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!

An outstanding historical and culinary experience in Hong Kong!!! If you have some history here and…read moreenjoy seeing it presented well - you've got to drop in here. The museum is very well done and the coffee shop is one of the best I've visit in all of HK!!!!

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!

Another historical site revitalized/remodeled into an artsy area! Formerly a slaughterhouse, it is…read morenow an area for art studios, workshops, and galleries. Unfortunately I didn't see a clear map of where particular studios with exhibits vs private art studios were so it was kinda confusing just walking around. I still had a good time overall because the red bricks and green-accented windows make it a great backdrop of pics! There were also lots of posters for hands-on artsy classes such as ring-making and hair accessory-making workshops. I wish I had learned about these cool activities earlier on so I'd recommend doing some research and planning ahead.

The Cattle Depot used to be a few blocks away from where I lived. When it was still used as a…read moreslaughterhouse till the 90s, locals seldom walk pass that area and avoided it like a plague, because of the intense smell of pigs and cows emitting from within (people who frequented locations next to the old times KCRC railway tracks would know what I meant, same thing as when the livestock carts pass by, only that for the depot, the smell STAYS). Around the year millennium, it ceased operation finally, and was listed as grade 2 historical building by the Antiquities and Monument Office. It was revitalized (well, revitalization is a new term, there was no such terminology back then, simply - kept and reused) as an Artist Village, aimed at providing studio space for the artists expelled from Oil Street Artist Village when the land was reclaimed by the government. During its early days as an Artist Village, it was managed like a private rental premise and wasn't opened for public visits, expect for the open day origanized for a few times, when the artists display their works like an exhibition. There was a guard at the gate, and back then architectural students had to reason quite a bit with the guard, showing student cards and all, to ask for permission to visit the place and take pictures for school projects, paper research etc. etc. (or sneak in when Mr. Guard was shirking somewhere). Coming to the present day, the depot outdoor area is finally open daily for free visits from 10 to 10. I'm truly glad about the change in policy and in the raised social awareness about historical sites in HK. It is most certainly beneficial for citizens to feel a sense of belonging when given more access to places of local history merits. One can't help but compare the Depot with recent revitalization-for-art projects like the PMQ in central (which I have a separate review) that generated much more buzz. The low-profile Depot had been repurposed for over 10 years but still seems to be lacking a 'business model' that can elevate it to the communal level, and explore its full potential in activating the district or the art-design scene. On the other side of the coin however, as it is not managed by a private group, it is less governed by commercial viability and the rent can remain low, for the benefit of artists to retain their independent stature.This give and take, how would you balance? More details about this heritage:- https://www.heritage.gov.hk/tc/conserve/cattleDepot.htm

My second review in Hong Kong happens to be another establishment concerning history through the…read moreeyes of artists, this time with an emphasis on music, film, and literature. If you are familiar with any of Hong Kong's offerings over the years, a visit to the Hong Kong Heritage Museum is a must. To get there, ride the MTR to Che Kung Temple station and take Exit A. It was a rainy weekday in mid-May when I visited. Clear signages showed the path towards the museum, a large, somewhat imposing orange and red-bricked building. The exhibit I wanted to check out first was "Timeless Diva - Anita Mui" which showcased a collection of records from the famed songstress, a number of which were autographed. Other items on display included a selection of her concert outfits, magazine covers, and a rotation of video clips showing her singing prowess, quick-witted banter, and diverse acting chops. At one point, an announcement was made for the opportunity to watch a documentary on Sam Hui. It turned out to be a delightful, self-narrated autobiography of the man's childhood days playing around Diamond Hill, the Hui brother's comedic endeavors, and the inner workings of his mind when composing songs. Did you know the opening of "半斤八兩" was inspired by Eagles' "One of These Nights"? After the movie, the large exhibition of music and film was next door. One recorded conversation on display worth mentioning was a talk regarding the current state of Hong Kong pop compared to that of K-pop, our current generation's obsession. As for the other parts of the museum, the "Jin Yong Gallery" consisted of all the wuxia author's literary works readily available to pick up and read as well as beautiful illustrations of the characters. Naturally, Bruce Lee's exhibit was magnetic and powerful, which included personal photographs throughout his life as well as his teachings. There was also an emphasis on 3D models of his likeness for an immersive experience. Didn't really impress me too much, but I did appreciate the intent. There was a lot to explore and plenty I probably missed by lingering too long on select areas. I spent a whole afternoon here and would gladly do it again.

