Hong Kong's biggest eye-sore, a nasty concrete square as welcoming as a supermarket car park with the added joy of triad photo touts spitting in your face. Yes, spitting in your face: today a photo tout (one of about 10 gang members who've taken over the eastern side of the square) aggressively followed me and, when I asked him to stop blowing cigarette smoke at my kids, swore at me in Cantonese and spat in my face. I contacted police right away: they came and shrugged and said not much can be done. They didn't really believe my story. Besides, the unlicensed hawkers aren't really obstructing anyone, they said (it's a different tone when a hawker in a different part of the city is repairing bicycles or selling lavender, then they will be arrested and their carts confiscated: but violent triads often get a pass from patrol cops, a strange Hong Kong phenomenon). But really, even without this nasty incident, it's a one-star review for Bauhinia Square and the surrounding waterfront. The statue in the centre of the square is supposed to be the jewel in Hong Kong's crown, a golden gift from the Central Government bringing glory to Hong Kong on its return to the motherland. When protestors damaged the statue during 2019 unrest, the Global Times said the damage was "a direct attack on the rule of the Hong Kong government". So why, then, do we place this precious gift in the middle of an ugly broken-concrete wasteland run by triads? Is that supposed to be some kind of symbolic poem on Hong Kong autonomy, that the most violent corrupt groups are bequeathed the best land? From a walkability perspective, forget it. This is a prime harbourfront spot, yet getting there on foot is a painful slog, with several dual-carriageways to be crossed (the whole area was recently built yet designed like a Formula 1 racetrack, with utmost priority given to cars and pedestrians ignored). But the biggest crime, from a planning perspective, is the lack of connection to the Convention Centre. There are doors connecting, but they are always locked. So if you're at a show, trade fair or exhibition, and fancy a quick walk along the harbour, it's a long detour. Most people wouldn't be bothered. Similarly if you're on the harbour, you'd have no idea of what's going on just yards away in the exhibition halls: maybe a pet fair or tourism exhibition or something like Art Basel or the Affordable Art Fair: from the harbour side or Bauhinia Square you'd have not a single clue this was going on as there's no physical link and no signs, boards or advertisements depicting events. Bottom line: the aggressive touts, the busloads of bored tourists, the stinking air from the idling diesel buses and the smoking touts (in the non-smoking square), plus the lack of access to the Convention Centre, make this a very grim place indeed, particularly in the summer months where the lack of shade turns it into a hellhole desert.

Due to easy parking, this large flower statue has gradually become a must-see for tour groups in Hong Kong. Actually there is not much happening and even the locals are not fond of it. The view of Victoria Harbour is more appealing.