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SCMP Reporter

Hong Kong has diverse and rich offerings for the visitor wanting to soak up its history and culture. Seeking a fun mix of education, experience and exploration? Follow our easy guide, grouped according to location

Tsim Sha Tsui

? HONG KONG CULTURAL CENTRE

10 Salisbury Road, Tsim Sha Tsui (2734 2009)

Opening hours: 9am-11pm Monday-Saturday; 1pm-11pm Sunday and public holidays.

You won't miss this huge pink-tiled building, which is a concert and theatre venue. The main concert hall houses the largest pipe organ in Asia, with 8,000 pipes and 93 stops. Pop in at the centre when you ride over on the Star Ferry from Central.

? HONG KONG SPACE MUSEUM

10 Salisbury Road, Tsim Sha Tsui (2721 0226)

Admission fee: $10 for exhibitions; $24 to $32 for Omnimax and sky show.

Opening hours: 1pm-9pm Monday, Wednesday-Friday; 10am-9pm weekend and public holidays; closed Tuesday.

Also within the Cultural Centre area is a museum for stargazers and space cadets. Check out the astronomy exhibits, interactive displays and Omnimax films on show.

How to get there: From Tsim Sha Tsui MTR station (exit E), walk towards the harbour, and the Star Ferry terminal/bus station area

? HONG KONG MUSEUM OF ART

10 Salisbury Road, Tsim Sha Tsui (2721 0116)

Admission fee: $10; $5 concession; free on Wednesday.

Opening hours: 10am-6pm daily, closed Thursday and public holidays.

Within the Cultural Centre complex, six floors house seven galleries of Chinese art and history. Marvel at the large collections of fine art, antiquities and artifacts, from traditional calligraphy to jade carvings and sculptures. Temporary exhibitions run throughout the year.

Tsim Sha Tsui East

? HONG KONG MUSEUM OF HISTORY

100 Chatham Road South, Tsim Sha Tsui (2724 9042)

Admission fee: $10; $5 concession; free on Wednesday

Opening hours: 10am-6pm Monday to Saturday; 10am-7pm Sunday and public holidays; closed Tuesday

On permanent exhibition is 'The Hong Kong Story'. The show traces the development of Hong Kong from the Devonian period until the return of the territory to China in 1997. If you have time for only one museum, visit this one.

How to get there: From Tsim Sha Tsui MTR station (exit B2), take a 20-minute walk along Cameron Road, or take a taxi.

? HONG KONG SCIENCE MUSEUM

2 Science Museum Road, Tsim Sha Tsui (2732 3232)

Admission fee: $25; $12.50 concession

Opening hours: 1pm-9pm Monday, Wednesday-Friday; 10am-9pm weekends and public holidays; closed Tuesday.

The museum resembles a large playground and gets packed with children on weekends and school holidays. Interesting for the culture-seeking tourist.

How to get there: See above (it is opposite the Hong Kong Museum of History).

Hong Kong Island Central

? FLAGSTAFF MUSEUM OF TEAWARE

10 Cotton Tree Drive, Hong Kong Park, Admiralty (2869 0690)

Admission free

Opening hours: 10am-5pm daily; closed Monday and public holidays.

For those interested in the art of Chinese tea. Or, if you are exploring the gardens and aviaries of Hong Kong Park, drop by at the museum. Learn all about antique teaware and the tea-making tradition.

How to get there: From Admiralty MTR station, follow the signs.

? HONG KONG VISUAL ARTS CENTRE

7A Kennedy Road, Central (2521 3008)

Admission free

Opening hours: 10am-9pm daily; closed Tuesday and public holidays.

A studio space to support local artists working with print, pottery and sculpture. Temporary exhibitions also on show.

How to get there: From Admiralty MTR station, head towards the Island Shangri-La hotel and British Consulate, leading to Hong Kong Park. From there, follow the signs.

Hong Kong Island West

? MUSEUM AND ART GALLERY, UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG

94 Bonham Road, Pokfulam (2241 5500)

Admission free

Opening hours: 9.30am-6pm Monday-Saturday; 1.30-5.30pm Sunday; closed public holidays.

View a permanent collection of more than 1,000 Chinese ceramics, bronze statues and paintings dating back to the Neolithic era and the Qing Dynasty. Temporary exhibitions showcase contemporary artworks. Talks and guided tours, led by curators, run regularly and are free.

How to get there: From D'Aguilar Street, Central, take bus No 40M; from Pacific Place, Admiralty, take bus No 23, 40 or 40M; from Star Ferry pier, Central, take bus No 3B (near City Hall), or mini-bus No 8 or 22.

Hong Kong Island East

? HONG KONG FILM ARCHIVE

50 Lei King Road, Sai Wan Ho (2739 2139)

Admission fee: $20-30 for cinema shows.

Opening hours: 10am-8pm Monday and Wednesday-Friday; 10am-5pm Saturday; 1-5pm Sunday; closed Tuesday.

