THE 10 BEST Hong Kong History Museums
History Museums in Hong Kong
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22 places sorted by traveller favourites
Military Museums • Speciality Museums
A Kung Ngam
Speciality Museums • History Museums
Central District
Art Galleries • Art Museums
Sham Shui Po District
Speciality Museums • Children's Museums
Speciality Museums • History Museums
Speciality Museums • Art Museums
Speciality Museums • Art Museums
History Museums
New Territories
History Museums
Speciality Museums • History Museums
History Museums
What travellers are saying
- Angela CWashington DC, DC266 contributionsLearned a lot about Hong Kong history despite the temporary exhibition. Found it interesting and helpful, but looking forward to when the new exhibition is unveiled.Written 13 April 2023This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- Journey011088767601 contributionEddie Wong (I hope I remembered his name right) was a great guide, really brought the place to life and explained the history of the house, down to the minute details. He was tolerant of our loud and crying baby, and was helpful. My wife and I sincerely enjoyed our experience at this small and quaint museum. The museum is along a nice walk / hike, so if you're in the area definitely make a detour to drop by the Hakka house.Written 27 May 2023This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- WestLakeLaowaiHangzhou1 contributionNot closed at all. Currently there is an awesome Bruce Lee exhibition based on memorabilia from his wife’s collection. Worth it for this alone.Written 7 May 2023This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- ECWorldHong Kong, China2,674 contributionsRenovated recently. Probably the exhibited information modified to better reflect the current political climate (lol) but the centerpiece of the museum ie the fortifications and the military equipment used in HK's coastal defense in WW2 remain unchanged. Well worth a visit, particularly for military enthusiasts. Even for the casual visitor, the site offers great views of the eastern part of Kowloon. If you take the MTR, you can spot the row of ship builders near the water front on the way - unfortunately most of them have been repurposed.Written 13 May 2023This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- globaltravellerworldGrasse, France406 contributionsA MUST visit when coming to Hong Kong! The unsuspecting name does not reveal the true importance and value of this museum. It describes vividly the more than 300 years of trade between the West and China - especially the European trade with China via Hong Kong. We can learn that there is nothing new to this world - todays trade and relationship issues and mutual benefits for both worlds have not much changed in principle - all that changed is technology and media. We can learn from this museum that trade between the western world and China is mutually beneficial since hundreds of years - so we can truly relax a little bit in our overexcited times and refrain from getting carried away with the different political systems in place. It's does not matter on either side - Let's learn a bit from history and how we are in the end all just humans who want to have a decent good life ! this museum is very educational and teaches is us daily life in the "old times" and you will be surprised how close it is to the "new times" that we live in. Spend 2 hours there BUT GO ON WEEKENDS when volunteers are there to explain you details - otherwise you will not capture the essence of the trade history and how it relates to today's world. THE guides are very knowledgeable and competent and extremely friendly and helpful. A privately run Museum - my respect.
Absolutely worth a visit.Written 12 December 2021This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. - BradJillHong Kong, China156,888 contributionsThe Hong Kong Heritage Discovery Center is located in the middle of Kowloon Park in two of the old Whitfield Barracks which occupied this location in the 20th century prior to the creation of the park. This heritage building is now the location of a pretty good little museum and information centre covering the topic of Hong Kong archeological history. Opening hours are 10am to 6pm daily (closed on Thursdays). Entry is free.
What you will find here are a main gallery describing general archeology and heritage sites around Hong Kong as well as three smaller galleries with a focus on artefacts from the Pre-historic times, Han and Ming Dynasties. There are interesting human remains, pottery, tools and other items of interest from these various time periods as well as helpful information description what you are seeing and where the discoveries were found or unearthed around Hong Kong.
The Discovery Centre now has a small exhibition setup to describe the damage to the old Duddell Street gas lamps that occurred during Super Typhoon Mangkut as well as the restoration efforts that went into restoring this popular historic attraction on Hong Kong Island. There is also a nice outside courtyard area and you'll find maps and brochures related to important heritage and archeology sites and related self-guided tours you can try around Hong Kong.
In the end, while less important than the Hong Kong History Museum in TST East and Hung Hum area, the Hong Kong Heritage Discovery Centre is a great use of the historic Whitfield Barracks and good place to spend a 20-30 minutes if planning to spend time in Kowloon Park.Written 21 September 2021This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. - BradJillHong Kong, China156,888 contributionsThe Jao Tsung-I Academy is a hillside compound of heritage buildings along Castle Peak Road in Lai Chi Kok that were revitalised by the HK Institute for Promotion of Chinese Culture (HKIPCC) and named after the late prominent scholar Jao Tsung-I.
The academy was opened to the public in phases between 2012-14 and now features three hillside levels of Grade 3 protected historic buildings that function as a museum with exhibition galleries, activity centre, restaurant, coffee shop and even a hotel. The outdoor grounds are open from 8am to 10pm daily, exhibition halls are open from 10am to 6pm daily. No entry fee required.
