MUSEUMS – KOWLOON*

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*FOR OTHER MUSEUMS SEE "MUSEUMS - HONG KONG ISLAND" AND "MUSEUMS - NEW TERRITORIES"

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HONG KONG MUSEUM OF HISTORY

Hong Kong Museum of History Main Entrance

This large museum occupying an area of 7000 sq m was established in 1975 and moved from its original Kowloon Park building to its present location on Chatham Road next to the Science Museum in 1988. The museum aims to preserve and promote the historical and cultural heritage of Hong Kong. The entertaining and educational permanent exhibition “The Hong Kong Story” comprises eight galleries with a display of over 3,700 exhibits, 750 graphic panels, dioramas and multimedia programmes supported by special audio-visual and lighting effects and illustrates the natural environment, folk culture and historical development of Hong Kong through a 400 million year period in an authentic manner. The eight galleries feature;

The Natural Environment
Prehistoric Hong Kong
The Dynasties : From The Han to the Qing
Folk Culture in Hong Kong
The Opium Wars and the Cession of Hong Kong
Birth and Early Growth of the City
The Japanese Occupation
Modern Metropolis and the Return to China

Amongst may impressive exhibits are a 42m long beach with life-like Neolithic inhabitants engaged in various activities, reconstruction of Hakka peasant family’s house, festive activities of the annual Cheung Chau Bun Festival including bun towers, temporary Cantonese Opera theatre and Taoist altar, an old street scene from the early 20th century with shops and double-decker tram and a port scene with steam launch.

The museum also has a large Special Exhibition Gallery where temporary exhibitions are held, theatre, refreshment corner and shop. An audio guide service is available in four languages.

The museum also has five branch museums: Hong Kong Museum of Coastal Defence, Lei Cheng Uk Han Tomb Museum, Law Uk Folk Museum, Fireboat Alexander Grantham Exhibition Gallery and Dr Sun Yat-sen Museum.

Take a stoll down an early twentieth-century street in Hong Kong Museum of History

LOCATION – 100 Chatham Road South, Tsim Tsa Tsui, Kowloon

Approach to Main Entrance of Hong Kong Science Museum

Since its opening in 1991 this large museum has become a favourite amongst adults and children alike with its many “hands-on” interactive exhibits and entertaining and educational demonstrations. The museum is located next to the Museum of History in Tsim Sha Tsui and has a permanent exhibition area of 6,500 sq m with over 500 exhibits. The exhibition halls span four floors all of which encircle a huge 22 metre high Energy Machine, the largest of its kind in the world. The Ground Floor Exhibition Hall demonstrates life sciences and sound and has a children’s zone where kids can enjoy various activities including operating a crane and fork lift truck. In August 2010 the Jockey Club Environmental Conservation Gallery opened on the ground floor as a permanent exhibition and features over 40 interactive exhibits grouped under ten themes related to environmental protection including air, water, land resources, energy and waste. The exhibition also highlights the beauty of Hong Kong's natural ecology and provides advice on green living. The First Floor Exhibition Hall has Occupational Health and Safety and Electricity and Magnetism Galleries and a Computer Lab where visitors can try their hand at various multimedia computer activities. The Second Floor Exhibition Hall has a Science News Corner and exhibits on Food Science, Home Technology, Transportation featuring Hong Kong’s first airliner, a Cathay Pacific DC-3 suspended from the ceiling and a flight simulator. The Third Floor Exhibition Gallery has an Energy Efficiency Centre and Mathematics Hall with interactive puzzles graded into levels of difficulty. The Energy Machine demonstrates the relationship between energy conversion and the movement of balls in an entertaining manner when synthetic fibre balls are set in motion zig-zagging along some 1.6km of tracks along two towers and a connecting gallery activating dramatic sounds from bells and gongs and visual effects along their journey. The Energy Machine operates at 3pm, 5pm and 7pm and additionally at 11am and 1pm on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays.

There is a daily series of demonstrations by enthusiastic staff who manage to make topics such as “Liquid Nitrogen” and “Artificial Clouds” entertaining and special exhibitions are held throughout the year.

