10 unmissable arts and cultural experiences in Hong Kong

Hong Kong Museum of Art

The Hong Kong Museum of Art was established in 1962 and is the city’s first public art museum. Through the years, the HKMoA has amassed a fantastic collection of works spanning their four main areas of interest: Chinese antiquities, modern and local Hong Kong art, Chinese painting and calligraphy, and China trade art, with a collection of over 17,000 items. Expect rotating exhibitions and international showcases of modern installations and Western art as well.

Hong Kong Palace Museum

The Hong Kong Palace Museum is a collaborative project between the West Kowloon Cultural District Authority and the Palace Museum, committed to the study and appreciation of Chinese art and culture, while advancing dialogue among world civilisations through international partnerships. The museum will present the finest objects from the Palace Museum and other important cultural institutions around the world. In addition, it will also lead community engagement programmes to promote creativity and interdisciplinary collaboration to the public. 

K11 MUSEA

K11 MUSEA  is a pioneering cultural-retail landmark located on the Victoria Dockside harbourfront area of Tsim Sha Tsui. Besides offering high-end designer goods and exceptional dining outlets, the complex also hosts immersive experiences in world-class art, culture, nature, and commerce. Art is an integral part of the landmark — it is not uncommon to see large-scale installations in the middle of a walkway or mounted on a side wall. Coupled with an eclectic list of art events, collaborations, experiences, and workshops that run throughout the calendar year, visitors will have no shortage of things to see and do here.

M+

M+ is one of the largest museums of modern and contemporary visual culture in the world, located in Hong Kong’s West Kowloon Cultural District. Officially open to the public at the end of 2021, the museum boasts 65,000 square metres dedicated to collecting, exhibiting, and interpreting visual art, design and architecture, moving image, and Hong Kong visual culture of the 20^th and 21^st centuries. There are 33 galleries as well as a number of public display spaces, retail stores, F&B outlets, and vantage points to admire vistas of the waterfront.

Xiqu Centre

Located at the eastern end of West Kowloon Cultural District, the Xiqu Centre is an award-winning venue showcasing world-class productions of Cantonese opera and other regional forms of Chinese opera (xiqu). The larger of its two theatres, the Grand Theatre, features performances by some of the best troupes in the region. The more intimate Tea House Theatre, designed in the style of Hong Kong’s early 20^th-century tea houses, is home to the signature Tea House Theatre Experience — a narrated performance of Cantonese opera excerpts perfect for new audiences. The Xiqu Centre also hosts regular film screenings, workshops, talks, exhibitions and guided tours. With its welcoming public atrium, fine restaurants and cafes, and gift shop specialising in xiqu-inspired products, the Xiqu Centre is the perfect place to escape the city bustle.

Neon Sign Workshop

Hong Kong’s neon signs are iconic — a glowing symbol of the economic boom in the 1960s. In its glory days, the neon sign industry boasted over 400 craftsmen who bend and shape neon signs for shops every day. Fast forward to present day, most neon sign craftsmen have retired, save a precious handful. Master Wu Chi Kai has been in the industry over 30 years, and used to work in the largest neon light company in Hong Kong, Nam Wah. Master Wu still fashions neon signs for commercial purposes, but also holds workshops for interested parties to try their hand at the dying art.

Tai Kwun

Tai Kwun is one of Hong Kong’s centres for heritage and arts, and one of the city’s largest non-profit projects, highlighting the revitalisation of local culture, heritage, and arts. The site comprises three declared monuments of Hong Kong — the former Central Police Station, Central Magistracy, and Victoria Prison — and some new buildings, art museum JC Contemporary and theatre JC Cube. All spaces are now utilised to play host to heritage experiences, thematic art exhibitions, immersive public programmes, alongside a multitude of vibrant and inclusive contemporary art presentations and performing arts offerings all year round. There are also bars, restaurants, and retail shops within the compound, making for a full itinerary of inspiration and enjoyment.  

Tai Nan Street and nearby arty area

Sham Shui Po was filled with factories and workshops during Hong Kong’s manufacturing era, but has now transformed into an artistic community filled with cultural and creative spaces. Tai Nan Street , in particular, is a bustling hub of exciting hybrid concepts and artist-led initiatives. Head to Mudheytong Gallery for an immersion into the craftsmanship of ceramic arts, and sign up for a pottery class to learn new artistic skills. Aurora Leathercraft is one of several shops in the area that specialises in handcrafted leather goods and leather-crafting classes, leaning on the neighbourhood’s history as a textile manufacturing hub, while Savon Workshop peddles all-natural handmade soaps and classes on how to DIY your own soaps. Browse to your heart’s delight at Muze Pens, where the range of fountain pens and coloured inks will inspire you to take up calligraphy.

The Mills

The Mills is a landmark revitalisation project that celebrates Hong Kong’s industrial history and creative future. Formerly Nan Fung Cotton Mills, it was the cornerstone of the historical Nan Fung Textiles Limited during Hong Kong’s manufacturing heyday. It is the site for many exhibitions, and community events, and houses everything from tech-style start-ups to local shops, artisanal cafes, bars and restaurants, and CHAT (Centre for Heritage, Arts and Textile), a non-profit art centre that hosts exhibitions and cultural activities and interweaves textile arts, history and science. The space is very photogenic — take snapshots of the murals close to the entrance, the signature old stairs, and the verdant rooftop park.