The lower level is where you find the Main Gallery which is a testimony to the life and scholarly works of Jao Tsung-I. There is also a Heritage Hall where you can learn about the history of the area and buildings which date back to the late 19th century when a Qing Dynasty Customs house was located here. Later buildings, including those you see today, served as a labourers' quarters, prison, quarantine station, infectious disease hospital and lastly a psychiatric rehab centre which was eventually closed in 2004. There is a statue of Jao Tsung-I and a small but beautiful lotus pond here.
The second level is where you find a series of buildings including another exhibition hall, presently presenting information about Chinese language characters, activity rooms, Hope of Joy restaurant and Coffeeflow. Continuing to the third level, you will find the Heritage Lodge. There are public toilets on each level as well as a series of lifts for those unable to walk up the stairs between levels and guests of the hotel with luggage.Written 11 May 2022This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. - Penrapee RBangkok, Thailand211 contributionsThe museum is worth every penny and is a must-visit in Hong Kong. The building itself is beautiful and the exhibition inside is equally stunning. You can easily spend 2 hours there walking around and admiring priceless artefacts in each gallery which are beautifully exhibited. If you would like to take a break from shops, skyscrapers and crowded streets and make a cultural visit, this is the go-to place in Hong Kong. We visited the museum with a nine-year-old who also found the exhibition interesting and enjoyed himself very much so it really is the place for everyone in the family.Written 3 April 2023This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- BradJillHong Kong, China156,888 contributionsThis is restored Hakka village house and declared monument in the Chai Wan area of the Hong Kong Island. Built in the mid-18th century and belonging to the Law Uk family, the property provides glimpse into the architecture and everyday life at what was once a major Hakka settlement. Now the building serves as a minor museum (free entry) for those who visit this area of the city and have interest in local history.
The grounds include the restored house which has five indoor rooms, several including displays of historic furnishing, farm equipment, ceremonial and other items from the past. There are information panels outside the museum in the small courtyard providing some history of the Hakka people, their village lives before and then during the British colonial period, customs and festive ceremonies, building architecture and details about the family who owned this particular house in the past.
There is also an annex property on the museum grounds as well, it is built in the same manner as the historic Law Uk house. It was closed when we passed by recently.
Overall, it is good that the government restores and protects historic properties and puts them to good use like what you will find with the Law Uk Folk Museum in Chai Wan. It makes for a good place to spend 20-30 minutes if you find yourself in the area. However, if you are real history buff, it is better to visit the Hong Kong Museum of History, where you will find similar displays and learning opportunity regarding the Hakka people and other Chinese ethnic groups that have roots here in Hong Kong.Written 11 October 2020This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. - Lynns98816707 contributionsThis is a complementary for people who wait for the tram. You can see the history of the peak tram. It only takes 5 minutes to see this.Written 14 March 2016This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- schmidtmgSwitzerland1,027 contributionsIt was interesting to juxtapose the exhibits in 2019 (in the middle of the protests, when these were not yet included in the exhibits) and in spring 2023. The 2019 protests, the NSL of July 2020 and the Covid pandemic are addressed, but very briefly and without hardly any commentary... it is indeed a bit reflective of the political changes in Hong Kong since 2019....Written 2 May 2023This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- BradJillHong Kong, China156,888 contributionsThe Fa Pau Exhibition Hall is located just next to the historic Hau Kok Tin Hau Temple at Temple Plaza on the east side of the Tuen Mun River. It is open from 10am to 6pm (Tues - Sun) but closed on Mondays as well as the first two days of Chinese New Year.
If you are planning to visit the Tin Hau Temple you should include a brief stop here as well. Within the exhibition hall you will find three large scale Fa Pau (floral shrines) and learn about local traditions of creating these decorative paper shrines, their meanings and how they are paraded around the Temple Plaza just outside during the annual Tin Hau Festivities. There are a couple of video screens and a handful of information panels with Cantonese and English descriptions that help you understand what you are looking at. You can comfortably see everything in 10-15 minutes.Written 7 January 2023This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Frequently Asked Questions about Hong Kong
- These places are best for history museums in Hong Kong:
- Hong Kong Museum of History
- Hong Kong Heritage Museum
- Hong Kong Maritime Museum
- Sheung Yiu Folk Museum
- Hong Kong Museum of Coastal Defence
- These are the best places for kid-friendly history museums in Hong Kong:
- Sheung Yiu Folk Museum
- Hong Kong Museum of History
- Hong Kong Maritime Museum
- Hong Kong Heritage Museum
- Hong Kong Heritage Discovery Centre
- These are the best places for couples seeking history museums in Hong Kong:See more history museums for couples in Hong Kong on Tripadvisor
- These are the best places for groups seeking history museums in Hong Kong:See more history museums for groups in Hong Kong on Tripadvisor
- These are the best places for budget-friendly history museums in Hong Kong:
- Sheung Yiu Folk Museum
- Hong Kong Museum of History
- Hong Kong Maritime Museum
- Hong Kong Heritage Museum
- Hong Kong Museum of Coastal Defence