The new Hong Kong Palace Museum in the West Kowloon Cultural District is set to open on July 2, 2022. Admission tickets have been on sale since June 14, and the Museum is free for entry every Wednesday for the first year. The pre-booking ticketing system is available already! The Hong Kong Palace Museum occupies some 13,000 square metres with 9 must-see exhibitions and over 900 exhibits. This comprehensive guide will provide all the information on ticket prices, exhibitions, reservations and opening details, including the quick tips on the online reservation and the most instagrammable photo spots to help you plan your visit!
Introducing the Hong Kong Palace Museum
The Hong Kong Palace Museum is located at the western tip of the West Kowloon Cultural District of Hong Kong. The primary concept of the Museum is “connection”. By combining the latest technology in displaying the valuable collections, the Museum aims to connect the audience and promote the study and appreciation of Chinese culture and art with a state-of-the-art visitor experience.
Designed by Rocco Design Architects Associates Limited, the Museum covers an area of 13,000 square meters, with a total floor area of about 30,000 square metres on 7 floors, and 9 exhibition halls with a total area of 7,800 square metres.
The Hong Kong Palace Museum presents over 900 priceless treasures from the Palace Museum. Many of them are on display in Hong Kong for the first time. The Museum regularly presents special exhibitions featuring Chinese art and culture, as well as art and treasures from major cultural institutions around the world, including 13 precious collections generously loaned by the Louvre Museum in Paris!
Free Admission Every Wednesday
In celebration of the grand opening of the Hong Kong Palace Museum, admission is free on Wednesdays for 12 months from the opening date (excluding special exhibitions and events). In addition, the Hong Kong Palace Museum will also reserve about 150,000 standard tickets (or 10% of the total number of tickets in the first year of its opening) for disadvantaged groups through sponsorship from various enterprises and institutions.
Hong Kong Palace Museum Opening Hours and Ticket Information
Tickets for the opening exhibition for the first four weeks are now on sale from June 14, 2022 (Tuesday). Each person can purchase a maximum of four tickets. You can make reservations for the admission ticket to the Hong Kong Palace Museum on Klook, the ticketing partner of the Hong Kong Palace Museum. The online ticketing system will update the availability of tickets and time slots every Tuesday morning for the coming four weeks. Opening hours and ticketing details as below:
Opening hours:
Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday: 10am to 6pm
Friday, Saturday and Public Holidays: 10am to 8pm
Closed on Tuesdays (except public holidays) and the first two days of the Lunar New Year
Tickets price for Hong Kong Palace Museum:
The general admission ticket for adults is $50 and provides access to the thematic exhibitions (Gallery 1 to Gallery 7). The special exhibition ticket grants access to the thematic exhibitions (Gallery 1 to Gallery 7) and special exhibitions (Gallery 8 and Gallery 9). The price is $120 for adults.
Ticket Type | Adults | Concessions |
General Admission Ticket | $50 | $25 |
Special Exhibition Ticket | $120 | $60 |
*Concessions include children (age 7 to 11), full-time students, seniors (age 60 and above), persons with disabilities (with one companion), and CSSA recipients. Entry is free for children age 6 and under (online booking and a valid General Admission ticket required). Terms and conditions apply.
Hong Kong Palace Museum Must-See Spots
The design of the Hong Kong Palace Museum combines modern architectural language and Hong Kong urban culture. The Museum has 7 floors, comprising 7 exhibition halls and an auditorium of 400 seats.
The Museum is a 7-storey building, including 7 exhibition halls and a 400-seat lecture hall. The three atriums design references the horizontal spatial configuration along the central axis of the Forbidden City in Beijing. It is definitely a must-see attraction! The Museum also presents abundant public spaces for the general public to relax, as well as educational activity rooms, lecture halls, souvenir shops, restaurants, etc. Let’s take a look at some of the highlights of the Hong Kong Palace Museum now!