For Hong Kong film buffs, there is an Exhibition Hall and library-like Resource Centre to check out. Also, on Friday-Sunday, the 110-seat cinema screens favourite, historical, tribute and themed films.

How to get there: From Sai Wan Ho MTR station (exit A), head two blocks to Lei King Road.

? LAW UK FOLK MUSEUM

14 Kut Shing Street, Chai Wan (2896 7006)

Admission free

Opening hours: 10am-1pm and 2pm-6pm Monday-Saturday; 1-6pm Sunday and public holidays; closed Thursday.

This 18th-Century-built house provides a quaint experience of the Hakka life. Simple displays include home ware, furniture and room settings.

How to get there: From Chai Wan MTR station (exit B2), take a five-minute, sign-posted walk.

? MUSEUM OF COASTAL DEFENCE

175 Tung Hei Road, Shau Kei Wan (2569 1248)

Admission fee: $10; concessionary and group prices available

Opening hours: 10am-5pm daily; closed Thursday and public holidays.

Built more than a century ago, the museum was converted from the 19th-century Lei Yue Mun fort. Learn about Hong Kong's 600-year history of coastal defence. A treat for military history fans, and children love it too.

How to get there: From Shau Kei Wan MTR station (exit B2), follow the 15-minute-long sign-posted walk.

New Territories East

? CHE KUNG TEMPLE

Che Kung Miu Road, Tai Wai

Opening hours: 7am-5.30pm daily

Located opposite the Hong Kong Heritage Museum, Hong Kong's largest Taoist temple is dedicated to the Sung-Dynasty general, Che Kung. Get your future told and spin the wheel at the altar to improve your fortune.

How to get there: From Tai Wai KCR station (take left exit), follow a 15-minute sign-posted walk or catch a taxi.

? HONG KONG HERITAGE MUSEUM

1 Man Lam Road, Sha Tin (2180 8188)

Admission fee: $10, free on Wednesday

Opening hours: 10am-6pm Monday-Saturday; 10am-7pm Sunday and public holidays; closed Tuesday.

Trek out to Sha Tin - this is a top pick for a fascinating museum experience. The five-storey building has a Chinese courtyard design and houses 12 galleries. Learn about Cantonese Opera, New Territories' heritage, Hakka ancestry and all forms of Chinese art. Temporary exhibitions are on show too.

How to get there: See above; or from Sha Tin KCR station, catch bus No 68K or, on the weekend, catch the free shuttle bus

New Territories North-East

? LAM TSUEN WISHING TREES AND TIN HAU TEMPLE

Tai Po

The gigantic, aged banyan trees here are a beautiful sight. Especially during Chinese New Year, wishes are written on red and gold papers and thrown up into the branches. If they get caught, then it is believed the wish will come true. Nearby is the Tin Hau Temple, dedicated to the Goddess of Heaven, which was built during the Qing dynasty.

How to get there: From Tai Wo KCR station, catch a taxi.

? Hiking in Pat Sin Leng Country Park

East of Fanling

The peaks of Pat Sin Leng are visible from Tolo harbour. Located in Pat Sin Leng Country Park, the eight peaks should only be tackled by the fit and adventurous. Rising high above the New Territories, they give way to spectacular scenery, and the mainland city of Shenzhen is also visible. The hike begins with a steep climb up the first peak, which evens out before the next one appears. Follow the path to Sin Ku Fung, which is the last peak (each is sign-posted). From here a path goes down to Tai Mei Tuk, but it is very steep. Instead, turn left taking the path that descends gently. It joins the Bride's Pool nature trail, and from here you can make your way to Tai Mei Tuk village and catch the bus to Fanling KCR. Allow at least five hours.

How to get there: KCR to Fanling, then bus 52K to Hok Tau Village. Follow the track to Hok Tau reservoir. Cross the dam at the reservoir. Turn left when you come to a fork. The climb begins here.

New Territories South

? CHUK LAM SIM MONASTERY

Fu Yung Shan Road, Tsuen Wan (2490 3392)

Admission free

Opening hours: 7am-4pm daily

Founded in 1927, the Chuk Lam Sim complex comprises three Buddhist temples. Here, you will find huge gold Lord Gautama statues, 12 bodhisattvas and beautiful art images.

How to get there: From Tsuen Wan MTR station, go to Shiu Wo Street to catch minibus No 85, or catch a taxi.

? SAM TUNG UK MUSEUM

2 Kwu Uk Lane, Tsuen Wan (2411 2001)

Admission free

Opening hours: 9am-5pm daily; closed Tuesdays and public holidays.

In a restored, two-centuries-old walled village once inhabited by a wealthy Hakka family, learn about traditional rural life. View the permanent exhibition of the Hakka people's agricultural tools and everyday implements.

How to get there: From Tsuen Wan MTR station (exit E), follow Sai Lau Kok Road for a 5-minute sign-posted walk

- NOTE: Museum enthusiasts should get a Museum Weekly Pass ($30) from participating museums or the HKTB Visitor Information & Services Centres (multilingual hotline 2508 1234)



A cultural experience