The Hong Kong Museum of History is a fantastic public institution in Tsim Sha Tsui East, Kowloon,…read moreright next to the Hong Kong Science Museum. They currently have a captivating special exhibition called The Hong Kong Jockey Club Series: Prosperity and Magnificence (Civilisation of the Sui and Tang Dynasties in Shaanxi Province). Alongside it, they are showcasing their newly revamped permanent exhibition, the "Hong Kong Story". We honestly couldn't believe that admission is completely free! It is absolutely worth a visit! The experience was incredibly educational for my daughters, helping them gain a deep understanding of Hong Kong's history and its various periods of development. At the same time, walking through the exhibits provided a wonderful trip down memory lane for me, bringing back old memories of growing up in Hong Kong. I was actually surprised to learn that many of my local friends had never visited this place. After I highly recommended it to them, they all went and thoroughly enjoyed it. We spent about two hours exploring the galleries, and it's clear the curators put an immense amount of effort into the displays. I highly recommend this museum to both locals and tourists alike!

What a great experience, I hey have done this well! The exhibitions are modern and engaging. The…read morestaff are courteous and friendly. You can spend hours here learning about all the history.

One of my children wanted to go here, so we did. My general thoughts:…read more- It's small. Only 3 floors, and a lot of written content. Not a lot of interactive content. - Most of the medical content is early high school level science - Some of the content that compares "western" and "eastern" science was interesting - The history of the building and the old medical equipment was probably the most interesting to me - for only $50 HKD to cover the entire family, it's not a big investment I like science, so it was mildly interesting. But it's not for everyone.

I'm an American expat who lives in this neighborhood. I am a little embarrassed to admit that I…read moream only now visiting this museum. My expectation was kind of a 3 going in, but definitely a solid 4 coming out. What makes this place a 4 on Yelp? 1) Although most likely only for a limited time, they have a special exhibition of "3D Human Body." Totally kid friendly and educational. Mostly all things in print on the walls (pictures and words), but interesting none the less. The exhibition ends with a small area that showcases the SARS outbreak of 2003 and how it was identified and eradicated. Kind of interesting as an outsider who was aware when this happened, but knew the global reach this had. 2) Dating back to 1906 as the Government Bacteriological Institute, how great to see an old building that has not been knocked down to build a residential complex. 3) Plague, SARS, bacterias, infectious diseases, epidemics, sanitation issues,...kind of gross, but also like a car wreck...you don't want to look, but you have to! The history or these kinds of outbreaks here in Hong Kong (actually right in this neighborhood!) over the last 100+ years is outlined and showcased here at this facility, where they once were focusing on research, public health improvements, medical advances, etc. 4) Zhang Yanzi is an artist who is from mainland China (represented by Ora-Ora gallery) who was on special display during my visit. Very cool, merging art and medicine, really great contemporary art that is a good fit on topic and size for the space of the museum. Kind of neat to have the old and the new of this museum merged under the same roof. 5) From the top floor to the basement, they have loads of old school medical equipment on display. From an operation table from 100 years ago to the original lab table they used, it is kind of cool that all this stuff was preserved. 6) This is not your average museum. It is small compared to many and definitely a unique topic, but really kind of cool. There are only around 30 medical museums on the planet. How cool that there is one right here in HK! For $20HKD per adult, you will learn something new. I did not expect to find this all so interesting, but I did.

I've visited this exhibit twice in my life now (more than a decade apart) and would go back with…read moreothers who want to learn more about Dr. Sun Yat Sen. The location is sort of difficult to reach as it is high up the hill especially if you have mobility issues or other restrictions that prevent walking easily. There is basically no other way to get here but by foot (of course after being either dropped off by taxi nearby or from the MTR Station at Central). The location used to be a mansion owned by a dear friend of Dr. Sun Yat Sen but had been bought and renovated to be a place of history dedicated to and in the memory of the father of China. The exhibit is staffed well by very knowledgeable personnel who are able to answer any questions you may have during your self-guided tour. The building spans a few floors and there is an elevator inside as well as the stairs so you can explore at your own pace. It is well air-conditioned and there is so much to learn about Dr. Sun Yat Sen's life from his very beginning as a child to how he became a doctor and a political leader, and to his death. If you're a history buff, I think it is a well-rounded and enjoyable experience. There is a video room that takes roughly 20 minutes to watch and has a handful of seats which is great to take a rest at before heading back on the streets. There are also well-maintained restrooms on the ground floor. Best of all, this remains free to the public. No photo or video is allowed inside the property.

