The Hong Kong Museum of History stands in Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon, next to the Hong Kong Science Museum. Its permanent exhibition, Hong Kong Story, fills eight galleries across two floors and follows the territory from the Devonian period, about 400 million years ago, to the return to China in 1997. Displays combine artifacts, photographs, maps, dioramas and multimedia, and labels appear in English and Chinese. Highlights include life-size street scenes, a full-sized fishing junk and a folk culture section. Set aside two to three hours.
The Hong Kong Story exhibition
The permanent exhibition, Hong Kong Story, is the main reason most people come. It is spread across eight galleries and covers two floors. The route starts with prehistoric times and moves forward through folk culture, colonial rule, the Japanese occupation and the city's growth, ending with the return of Hong Kong to China in 1997.
Several rooms are built as full-scale scenes. One recreates an arcaded street from 1881, another shows a 1930s street with a double-decker tram, and a 1970s public housing flat is furnished as it would have been. A full-sized fishing junk and replicas of village houses show how boat families and rural communities lived. A gallery on folk culture covers traditional costumes, beds and ceremonies tied to the territory's older communities.
A video theatre covers the Opium Wars, and a section on the many migrant groups explains how people from different regions brought their traditions into the city's shared culture. The last room has a panoramic view that closes the exhibition.
How the displays work
Labels appear in English and Chinese. The exhibits mix original artifacts with old photographs, maps, currency, newspapers and models of towns. Touch screens and multimedia shows explain how the city changed over time, and some displays are designed for younger visitors to explore.
The museum is one of several Hong Kong museums run by the government. Its collections are grouped into natural history, ethnography and local history, and it also holds thematic temporary exhibitions on a regular basis.
At the entrance, a bag check is part of the routine. Guided tours can be booked at the information counter.
Getting there and buying tickets
The museum is at 100 Chatham Road South in Tsim Sha Tsui. The nearest MTR station is Tsim Sha Tsui. The museum sits next to the Hong Kong Science Museum, so the two can be visited on the same trip.
Advance tickets are recommended. Tickets can be bought through the URBTIX website or the URBTIX mobile app, and online and app purchases carry a HK$9 handling charge.
The entrance and restrooms are wheelchair accessible, and there is a restaurant on site.
The museum's history
The museum has roots in a city museum and art gallery founded in 1962. In 1975 that institution was split into the Hong Kong Museum of History and the Hong Kong Museum of Art. The history museum moved to temporary premises in Kowloon Park in 1983, and it has been based in Tsim Sha Tsui since 1998.
FAQ
How long do you need at the Hong Kong Museum of History?
Plan two to three hours to see the Hong Kong Story galleries and the rest of the museum.
Is the museum good for children?
Yes. The museum is listed as good for kids, with interactive displays, multimedia presentations and changing tables on site.
Do I need to book tickets in advance?
Advance tickets are recommended. Online and app purchases through URBTIX carry a HK$9 handling charge.
How do I get to the museum?
Take the MTR to Tsim Sha Tsui station. The museum is at 100 Chatham Road South, next to the Hong Kong Science Museum.