The museum also has a Resource Centre, Lecture Hall, classroom, laboratory, café, book shop and gift shop.

Cathay Pacific DC-3, Hong Kong's first airliner hangs from the Transporation Gallery ceiling

LOCATION – 2 Science Museum Road, Tsim Sha Tsui East, Kowloon

OPENING HOURS – 1pm to 9pm Monday to Wednesday and Friday, 10am to 9pm Saturday, Sunday and public holidays. Closed on Thursdays (except public holidays) and the first two days of Chinese New Year. Closes at 5pm on Christmas Eve and Chinese New Year’s Eve.

ADMISSION – HK$25 (HK$12.5 for seniors 60 and over). Children under 4 free. Free admission on Wednesdays. Box Office closes one hour before museum closing time.

GETTING THERE - MTR to Tsim Sha Tsui exit B2 then walk along Cameron Road to Chatham Road South. There is an elevated pedestrian footbridge link to the museum (about 15 mins). MTR to East Tsim Sha Tsui exit P2 then follow Chatham Road South (about 10 minutes). MTR to Hung Hom exit D1 and follow elevated covered pedestrian link under Cheong Wan Road to Science Museum Road, Granville Road and Chatham Road South (about 15 mins). Buses 5, 5C, 8, 8A, 26, 35A, 41A, 81C, 87D, 98D, 110, 203, 208, 13X, 215X, 219X, 224X, 260B, 260X and A12 pass the museum. East Tsim Sha Tsui Bus Terminus on Science Museum Road is five minutes walk from the museum and served by buses 26, 35A, 41A, 98D, 208, 13X and 973. Also all Cross-Harbour buses stop at toll plaza at Hung Hom.

WEBSITE – http://hk.science.museum 

NOTE – The Science Museum is located next to the Museum of History although the two museums have postal addresses in different streets. 




HONG KONG MUSEUM OF ART

Hong Kong Museum of Art Main Entrance

The Museum of Art was formerly known as the City Museum and Art Gallery and moved from its previous location in City Hall across the harbour to its present large 17,530 sq m five-storey building in Tsim Sha Tsui in 1991. The museum aims to preserve the cultural heritage of China and promote art with a local focus. The museum’s collection comprises over 15,000 items divided into five major categories: Chinese Antiquities, Chinese Painting and Calligraphy, Contemporary Hong Kong Art, Historical Pictures and the Xubaizhai Collection of Chinese Painting and Calligraphy and these are displayed in five galleries. Amongst the exhibits are Chinese ceramic gems, calligraphy works, fine art and sculptures. There are a further two Special Exhibition Galleries which regularly feature prestigious local and international exhibitions on various themes. The museum also has a branch museum, Flagstaff House Museum of Tea Ware.

Free public guided tours are available daily (except Mondays) in English (11am), Cantonese (3pm and 5pm) and Putonghua (4pm) and themed tours of specific galleries in English and Cantonese are offered on Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday afternoons (refer to the museum’s website for timetable). Digital audio guides to the Gallery’s collections in English, Cantonese and Putonghua can also be hired for a nominal fee.

Other facilities at the museum include Lecture Hall, Workshops, Ceramics, Painting and Print Studios, Café and Bookshop.

On the first Sunday of each month there is a free concert performance in the Lobby of the museum from 3-30pm to 4-30pm. The concert series is entitled "The Sound of Art" and is performed by various guest musicians.

First-floor Chinese Antiquities Gallery

LOCATION – 10 Salisbury Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon

OPENING HOURS – 10am to 6pm Sunday to Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. Closes at 5pm on Christmas Eve and Chinese New Year’s Eve. Closed on Thursdays (except public holidays) and the first two days of Chinese New Year.

ADMISSION – HK$10 (HK$5 for seniors 60 and over). Free admission on Wednesdays.

