Hong Kong Convention and Exhibit Centre (HKCEC)
1 Expo Drive, Wan Chai, Hong Kong, Hong Kong
With its sinuous, undulating roof and glass frontage, the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC pulls focus even amid Hong Kong Island’s dramatic skyline. A landmark in its own right, it’s home to a number of restaurants, including Golden Bauhinia, a popular spot for watching the nightly light show over Victoria Harbour.
The basics
One of two major convention centers in Hong Kong, many of HKCEC’s events are reserved for professionals in the relevant industry, and most of the rest are more interesting to Hong Kong residents than to visitors. However, the HKCEC usually hosts the Art Basel Hong Kong exhibition in March, which draws connoisseurs from around the region for a feast of modern art. Many travelers will admire HKCEC from the water, on a Victoria Harbour cruise—by day, by night, with dinner, or, especially, during the Symphony of Lights light show.
Things to know before you go
- Golden Bauhinia Square, in front of HKCEC, is a great spot to watch the Symphony of Lights show play over Victoria Harbour and Kowloon.
- HKCEC offers free, fast Wi-Fi for visitors.
- Built in 1997, the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre is tailored to the needs of visitors with disabilities. Lifts, ramps, and adapted toilets simplify life for travelers who use wheelchairs, while the information counters have braille directories and teleloop systems.
How to get there
The Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre sits on the waterfront in Wan Chai on Hong Kong Island, facing Tsim Sha Tsui across Victoria Harbour. It’s less than a 10-minute walk from the Wan Chai MTR station (Island Line) or the Wan Chai ferry pier.
When to get there
Unless there’s a special exhibition on, most travelers see HKCEC from a cruise (or the Tsim Sha Tsui waterfront). It’s at its best during the Symphony of Lights show at 8pm nightly.
The Don’t-Miss Sights of Hong Kong Island’s Skyline
Whether by Star Ferry or on a more luxurious boat, a Victoria Harbour cruise showcases Hong Kong Island’s iconic skyline. Alongside the low-rise HKCEC, the Bank of China Tower, designed by I.M. Pei, ascends in layers of prisms that gradually shrink until only two slender antennae remain; 78-story Central Plaza is topped by a neon rod that changes color at night; the HSBC Main Building, designed by Norman Foster, wears its supporting structure like a robot exoskeleton.
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