If you're into pop culture, this is the museum to visit!! Honestly HK has so many museums, each…read morewith its own flavor, but this museum features topics/themes that people are more familiar with such as HK's entertainment industry history, Bruce Lee, Jin Yong's popular martial art stories, Cantonese opera, and others. As a museum nerd, I was drawn by a visiting exhibition on ancient Chinese women and their daily life (as most history records focus on men). Although tucked in the northern New Territories in Sha Tin area, this museum is actually accessible by 3 different MTR stations and other minibus/buses. It was actually so much bigger than I thought! Loved how everything had great descriptions (in both Chinese and English). Tickets are pretty cheap and definitely worth it because I could easily spend 2-3 hours here!

Hidden in the glass and concrete jungle of Hong Kong is this quaint little Victorian building…read moresafeguarding Hong Kong's avant garde treasures. The building itself is a photo opportunity as its unique round shape makes it look like a mini castle of relaxation, out of time and place in the hustle and bustle of Hong Kong. Inside, lies a quiet little art gallery. If you work in the area, I invite you to come in on your lunch break, relax, and enjoy a zen moment to refresh your mind before jumping back into the fray. Hong Kongers are often trapped in a perpetual grind. Due to crazy high real estate prices, people have to work a lot of overtime and multiple jobs to pay for a very tiny flat. Often, the higher paying jobs are on Hong Kong island while the low cost housing is far away in the new territories. Commuting 3 to 4 hours a day and working long hours results in a daily grind with zero free time. You come home after a long day at work, a long commute, crash onto your bed, then, as soon as you open your eyes, the grind starts all over again. Hong Kong is full of opportunities, but only for those creative and resourceful enough to get out of the grind. The fringe club is full of that creative vibe. For example, I went to a performance there by a musical group, "Western District", which is not a performance of catchy tunes you can listen to on your commute for the daily grind. It is, rather, a musical workshop where the musicians are experimenting and testing the boundaries of just exactly what is music. What is a piano? What is the boundary between melody and cacophany? How do you play a piano? Their experimentive spirit, your discussion with the artists and other patrons during the intermission just might be that creative spark that starts your fire that eventually burns down your daily grind. You must challenge what is, in order to build what will be. P.S. Honestly, I really didn't "get it" and, thus, didn't enjoy my experience at The Fringe Club. I enjoy old world craftsmanship such as Renaissance art or Ming Dynasty Imperial porcelain. I don't "get" abstract art such as Kandinsky. I enjoy listening to Mozart or Chopin played by a pianist who has slaved for years to perfect his/her performance. I don't "get" the group, Western District, which performed abstract "music" such as a German guy reciting German poetry whilst an Opera singer alternately sang and whimpered like a puppy with a pianist playing randomly by pounding on the piano with a shower curtain rod. However, everyone else there seemed to really enjoy themselves. Their performance was packed with people paying 180 HKD to listen to them perform whilst standing up because they ran out of seating space! Hence, the positive review with 4 stars even though I wanted to give it 1 star. The most difficult reviews to write are positive reviews of stuff you really didn't enjoy. LOL!

Have been in and out of here for different reasons, for the now closed restaurant, the happy hour…read moreon the grassy roof, concerts and most recently, for Nike's Air Max Con. There is enough reviews that cover the history of the building, but what makes it valuable is that in midst of Hong Kong the financial hub, where people barely slow down for a meal let alone to appreciate art, is a venue where art and performances are showcased. The location is convenient and right next to Lan Kwai Fong, where you can go for a drink after the shows. The place is a bit cozy and far from state of the art, but I appreciate it for what it does and think that it does it pretty well.

Contemporary urban art may not be everybody's cup of tea. Most of the time, it goes right over my…read morehead but every now and then, I would get an inkling of the artist's message. What I find interesting about Oi! is that it is not your conventional art gallery. Oi! is not big. It sits on the corner of Oil Street and Electric Road in Fortress Hill on the island. A century ago, the waterfront was right outside this property. It was logical for the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club to set up base here and operate until the government took over thirty years later in the 1930s. The historic brick buildings are specimens of the post-Victorian Arts and Crafts Architectural Movement. On the day of my visit, the theme was to stimulate our audio, visual, and tactile senses. The artists encouraged people to actually touch their creations. I like when art can be approached from more than one dimension. There was one exhibition room that was stark empty except for a porthole in the floor; and another one in which I had to duck my head because a block TV set was hanging from the ceiling. I also got to interact with other eclectic and obscure art pieces. Unexpectedly, the co-op kitchen was offering visitors complimentary miso soup on site. I guess if wine and hors d'oeuvres are served at the traditional art openings, why not offer hot soup at Oi! The idea was "they cook, you clean" so people had to do the little chore of washing the bowls they had used. I thought that was pretty neat. Everything was cool. Before heading out, I decided to use the restroom. I really wish I hadn't. They were either understaffed or negligent to have left the facility in a ghastly state. It might have been the visitors. What a shame to end my visit this way. For me, Oi! was an experience. I enjoyed the history aspect. I didn't have a full grasp of the pieces I saw but art is subjective. New exhibits rotate in periodically. Maybe next time I'll make a connection with one of them. 3.5