GETTING THERE – (The museum is located next to Hong Kong Cultural Centre and Hong Kong Space Museum close to the harbourside and Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade) Star Ferry to Tsim Sha Tsui then 5 minute walk. MTR to Tsim Sha Tsui and from exit E about 7 minutes walk or MTR to East Tsim Sha Tsui and from exit J about 5 minutes walk. All bus routes serving Star Ferry Bus Terminus and Salisbury Road stop close to the museum. Route numbers include 1,1A,2,5,5A,5C,6,6A,7,8,8A,9,13X,26,28,110,234X,973,A21

WEBSITE – http://hk.art.museum 




HONG KONG SPACE MUSEUM

Main Entrance, Hong Kong Space Museum

This museum with its domed planetarium roof has been a distinctive landmark on the Tsim Sha Tsui harbour side since 1980. Located next to the Hong Kong Museum of Art and Hong Kong Cultural Centre the 8000 sq m museum provides a world-class facility for research and education into astronomy and space science. The museum is divided into two wings, the East Wing houses the planetarium, Stanley Ho Space Theatre with 23-metre IMAX screen and Hall of Space Science and the West Wing houses the Hall of Astronomy and Lecture Hall. A seven-month HK$34 million renovation of the Stanley Ho Space Theatre was completed in June 2009 which has given the theatre a completely new look with a new digital planetarium projection system with a resolution of over 53 million pixels making it one of only two theatres in the world capable of projecting such high definition images. The system projects both full-dome animations or movies and the new seats are installed with a multi-language narration system and interactive features enabling visitors to participate in real-time games.

The museum's latest Omnimax presentation "Wired to Win: Surviving the Tour de France" is showing at the museum's Stanley Ho Space Theatre from 2nd November 2011 until 30th April 2012. The 45-minute show follows the exciting race alongside the riders, illustrating how the riders are mentally prepared to manage the different conditions encountered in the race, and how they overcome difficulties with their perseverance, making full use of the potential of their bodies and minds as they strive for victory. Audiences follow the leading group, coming to the last charge for the line, and witness the success that hinges on whether the riders can bring the potential of their brains into full play to win the race.

Another Omnimax presentation "Sea Rex: Journey to a Prehistoric World" is also showing at the museum's Stanley Ho Space Theatre from 1st September 2011 until 29th February 2012. The 41-minute show takes audiences back to ancient oceans 200 million years ago, exploring the reign of giant marine reptiles in the Mesozoic Era, bringing viewers into close contact with grotesque ancient creatures of the deep ocean.

The show will feature plesiosaurs such as the Elasmosaurus and the Liopleurodon, mosasaurs such as the Prognathodon, and the Ophthalmosaurus, which was a type of ichthyosaur. Also, to help audiences gain a better understanding of past marine creatures, other grotesque marine reptiles including ammonites, which were molluscs that moved by squirting water from their bodies, and the honisaurus, which was the largest marine reptile ever, will also be featured.

For details of Omnimax shows see the museum's website.

From 1st January 2012 until 30th June 2012 the museum is showing its latest Sky Show "Hayabusa: Back to the Earth" which takes audiences on a space journey with the asteroid explorer Hayabusa to the asteroid Itokawa, which is 200 million kilometres away from Earth. After a space journey of more than two years, Hayabusa arrived at Itokawa in September 2005 and conducted three descent operations. During its first two touchdowns on the asteroid, its body suffered significant damage in crash landings. In the last attempt it successfully landed and collected rock samples. Unfortunately, control of some parts of the probe was lost: two of the three gyroscopes broke down and more than one-third of the lithium-ion batteries malfunctioned. Even worse, there was gas leakage at a thruster, leading to incorrect aiming of antennas and consequential loss of communication with the control centre on Earth. The show answers the questions as to whther Hayabusa could return to Earth safely and could successfully carry the samples back to help provide insight into the mystery of the creation of the solar system. During the journey, audiences can share the excitement of exploring the universe, experience the joy of arrival at the destination, and witness the setbacks on its way toward tracing the history of the universe.

The museum produces two multi-media planetarium shows each year and also shows some of the best foreign IMAX films. The two permanent exhibition halls, the Hall of Space Science and the Hall of Astronomy are located on the ground and first floors and visitors are able to learn about the history of space exploration and latest developments in space technology. Interactive exhibits enable visitors to try the Gyroscope which demonstrates how rockets stabilise flight direction, experience a simulated Moon Walk and operate a Virtual Glider through a 3-D simulation of Grand Canyon. 

