Surrounded by greenery and just out of view of Sha Tin’s towering housing complexes, the Hong Kong Heritage Museum is patterned after the traditional si he yuan, a compound of a harmonious mix of houses built around a central courtyard. But people don’t just come here for the quaint architecture, the extensive museum is divided into 12 exhibition galleries, each a treasure trove of relics that express the culture and arts of Hong Kong and the nearby South China region. Notable features include a collection of beautiful Chinese paintings by an acclaimed master of the Lingnan School, Chao Shao-an, a comprehensive and colourful exhibition tracing the development of Cantonese opera, and the first exhibition gallery in Hong Kong design based on the works of renowned writer Dr Louis Cha (pen name Jin Yong), housing more than 300 exhibits, including early editions of Jin Yong's novels, invaluable manuscripts, documents and photos.