As we were simply walking by, I knew that this was clearly an old set of buildings that had been…read morerestored, but I was not sure what this space was exactly. With the kind staff at the customer service booth that went the extra mile to show me key parts of the facility and pointed out the specifics of the art installation spaces and the Social Gastronomy experiment space, I think I am a bit of a fan of this place. Once an old boat yard and covered mostly by water, this is a perfect example of Hong Kong recycling, reusing and re-purposing public building space. Part museum (with two installations currently: North Point Dream Properties Limited and 7-Paperholic), part social experiment on food with XCHANGE (turning leftovers and seasonal ingredients from participants and neighborhood markets into mouthwatering dishes), part community service/social hub (with talks, lectures, workshops, etc), part historical venue (Oi! is a Grade 2 Historic Building and they provide daily tours at 2:30pm, 4:45pm and 6:30pm daily). Art is really the driving factor for me with Oi!, but clearly their aim is really to connect with the community on a socially conscious level much greater than just art. But if you are not driven by social matters, note that admission to Oi! is free. The space is not large, but there is intellectually a lot going on to absorb at Oi! Although I did not have time to really understand all pieces of this space, I took a Oi! newspaper to go and have visited their website to sign up for news and events going on here. I will absolutely return to discover a bit more.

This was the fourth year that I attended the VIP Preview of Art Basel Hong Kong as a guest of my…read moredaughter, who's a VIP of the world-class exhibition since it was launched in 2013.  She was invited to the VIP Preview and could bring 1 guest with her.  We had also been to Art Basel in Basel, Switzerland, and twice to Art Basel Miami.  Art Basel HK is as good as all the Art Basel shows, if not better.  It had successfully propelled Hong Kong into an art capital of Asia. Art Basel HK 2026 featured 240 galleries from 41 countries and territories, with a particular focus on Asia-Pacific.  The exhibition took place on Level 1 and 3 of the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Center and was truly huge.  If you like modern or contemporary art, this is the show for you.  It is also a perfect place for people-watching, as some attendees are very fashion-forward or very innovative with what they wear.  No matter what you wear, remember to wear comfortable shoes, as people usually spend 3 to 4 hours walking through the entire 2 levels of show. This year we were also invited to the Opening Reception celebrating the launch of the Ray-Ban Lounge in the foyer of the Collectors Lounge.  There was a live performance by artist Kwonny painting on the mural of her artwork. There were passed hors d'oeuvres and champagne.  The friendly hostesses who checked us in were amazed that we'd come all the way from the US! Food and drinks inside Art Basel are pricy as expected. We didn't buy anything this year as we attended the Ray-Ban opening reception, but we had made purchases each year in the past inside the exhibition hall or in the collectors lounge. Expect street food like egg tarts and egg waffles to be like 3 times the price outside, so was bubbles, wine and other drinks. If you would like to go to Art Basel Hong Kong, please plan ahead and purchase tickets well ahead of time.  If you book an Uber ride, make sure that you get dropped off or picked up at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Center HKCEC Phase 1 Entrance. I enjoyed the exhibition and would like to return again.

Art Basel has become one of the biggest annual art exhibitions in town for quite some years now…read more Are people in Hong Kong passionate about Art Basel? Hell yeah. Are poeople in Hong Kong passionate about art? Oh well, it really depends on how do you define it. It is a Facebook/Instagram heaven for a lot of us. And bigger, shinier, fancier arts are the ones usually get more attention. It's like where you go to a fashion show and the models who dress least will get most pictures taken. Nothing wrong with that, really, whatever floats your boat I guess. Art Basel is a collective exhibition of a lot of art galleries, art dealers, individual artists and all. So it is not quite as organized as you go to an art museum. The good part is you never know what you'd expect, and never get bored walking around two / three floors of arts. If you really want to appreciate closely, you need a solid 4 hours time at least. I'll see a bit of Impressionism like Sisley or Monet, and then a bit of Cezanne, Picasso, and then mostly the modern arts with Warhol, Miro, Magritte, Dali, Calder, Nam June Paik, etc.. and a bunch of Chinese / Asian artists that I don't recognize. If you like taking pictures of arts and having a healthy annual dose of arts, then Art Basel is your perfect place. If you are an art lover, you may find it a bit repetitive after a few years, because the it is not only about exhibition, but also a platform for galleries / dealers trying to sell similar arts over and over.