Discovering Art and Culture in Hong Kong

Housing several performance halls and many exhibition spaces, the Hong Kong Cultural Centre is the place to go to see some of the best local and international performing artists. Monthly rosters include shows from the Hong Kong Philharmonic and local children’s choirs, as well as special occasions to see touring dance companies and musical ensembles. Additionally, the annual opening of the Hong Kong Arts Festival in February marks the beginning of one of the city’s most popular events. This calendar draws audiences in to see the best musical and theatrical troupes from all around the world.

You’ll have spent your days taking in the sights, tastes and sounds of Hong Kong, but have you considered exploring the city without one of your senses? Each 75-minute tour at Dialogue in the Dark, led by a visually impaired guide, takes you through simulated Hong Kong settings for a journey like no other. You’ll walk through a room in complete darkness with the help of a white cane and experience scenes of Hong Kong like riding on the Star Ferry, shopping at the supermarket, attending a concert and walking through a forest. Without the ability to see, you’ll soon realize how temperatures, textures and sounds can contribute to one overall experience. Your other senses will be immensely heightened and more alert to just how beautiful surroundings can be, even without the ability to see.

Just across from the Hong Kong Museum of History in Tsim Sha Tsui is the Hong Kong Science Museum. Here, the name of the game is learning through fun interactive experiences. Through over 500 exhibits, children (and adults!) will be introduced to the science of light, math, motion, sound, and more. You can’t miss the Energy Machine, which takes up four stories and is the largest of its kind in the world. Keep an eye out for special exhibitions, too, that occur year-round and will surely keep the kids on their curious little toes.

Hong Kong’s oldest colonial British building dates back to the 1840s and served as the office and residence of the Commander of the British Forces in Hong Kong up until 1978, when it was handed over to the government. In 1984, the Greek Revival house was reborn as the Flagstaff House Museum. Its collection of about 600 teaware items from as far back as the 11th century B.C.E. includes many fine examples of the famous Yixing teapots. Besides exhibits of tea bowls, teacups, teapots, and ewers, there are demonstrations and lectures about the significance of tea drinking to Chinese culture.

Hong Kong has been one of the world’s most important ports for eons. This museum, an especially great destination for families with children, has more than a dozen galleries with exhibits highlighting the importance of the port of Hong Kong to China’s role in world trade throughout history. There are exhibits on sea bandits and on the development of Victoria Harbour. Explore collections of navigation equipment, ship models, nautical paintings, and photographs of traditional Chinese junks. There’s a cool gallery showcasing the sounds of the sea—whistles, bells, horns, the crash of waves, the clank of halyards, the thrum of engines—and another on passenger ships, whether they carry poor immigrants or leisure cruisers. A very realistic bridge simulator will give you a feel for maneuvering a range of vessels, from huge container barges to high-speed boats and even Hong Kong’s famous Star Ferry.

Nestled in the gorgeous Former French Concession is the quaint Ferguson Lane, a lovely “nook” of specialty boutiques, restaurants and cafes. It plays host to some of the city’s brunch spots and fuels caffeine fiends with potent doses of coffee concoctions at Farine and Coffee Tree. Don’t miss C’est Si Bon, a carefully curated shop of homewares featuring designs by some of the city’s best local talents. Make this your destination after an autumn walk around town to enjoy one of the most charming Shanghai afternoons possible.