In November 2008 the Space Museum opened an iObservatory in a three-storey building at Lady MacLehose Holiday Village in Sai Kung Country Park with a six-metre "onion" dome and 60cm Cassegrain Telescope enabling observers to view celestial objects 4,000 times dimmer than those visible to the naked eye.

The museum opened an Astropark at Chong Hing Water Sports Centre at High Island Reservoir also in Sai Kung Country Park in January 2010. The Astropark, which is effectively a theme park with stargazing facilities, is open 24 hours a day and is divided into three zones, an Educational Zone for day-time use, Naked-eye observation area for casual users and Telescopic Observation Area for amateur astronomers. For more information see the Astropark website;

http://astropark.hk.space.museum/

The museum also has a research centre and gift shop.

Space Shuttle Model in Hall of Space Science

LOCATION – 10 Salisbury Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon

OPENING HOURS – Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday 1pm to 9pm, Saturday, Sunday and public holidays 10am to 9pm. Closes at 5pm on Christmas Eve and Chinese New Year’s Eve. Closed on Tuesdays and the first two days of Chinese New Year.

ADMISSION – Exhibition Halls HK$10 (Seniors 60 and over HK$5, children under 4 free). Omnimax Show/Sky Show HK$24 front stalls, HK$32 stalls (half-price for seniors 60 and over, children under 3 not admitted). Free admission to Exhibition Halls only on Wednesdays.

GETTING THERE - (The museum is located next to Hong Kong Cultural Centre and Hong Kong Museum of Art close to the harbourside and Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade) Star Ferry to Tsim Sha Tsui then 5 minute walk. MTR to Tsim Sha Tsui and from exit E about 7 minutes walk or MTR to East Tsim Sha Tsui and from exit J about 5 minutes walk. All bus routes serving Star Ferry Bus Terminus and Salisbury Road stop close to the museum. Route numbers include 1,1A,2,5,5A,5C,6,6A,7,8,8A,9,13X,26,28,110,234X,973,A21

WEBSITE – http://hk.space.museum 



LEI CHENG UK HAN TOMB MUSEUM

Lei Cheung Uk Han Tomb Museum, Sham Shui Po

Discovered in 1955 during construction works the Han dynasty (AD25-220) tomb was excavated and preserved in its original site on a wave-cut terrace in the Lei Cheng Uk area of what was once the north western coast of the Kowloon Peninsula. The tomb and exhibition gallery were opened to the public in 1957 and this small museum is now a branch museum of Hong Kong Museum of History. The tomb is a cross-shaped brick structure with four chambers and domed roof and although some fifty-eight pottery and bronze objects were found no human skeletal remains were found. Some of the tomb bricks have inscriptions and patterns which has helped dating of the tomb. The entrance to the front chamber was damaged during excavation and it is not known how the tomb was sealed. The museum comprises a small gallery where objects including pottery cups, bowls, models, pots and cauldrons and bronze bells and mirror found in the tomb are displayed. The tomb itself is at the rear of the exhibition gallery and although visitors are not allowed to enter the tomb the front and rear chambers can be viewed through a transparent screen. There is a small secluded park behind the tomb.

Front and rear chambers of Lei Cheung Uk Tomb

LOCATION – 41 Tonkin Street, Sham Shui Po, Kowloon

OPENING HOURS – Monday to Wednesday, Friday and Saturday 10am to 6pm, Sundays and public holidays 1pm to 6pm. Closes at 5pm on Christmas Eve and Chinese New Year’s Eve. Closed on Thursdays, Christmas Day, Boxing Day (Dec 26), New Year’s Day and the first three days of Chinese New Year.

ADMISSION – Free

GETTING THERE – MTR to Cheung Sha Wan exit A3 then 5 minutes walk along Tonkin Street. Buses 2, 2A,112,118,702,970 and 970X pass the museum on Tonkin Street.

