Decades in the making, Hong Kong’s arts quarter is finally ready for its close-up — and these are the key museums and performance venues to visit.
For years, Hong Kong was written off as a cultural wasteland. Sure, the food was amazing and the shopping unbeatable, but anyone looking for art often came away disappointed.
The idea for an arts hub started taking shape around 1997—the same time the former British colony was returned to China. Following a master plan by Foster + Partners, a 100-acre “cultural district” was envisioned on reclaimed land along Victoria Harbour. It took nearly three decades, but the West Kowloon Cultural District is finally here. Today, it boasts world-class museums, an opera house, theaters, and open green spaces for Hong Kongers craving room to breathe.
“There’s still so much more coming,” says Rocco Yim, the architect behind the Hong Kong Palace Museum, which opened in 2022. “Right now, only about a third to half of the area is finished.” Here’s a look at what’s new.
Freespace
True to its name, this performing arts center is all about flexibility and creativity. The bunker-like complex includes a black box theater, studios for experimental performances and dance, plus the Lau Bak Livehouse—a cozy coffeehouse and bar with live music on weekends.
Hong Kong Palace Museum
Shaped like a traditional Chinese gold ingot, this museum displays treasures from China’s imperial past, including Ming dynasty ceramics, scroll paintings, and double-headed dragons from Beijing’s Forbidden City.
Art Park
Stretching along the waterfront, Art Park is a haven for joggers, picnickers, museum visitors, and dog walkers (does every Hong Konger own a Shiba Inu?). With over a dozen spots to eat and drink across its sprawling lawns, it’s perfect for catching sunset views from one of the harborside cafés near the Palace Museum. And yes—everything is impeccably clean.
M+
Featuring works by Ai Weiwei and other top Chinese artists, M+ aims to stand alongside global giants like MoMA and the Tate Modern. The futuristic building, designed by Herzog & de Meuron, has a façade that lights up like something out of Blade Runner. Equally striking is its design collection, which includes a 1980s Tokyo sushi bar meticulously reassembled inside.
Xiqu Centre
Dedicated to Cantonese opera, this performance hall has an eye-catching exterior with aluminum shingles that look like fish scales. A huge open atrium lets in breezes and natural light. Even if Chinese opera isn’t your thing, the public space is a great spot to relax before hitting the shops on Canton Road.
Where to Stay
Just a stone’s throw from the cultural district, the 413-room Rosewood Hong Kong anchors the new Kowloon waterfront from its perch in a 65-story tower. As the brand’s flagship, it offers 12 dining and drinking options—including two Michelin-starred restaurants—and connects directly to the massive K11 Musea mall
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