1. Museum Facades and Plazas
The exterior design of the Hong Kong Palace Museum is inspired by Chinese art objects with fine details, simple contours and elegant form, which demonstrates the ingenious balance of traditional Chinese art and architecture. The outer wall of the building is made of architecture concrete with a sloping design. Take a photo from the Museum Plaza and admire the profound heritage of Chinese culture!
2. The Main Entrance of the Museum
The door of the Museum references the doornail decoration design and is complemented by the dark red palette of the Forbidden City. The Museum echoes the culture of the Forbidden City, and it will definitely become a photogenic spot!
3. West Atrium Viewing Deck
The three atriums are connected with the outdoor area. From the french windows of the West Atrium, visitors can enjoy vistas of the Entrance Plaza, the Hong Kong Island skyline, and Lantau Island, and appreciate the harmony between the museum building and its surroundings. The sunset view is particularly stunning!
4. South Atrium Stairway
The stairway in the South Atrium connects the second and third floors. The atrium ceiling is paved with glazed tiles, which showcase the roof design in the palace of the Forbidden City. Absolutely an instagrammerable spot!
The Must-See Special Exhibition of the Hong Kong Palace Museum
The Hong Kong Palace Museum is composed of a total of 9 exhibition halls for permanent thematic exhibitions and special exhibitions. Two of the special exhibition halls will host large-scale special exhibitions independently curated by the Museum or in cooperation with other institutions. The opening special exhibitions are "The Making of Masterpieces" and "Grand Gallop":
1. The Making of Masterpieces: Chinese Painting and Calligraphy from the Palace Museum
Exhibition period: The exhibition is divided into 3 phases, and each phase will last for 3 months with 10 treasures exhibits.
This special exhibition presents thirty-five early Chinese paintings and calligraphy treasures from the Palace Museum collection. The exhibition explores how these works were made and transmitted through various artistic, cultural, and historical lenses and how they came to be viewed as masterpieces in the Chinese art canon.
2. Grand Gallop: Art and Culture of the Horse
Exhibition period: 6 months
With more than 100 of the finest paintings, sculptures, and decorative art objects from the Palace Museum and loans from the Louvre, this special exhibition displays the rich symbolic, social, military, and political significance of the horse in Chinese art.
The Must-See Permanent Exhibition of the Hong Kong Palace Museum
In the permanent exhibition area, there are 7 thematic exhibitions, 5 of which introduce the history and culture of the Palace Museum, and 2 thematic exhibition halls showcase the art collection and multimedia art of Hong Kong.
1. Entering The Forbidden City: Architecture, Collection, And Heritage
Exhibition period: 1 year or above
The Forbidden City has been reconstructed many times, but it was during the Qing dynasty constructed the general impression of this epic building. During this time, China embraced diverse cultures. This exhibition features over 100 significant works from the Palace Museum from preserved ancient artefacts and commissioned new objects representing the Forbidden City during the Qing Dynasty.
2. From Dawn to Dusk: Life in the Forbidden City
Exhibition period: 1 year or above
The Forbidden City housed numerous emperors and empresses in the Ming and Qing dynasty. Through over 300 sumptuous treasures of the eighteenth century, this exhibition represents the court life and key moments from morning to bedtime, bring to life the colour, texture, joy, and sorrow of life in the Forbidden City.
3. Clay to Treasure: Ceramics from the Palace Museum Collection
Exhibition period: 1 year or above
Ceramics are everyday household goods, but they are also luxury items used by the ruling elite to display their status and taste. This exhibition presents over 150 highlight collections from Ming and Qing dynasties. It is the first time these treasures from the Palace Museum are on view in Hong Kong, offering a stunning overview of one of China’s most enduring artistic traditions.
4. Encountering the Majestic: Portraits of Qing Emperors and Empresses
Exhibition period: 1 year or above
The commemorative portraits of Qing emperors and empresses record the likeness, temperament, and exalted status of imperial figures in a dignified, magnificent, and extravagant style. The exhibition provides insights into traditional Chinese painting conservation, history, culture and invaluable artistic achievement.
