Convention Avenue. Of all the huge buildings looming over Wan Chai’s harbourfront, the weirdest is the Convention and Exhibition Centre, whose curve-roofed CEC Extension resembles, more or less, a giant manta ray. The extension was where the British formally handed Hong Kong back to the Chinese in June 1997, and as such is worth a visit; otherwise, the building is of most interest for its architecture.

Two waterfront monuments here are usually swamped by mainland Chinese tourists.

Built in 1999 to commemorate the handover, the glum, gravestone-like Reunification Monument bears the signature of Chinese President Jiang Zemin, and stands in marked contrast to the cheerfully golden Forever Blooming Bauhinia Sculpture. The orchid-like bauhinia flower was adopted as the SAR’s regional emblem in 1997, its five petals appearing on Hong Kong’s red flag.

From the statues, a harbourfront promenade leads west all the way to the Star Ferry Pier in Central, though current redevelopment may necessitate detours. You can also catch a cross-harbour ferry (daily 7.30am-11pm; 10min; $2.20) to Tsim Sha Tsui from the Wan Chai Star Ferry Pier, just east of the Exhibition Centre.