfront Promenade

 

How to Get to Golden Bauhinia Square

By Ferry

Take the Star Ferry to Wan Chai at the Star Ferry Pier in Tsim Sha Tsui, disembark and walk 2-3 minutes along with the road signs.
 

By Bus

Take Bus 961, 961P and get off at Wan Chai (HKCECE) Bus Terminus Station. The Golden Bauhinia Square is on the west.

Take Bus 15B and get off at Wan Chai Station.

Take Bus H1, H1A, H2 and get off at the Golden Bauhinia Square, Expo Dr East Station.
 

By Subway

Take the MTR Island Line to Wan Chai Station, walk out from Exit A1. It’s about 10 minutes’ walk to the Golden Bauhinia Square.

Note: The Golden Bauhinia Square is a landmark in Hong Kong. It is easy to find and get there.