The Bank of China office is located in one of the famous skyscrapers in the centre of Hong Kong, on Garden Road. The tower serves as the headquarters of the Bank of China.
For the period from 1989 to 1992, it was the tallest building in Hong Kong and Asia and the first structure outside the United States to be over 305 metres tall. Today, the tower is the fourth tallest skyscraper in Hong Kong, after the International Commerce Centre, the International Finance Centre and Central Plaza. The structure, together with its two masts, reaches 367.4 metres in height.
The 72-storey complex is located in close proximity to the central MTR station. The building has two observation decks, one is located on the 43rd floor and is open to the public, the other is located on the 70th floor and is accessible by appointment only.
Architectural expressionism is the main style of this building, making it look like a bamboo sprout, which in China is a symbol of prosperity and life. The entire structure is supported by four steel columns at the corners of the building, flanked by triangular frames. The outer walls are clad in strong glass and are not load-bearing elements.
Although the tower's exterior makes it one of Hong Kong's most recognisable landmarks, it was once a source of heated controversy. The building was harshly criticised by some feng shui experts because of its sharp edges and the negative symbolism of the intersecting "X" shaped lines in the design. Also, the building's profile from some angles resembles a cleaver, earning it the nickname "Yi Ba Dao" which literally means "one knife" in Chinese.
The Bank of China Tower has served as the setting for several epic sci-fi films, including the Star Trek series and an episode of Transformers.