The museum in my opinion was "so-so" as it pertains to the historical information and installation…read moreregarding Dr. Sun Yat-Sen. Mostly photographs and informational displays with stories and words (probably not as good as other museum installations I have seen on Dr. Sun Yat-Sen in Taiwan or elsewhere), plus a few items of clothing, a short video and such. The Dr. Sun Yat-Sen installation is on the top floor. The restored building dating back to 1914 that houses the museum was really quite special. I am glad when I see Hong Kong or private entity saves historic buildings like this. It is a former residence that is a blend of Chinese and Western architectural styles. They show a 10 minute video on the restoration that was involved. It really is a beautiful building and for $10HKD, worth a pop into see.

I have to admitted... I loved this museum. I went to the museum with my 4 year old and we had a…read moreblast! We spent over 3 hours having fun. We went on a Thursday morning and there was a large group of school kids touring the museum. They were very organized and polite. We did not mind, we appreciated the interaction with other kids. The museum has multiple floors and manny exhibits. Some of our favorites was the electricity exhibit, telecommunications and home technology. However, the 3 floor exhibit is specially built for young children. They have a large construction site role play where kids build houses or buildings.They use foam walls and pretend cranes. It has a capacity of 25 kids and they limit the amount of time each kid spends playing in this exhibit; rewardless, this was my daughters' favorite exhibit. Do not miss this museum specially if you have children, they will love it. If you go on Wednesdays, cover charge is free.

If I were a child, I'd gladly come here. But alas, I am not…read more Being an adult doesn't allow you to play with the attractions due to the amount of children in the vicinity. It's neat to learn about things when you read them and interact with them, but there are just way too many children running around and pushing for a turn at a driving simulator. You would think the Science museum would be much more fun than the History museum, but I guess being an adult changes your mind set. Other than that, it's neat to walk through at least. There's a "World or Mirrors" which encompasses a bunch of mirrors and some illusions, there are some photos of Hong Kong, simulators, and other neat science experiment-like stuff. Come on Wednesdays for free!

This was actually the first time I visited this, and while I may have know about it when I was last…read morehere, something like 10 years ago, I never got around to visiting it. It is pretty cool though, and there are two main rooms, one that deals with space flight, and the idea of going to Mars (which will be difficult since Mars doesn't have a magnetic field so the whole idea of terraforming it is a pipe dream) is there, as well as a lot of information on Chinese space exploration. The other room deals with the solar system. It is pretty much just lots of fancy displays, and some interesting science things (such as how heavy a 1kg block is on different planets). They also have shows, but they cost extra.

We're in Hong Kong visiting and decided to come here to visit the Hong Kong Space museum. For $10…read moreHKD admission fee it was definitely worth a visit. My boys had a great time exploring and so much to see and do. It's nice and cool inside on this humid hot summer day here. You get to learn so much about the space well, hence the name space museum. I highly recommend this place for the amount of money and education. My kids had a great time!

M+ located in West Kowloon is a contemporary modern art museum where you can easily spend half a…read moreday there admiring all the works. I am no expert in contemporary art but the space, exhibitions, and museum building provides a unique and neat experience to check out if you want to explore and see a different side of Hong Kong. Moreover, you get great views of Hong Kong Island from M+ as well. You are able to purchase tickets at the museum and the exhibitions are clearly labeled with both Chinese and English explanations. Some of the works are pretty neat and thought provoking, challenging society's norms. The entire M+ building architecturally beautiful to look at and be in as well. It makes for a great unique experience. The museum also has temporary exhibitions as well that change time to time - so interesting to see. Overall, a must visit if you love art and architecture. A great way to spend an afternoon!