5. The Quest for Originality: Contemporary Design and Traditional Craft in Dialogue
Exhibition period: 1 year or above
In Chinese history, artisans have been designing and making beautiful and ingenious objects for millennia. This exhibition shows over 100 precious objects from the Palace Museum. It explores the artistic value of traditional Chinese crafts through the lens of design, production and usage. It demonstrates a deep interest in innovation, materiality, and function in design.
6. Private to Public: The History of Chinese Art Collecting in Hong Kong
Exhibition period: 1 year or above
This exhibition surveys over a century of Chinese art collecting in Hong Kong for the first time. Featuring over 100 objects, this exhibition pays homage to collectors, scholars, and enthusiasts for turning Hong Kong into a prosperous hub for collecting Chinese art.
7. No Boundaries: Reinterpreting Palace Museum Culture
Exhibition period: 1 year or above
In this exhibition, the Museum invites six Hong Kong-based multimedia and interdisciplinary artists to create new works and interpret the art and culture of the Forbidden City from a fresh perspective.
The Must-Eat Recommendation in the Palace Museum of Hong Kong
The dining section of the Museum presents international cuisine. The panoramic vista of the harbour and skyline fully enrich the visiting experience.
1. Cupping Room
Founded in 2011, Cupping Room Coffee Roasters is an award-winning small-batch speciality coffee roastery. The popular menu features Australian-inspired All-day-breakfast, house-smoked salmon eggs benedicts, pan-fried chicken breast on spaghetti in a creamy garlic sauce etc. They also offer non-coffee options such as house-blended chai tea lattes, hot and iced matcha and hojicha lattes for customers with different dietary needs.
2. Jin Ya Ju Noodle Bar
Jin Ya Ju Noodle Bar is a well-known brand in Shanghai that specialises in various popular Chinese noodles. Signature dishes include drunken chicken noodle soup and braised beef noodle soup, local favourites such as fried chicken, spicy stewed beef tendon, and delicious beverages like bubble tea.
3. Crepes & Bakes
Crepes & Bakes is an innovative French eatery that serves savoury and sweet crepes with a range of classic and fusion fillings, such as Peking duck and yellow chicken curry, or the French classic ham and cheese, chocolate, and salted butter caramel etc. Crepes & Bakes also offers fresh-baked baguettes, croissants and tartes for snacks.
The Palace Museum of Hong Kong Visitor Guidelines
- For the first 3 months of opening, tickets are not sold on-site. All visitors shall purchase their tickets in advance, select the visiting timeslot and arrive at the designated time for the visit.
- Please show the valid ticket in electronic or printed version and identity proof (if applicable).
- Vaccine Pass: Vaccine Pass is applicable in entering the Hong Kong Palace Museum and all the venues in the West Kowloon Cultural District from 24th February. For visitors except for exempted persons, visitors entering the Hong Kong Palace Museum are required to wear masks at all times, use the ‘LeaveHomeSafe’ mobile application to scan the venue QR code and comply with the ‘Vaccine Pass’ arrangements as well as other requirements under Cap.599F
Address: West Kowloon Cultural District, 8 Museum Drive, Kowloon （Show Map）
Transportation
By MTR
- Take the Tung Chung Line or Airport Express to Kowloon Station. Leave from Exit E4 or E5 and walk along Nga Cheung Road to the footbridge. Cross the footbridge to enter the West Kowloon Cultural District and walk to the Museum.
- Leave from Exit C1 or D1 of Kowloon Station, cross the Artist Square Bridge, pass by M+ Museum to Museum Drive and walk along with it.
By minibus
- From Kowloon Station Exit E, take minibuses 26, 74, 74S, or 74D to the Museum.
- On Fridays, weekends, and public holidays, Green minibus 77M, 26D, or 74D is also available.
By bus
- 296D (Stop at Musuem Drive)
- 215X 、261B、281A (Stop at Austin Road West)
- 8、 11、280X、203E (Stop at Nga Cheung Road)
By water taxi
Every Sunday and public holidays, two departures from Central Ferry Pier No. 9 to West Kowloon are available. For details, please visit Fortune Ferry’s website via www.hongkongwatertaxi.com.hk.