WEBSITE – http://hk.history.museum 

A former British Army barracks in Kowloon Park is home to Hong Kong Heritage Discovery Centre

Hong Kong Heritage Discovery Centre opened in 2005 in a splendidly preserved former colonial British Army barracks in Kowloon Park which had previously been home to Hong Kong Museum of History before its move to its current location on Chatham Road South. The centre which falls under the auspices of the Antiquities and Monuments Office aims to inform the public of its work in preserving the archaeological and cultural heritage of Hong Kong. The centre has a permanent exhibition gallery on the first floor displaying, pottery, glassware, ceramics and other artefacts and on the ground floor is a thematic gallery for temporary exhibitions. There is a reference library which is open to the public for research and educational purposes, lecture hall and educational activity room. This is a good place for visitors to go to obtain information, leaflets and guides on heritage trails, antiquities and monuments in Hong Kong.

First floor Exhibition Gallery, Hong Kong Heritage Discovery Centre

LOCATION – Kowloon Park, Haiphong Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon

OPENING HOURS – 10am to 6pm Monday to Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, 10am to 7pm Sundays and public holidays. Closes at 5pm on Christmas Eve and Chinese New Year’s Eve. Closed on Thursdays (except public holidays) and the first two days of Chinese New Year.

ADMISSION – Free

GETTING THERE – The centre is located near the Bird Lake in Kowloon Park. MTR Tsim Sha Tsui exit A1 is about five minutes walk to the centre from the Kowloon Mosque entrance to the park. Numerous bus routes travelling along Nathan Road stop close to the park entrances including 1,1A,2,6,6A,7,9,13X, 35A,41A,63X,234X,A21.

WEBSITE - http://www.lcsd.gov.hk/CE/Museum/Monument/en/discovery_center.php

HONG KONG HOUSING AUTHORITY EXHIBITION CENTRE

Hong Kong Housing Authority Headquarters on Fat Kwong Street. The entrance to Block 3 is behind the trees to the left of the minibus

Hong Kong Housing Authority has established a 1000sq-metre Exhibition Centre at its Headquarters at Ho Man Tin which illustrates the development of public housing in Hong Kong. The exhibition features glazed display panels, building models, mock-up flats and various collections of photos and videos. Through these exhibits, visitors are able to glimpse social changes which have occurred over the decades from the 1950’s and appreciate the improvements in living standards in public housing estates. Visitors can walk over a glass observation bridge, below which is a huge model showing the magnitude and distribution of housing estates throughout the territory. Visitors can also freely browse the various collections of photos and videos and participate in an interactive game to build the ideal housing estate.

Mock-up of typical 1950's flat found in Hong Kong's earliest public housing estates

LOCATION – 4/F, Block 3, Housing Authority Headquarters, 80 Fat Kwong Street, Ho Man Tin, Kowloon

OPENING HOURS – Monday and Wednesday to Friday 9am to 6-30pm, Saturday 9am to 7pm. Closed on Tuesday, Sunday and public holidays.

ADMISSION – Free. Casual visitors welcome. Visitors need to sign in at reception on entry to the Housing Authority building and are given a visitor badge. Group visitors can make appointments for guided tours.

GETTING THERE – Buses 109 Jointly-operated, KMB/NWFB (Hong Kong Macau Ferry Terminal to Ho Man Tin Estate), 8 KMB (Star Ferry Pier Tsim Sha Tsui to Kowloon MTR Station), 18 KMB (Nam Cheong MTR Station to Oi Man) and 7B KMB (Hung Hom Ferry Pier to Lok Fu) all stop on Sheung Foo Street outside Ho Man Tin Plaza, about 100-metres walk from Blocks 3 & 4 of the Housing Authority Headquarters. Buses 17 KMB (Oi Man Estate to Kwun Tong) , 41 KMB (Cheung Ching to Kowloon City Ferry Pier) and 45 KMB (Lai Yiu to Kowloon City Ferry Pier) stop on Fat Kwong Street outside Blocks 3 & 4 of the Housing Authority Headquarters.

KMB = operated by Kowloon Motor Bus Company
NWFB = operated by New World First Bus

WEBSITE - http://www.housingauthority.gov.hk/en/about-us/community-engagement/exhibition-centre/index.html