M+ Pavilion / West Kowloon (Hong Kong) -- It's not every day that you can visit a world-class…read moremuseum that's also a political lightning rod. Open just three years ago, the space is as modern and expansive as you would expect it to be with 33 galleries spread over 700,000 square feet. Jamie W and I decided to come here after seeing several young vloggers praise its architecture and collection. The art on display is specifically from the 20th and 21st centuries. Don't expect ancient artifacts here. We had the foresight to buy the Special Exhibition Dual Passes for HK$240 each well in advance. This allowed us entry to the popular museum on a pre-selected day within a certain timeframe. It included access to two special exhibitions, an overview of the work of revered architect I.M. Pei called 'Life Is Architecture', and the stylized work of trendsetting fashion designer Guo Pei called 'Fashioning Imagination'. They're not related. However, both figures reflect vast imaginations translated into stunning designs. Coincidentally, I had seen Guo Pei's meticulously ornate gowns at the Legion of Honor in San Francisco two years ago, but this was a nicely condensed version of that collection. I.M. Pei's work turned out to be a vast display of buildings and structures well beyond the glass pyramid at the Louvre. Especially interesting was archival video where the architect shared his approach and philosophy. The other galleries showcase contemporary Chinese art with some pieces quite revolutionary in their messaging. Even before it opened, the museum has been under scrutiny from Beijing with the pending threat of censorship from the Communist Party. Due to its unique administrative status, Hong Kong has managed thus far to maneuver the treacherous political waters to create a museum comparable to the Tate Modern and MoMA. Who knows how long it will last? RELATED - Exploring Hong Kong? Here's my collection of places I've visited and reviewed: https://bit.ly/3AGgadg

What's better than finding a museum to visit on a rainy day? Finding a FREE museum to visit!…read more The Hong Kong Museum of Art was the perfect place to escape the rain, with multiple floors of both permanent and rotating art exhibits. The museum contains a wide variety of styles, from modern art installations to 17th century Cantonese porcelain. Our favorite exhibit was the calligraphy display. Every room and floor had multiple staff members for security and to answer any questions. Once we had had our fill of the incredible pieces, we enjoyed the harbor views at the back of the building. Definitely worth your time when you're in HK!

The HK Museum of Art is one of the best museums to visit. It has a good size collection of classic…read moreand modern art. We especially loved the representation from local artist, amazing pieces capturing the history and richness of Hong Kong's past. The exhibits were well laid out and not overwhelming and offered a distinct and engaging experience. We also found out that the museums in HK are totally free thanks to an endowment. We would have paid for admissions tickets but it's really nice that they make art free for all. The next time you're in HK in the TST area, I highly recommend paying a stop at the Museum of Art.

The HK Maritime Museum is surprisingly large with great models and a few genuine artifacts that…read moreexplain the changing history of China navigation. It covers three large floors and is beautifully organized. There are only a handful of interactive exhibits. The interactive ship bridge simulator appears to be a stand out. Make sure it is open when you go and make a reservation early.

Although contemporary art is more my cup of tea when it comes to a museum, I enjoyed my time today…read moreat the Maritime Museum. If the maritime history of region, Victoria Harbor and boats are your thing, you will then love this museum. Focused on every aspect of the maritime theme in Hong Kong and the region, this museum extensively tells its story via several floors of fine art, cermics, ship models (there are a lot of ship models!), interactive displays and 21st century technologies. They did a good job with this musuem, from the narrative to the installation. It is very well laid out and the material is extensive. There was also an additional installation that appeared to be free to the public if you only went to this section and did not go to the Maritime Museum called something like 150 Years of Hong Kong History...or something like that. It was sponsored by HSBC and was a worthy bonus to our visit to the museum. It is specific to Hong Kong and how it has evolved on my fronts over many years. If you go to the Maritime Museum, half the interesting part is walking out to Pier 8, seeing the water, seeing the Hong Kong skyline (there are some phenomenal views out on that pier and also from inside the museum!), seeing the ferris wheel, seeing the small shops along the way to the museum that are on the pier. So if you are looking for something to do, this is kind of a good walk and lots to see even before you get to the museum.

