4 Museums To Learn About Hong Kong's History & Culture

Touring with an experienced tour guide, walking around local markets, and checking out ancient temples are undoubtedly the best ways to learn more about Hong Kong. Nevertheless, as museum lovers, we believe visiting museums is a great (and easy!) way to complement and deepen your understanding of the different sides of a city's culture. In this blog, we will recommend 4 museums that should be bookmarked in your Hong Kong itinerary.

1. Hong Kong Heritage Museum

With more than 7500 square meters of exhibition space, this is one of the biggest museums in Hong Kong. There are 12 exhibition galleries showcasing the diversity of Hong Kong's heritage, from history to culture and arts. The main crowd-puller is the exhibition about Bruce Lee (A Man Beyond the Ordinary: Bruce Lee), whose life and career were closely tied to Hong Kong. For those interested in diving deeper into Hong Kong's pop culture, martial arts literature, and even Cantonese Opera, the Hong Kong Heritage Museum is the must-visit!

Image Source: Hong Kong Tourism Board

Address: 1 Man Lam Road, Sha Tin, Hong Kong

Webpage: https://hk.heritage.museum/en/web/hm/highlights.html

Opening Hours:

Monday, Wednesday to Friday: 10am-6pm
Tuesday: Closed
Saturday, Sunday & public holidays: 10am-7pm

2. Tai Kwun (Central Police Station)

For many, Tai Kwun is more like a place with modern restaurants and art galleries (which it's rightfully understood as we have also spent a fair share of time drinking in the Parade Ground!). However, as the heritage sites of the former Central Police Station, Central Magistracy, and Victoria Prison, we think Tai Kwun is a great place to learn more about the development and transitions of Hong Kong's legal, judiciary, and penal system in its colonial times.

Image Source: GCTN

Address: 10 Hollywood Road, Central, Hong Kong

Webpage: https://www.taikwun.hk/en/

Opening Hours:

Monday to Sunday: 8am-11pm

3. Hong Kong Maritime Museum

Hong Kong's development is closely tied to its relationship to the sea. Located on the central side of Victoria Harbour, the Hong Kong Maritime Museum is the perfect place to learn more about Hong Kong and China's rich maritime history. From the evolution of Hong Kong as a little fish village to a bustling trading hub, to the China-West naval trade, to pirates in the South China Sea, the museum has something to offer anyone wishing to learn more about the region's relationship to the sea.

Image Source: HKgov

Address: Central Pier No. 8, Hong Kong

Webpage: https://www.hkmaritimemuseum.org/

Opening Hours:

Monday to Friday: 9:30am-5:30pm
Saturday, Sunday and Public Holidays: 10am-7pm

4. Heritage of Mei Ho House

This is a lesser-known one, as it's a relatively small museum run privately by the YHA youth hostel attached to it. Yet, the museum is worth visiting if you want to learn more about the history and development of public housing in Hong Kong. Mei Ho House is a historical building as it's the last remaining H-shaped resettlement block built by the government after the Shek Kip Mei Fire (1953). Our favorite thing about the museum is its immersive exhibition showcasing the history and lives of Hong Kong's grassroots in the 50s to 70s.