During Art Basel 2016, I discovered Asia Art Archive (AAA). Art is not my vocation, but my…read moreobsession. I enjoy seeking it out, discovering it, researching it, reading it, observing it, living it. With the lack of great contemporary museums in Hong Kong outside the gallery environment, I knew Asia Art Archive would be interesting to me, I just wanted to see it and understand what it was all about. AAA is an independent non-profit organization initiated in 2000 in response to the urgent need to document and make accessible the multiple recent histories of art in the region. They seek to preserve the history of art in the region? A big undertaking. And they are not a museum that the general public more easily "gets", an even bigger undertaking. When I arrived, you have to ring the doorbell and somebody will buzz you in. You can stow your stuff if need be in a locker (no cost) right at the door. Someone welcomed me, had me register my contact info on their I-Pad and then I was given the nickle tour of their space. WOW! It is like a tiny resource room bursting at the seams, but horrendously organized, neat and full of light you would expect to find in the back sections of the MOMA NYC. From places, to people, to events...they are archiving all elements of art and art history of the region via curatorial studies, reference materials, books, magazines, biennial catalogs, museum catalogs, film, etc. In print form and in their on-line archive you can access from home, you will find information on Ai Wei Wei to Indian art, from sculpture to international pop, from gallery guides to journals on contemporary art, from books from the Guggenheim to On Kawara, from all hard copy Art Forum magazines from Jan 06 to now to all Art China magazines fom May 07 until now. Very organized, bursting at the seams and all tucked up on the 11th floor of a building in Sheung Wan. Open to the public and at no cost to stop in. Some stuff in Chinese only and most items in English. Be quiet though...it is a contemplative, study space. They had a small installation up as well by the artist Shilpa Gupta titled "That photo we never got." AAA has outgrown their space and funds are limited. I was advised this is their second home since AAA started. They are limited on staff to transcribe materials into English. Although a well run operation and a great interest in their cause, like many non-profits, limited funds often shape outcomes. Posted near their front door there is a silver sign showing their donors. A great homage to the saying that you never know what a small group of like minding people can accomplish when they put their minds...and their wallets..to something. I think AAA is amazing and although I am not an art student writing a paper, nor a MFA student working on my thesis or even a gallerist doing some research, this space is the best I have found to having that feeling of being surrounded by great contemporary art since moving to Hong Kong in 2015. This place surrounds me in great art in the form of the print materials. I will be back often and simply enjoy the space, contemplate, study and explore.

This is now the second time that I have been to the Asia Society Hong Kong Center. I subscribe to…read moretheir e-mail info and they send out all the great news about upcoming exhibitions, installations, events, workshops, cultural movies, etc. that they have going on at the Asia Society Hong Kong Center. Located across the road from the Conrad hotel and around the bend from the British Consulate (or at least I think that is what that is), this is a great place to check out. The front desk staff has been super welcoming and friendly on my two visits and I was impressed with the art exhibitions we were able to see both times (Yoshitomo Nara and Bat Cave). The exhibition space is not large, so don't have the expectation that it is large like a multi-level museum. It is more like a one wing, one floor of a museum in size. Both exhibitions were also reasonably priced. The Bat Cave I saw today was $30HKD. This place not only showcases art, but has events, has a restaurant, has a history being a fortress of amunition back in the day, is an architecturally cool building to wander around, has feature films from time-to-time and also has a little gift shop. This is kind of a happening place!

Asia Society Center is definitely one of the rare successful cases in building conservation in Hong…read moreKong, a secluded sanctuary. Formerly being Victoria Barracks and Explosives Magazine that dates back to 1843, it is a Grade 1 Heritage site (highest) and was revitalized by the renowned Tod Williams & Billie Tsien Architects from New York. Exterior of the old military structures are mostly recovered, with minor alternations to improve weather tightness and allow air-conditioning. They are given a new use inside, housing exhibition spaces, lecture /theatre hall, etc. All new additions are less than three floors (you don't need to climb stairs that exhaust you), keeping the original horizontality of the place. You can see rail tracks in brown brass colour inscribed into the outdoor ground, which are the remains from the old magazine, for ease of transportation of the ammunitions by carts over rails. The green and grey tones of the stone used for the new building exudes a calming, almost meditative quality to the space. Connectivity between the scattered barracks and storage huts is enhanced by covered walkways echoing the 'heritage rail tracks', and especially by the newly added double-deck walkway, tying in the whole complex, the low and high block, the new and the old. Strolling through the building is like meandering through a series of routes with both permanent and temporarily installed artworks strategically placed along the way, reminding me of the experience of passing through a Suzhou Garden. I wonder if it is part of the inspiration for the designer? I particularly love the treatment of the upper deck of the walkway, where there is a lowered strip of bench seating along the edge. This allows you to stop anywhere along the way, and have a seat to savor in the view down at admiralty and even out to the sea over some of the rooftops. For the Center you can enter mostly for free except for some periodic special exhibitions (though I mostly go there for walks to enjoy the building itself instead), and if you feel like a drink, there is Ammo, a small yet refined bistro in the new block. (A stunner in interior design! For which I would have a separate review.) ( A little side note: Tod Williams & Billie Tsien Architects is the firm who designed the American Folk Art Museum in New York City right next to MOMA which, sadly, is to be demolished and make way for an extension of the MOMA, designed by Diller Scofidio + Renfro (DS+R) who's the designer behind the vibrant Highline Park in NYC. The decision is such a pity, even though I have much respect for DS+R as well... )