Hello, I’m Mike Wang, a China travel expert with over 20 years of experience. During these two decades, I’ve traveled extensively around the world. In this guide, let’s explore the Hong Kong Palace Museum, a stunning new cultural landmark in China. It beautifully connects ancient treasures with a modern skyline. Discover its fascinating history, enjoy the scenic waterfront views, and get essential tips for your visit.
Introduction
The Hong Kong Palace Museum, a key cultural landmark in China, is situated in the West Kowloon Cultural District of Kowloon, Hong Kong. It covers a total floor area of about 30,000 square meters, with 11 exhibition galleries that showcase precious cultural relics.
Officially opened in July 2022, the museum was built to promote Chinese culture, especially the imperial heritage of the Palace Museum in Beijing. It has a close cooperative relationship with the Beijing Palace Museum, which has loaned thousands of cultural relics to it—many of which are being exhibited outside the Chinese mainland for the first time.
Though a relatively new museum, it carries profound historical significance. The relics on display span over 5,000 years of Chinese history, from ancient jade and bronze artifacts to delicate imperial porcelain and traditional paintings from the Ming and Qing dynasties. These items not only tell stories of China’s past but also let visitors feel the depth and richness of Chinese culture.
Tickets & Opening Hours
Opening Hours:
Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Sunday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM.
Friday, Saturday, and Public Holidays: 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM.
Closed on Tuesdays (except public holidays).
Tickets:
You should book your tickets online in advance on the official HKPM website, especially for weekends. There are standard tickets for the regular galleries and special tickets for exclusive exhibitions.
Payment Methods:
The official website accepts international credit cards (Visa, MasterCard, American Express), UnionPay, and popular e-payment methods like AlipayHK/WeChat Pay HK.
Main Scenic Areas & Attractions
The museum has nine galleries across seven floors. The exhibits rotate, but here are some highlights:
Galleries 1-7: Permanent Exhibitions
These galleries showcase over 900 priceless treasures from the Beijing Palace Museum. They tell the story of life in the Chinese imperial court, including ceremonies, daily life, and art. The artifacts include ceramics, jade, paintings, and antique clocks. The history here spans 5,000 years of Chinese civilization.
Gallery 8: Special Exhibitions
This gallery hosts changing world-class exhibitions, often featuring collaborations with other major international museums.
Gallery 9: Chinese Art & Hong Kong Collections
This gallery displays Chinese art donations and highlights the role of Hong Kong in collecting and preserving cultural treasures.
Transportation
- 🚇By MTR: Take the Tung Chung Line or Airport Express to Kowloon Station (Exit E). Then walk for 10 minutes via the footbridge to the museum, or take the free shuttle bus (K11 Musea ↔ Hong Kong Palace Museum) from Kowloon Station.
- 🚌By Bus: Take buses 3, 3A, 11, 20, 21, 28, 37, 45, 91, 948, or A21 to “West Kowloon Cultural District” stop. Walk 5 minutes to the museum.
- 🚕By Taxi: Tell the driver “Hong Kong Palace Museum, West Kowloon Cultural District” (address: 8 Museum Drive, West Kowloon). From Hong Kong Island (e.g., Central), it takes about 25 minutes and costs 80-120 HKD.
Experience & Activities
Guided Tours
Free Guided Tours: The museum offers free 45-minute guided tours in English and Cantonese every hour (10:30 AM to 4:30 PM). No advance booking—meet the guide at the Information Desk (1st floor) 5 minutes before the tour starts.
Private Guided Tours: For groups of 6+ people, book a private English tour via the official website 7 days in advance. Cost is 500 HKD per group (extra fees for temporary exhibitions).
Workshop Activities
Activities like “Traditional Chinese Calligraphy Trial” or “Jade Carving Demonstrations” are held on weekends. Book via the museum’s website 2 weeks in advance (spots fill fast). Workshops cost 80-150 HKD per person (includes materials).
Practical Tips & Etiquette
- No Photography: Taking photos (even without flash) is not allowed in exhibition galleries—this protects the fragile relics. You can take photos in the atrium and outdoor areas.
- Dress Code: Wear comfortable shoes (you’ll walk a lot). Avoid overly casual clothes like flip-flops or tank tops (it’s a cultural venue, so modest dressing is polite).
- Bag Check: Large bags (over 40cm × 30cm × 20cm) must be stored in lockers (free for small lockers, 20 HKD/day for large ones) at the entrance.
- Quiet Voice: Speak softly in galleries—loud noises disturb other visitors and the museum’s calm atmosphere.
Food
- The Lounge & Bar (1st floor of the museum): Serves light meals like sandwiches and salads (50-100 HKD) and Chinese tea (30-60 HKD). It has a view of Victoria Harbour.
- K11 Musea Food Hall (5-minute walk from the museum): Offers diverse food—Hong Kong-style dim sum (40-80 HKD per dish), Japanese sushi (60-120 HKD), and Western pasta (70-110 HKD).
- Tsui Wah Restaurant (1km away, Nathan Road): A famous Hong Kong diner. Try their milk tea (20 HKD) and baked pork chop rice (55 HKD)—classic local food.
Q&A
Q: Can I bring water or snacks into the museum?
A: Sealed water bottles are allowed, but no snacks (to keep the galleries clean). There’s a café inside if you get hungry.
Q: Is the museum wheelchair-accessible?
A: Yes—there are elevators, wheelchair ramps, and accessible restrooms on every floor. Wheelchairs are available for free at the Information Desk (need to leave an ID as a deposit).
Q: How long does a visit usually take?
A: 2-3 hours for permanent galleries. If you visit temporary exhibitions or join a tour, plan for 4 hours.
Q: Do I need to book tickets for temporary exhibitions separately?
A: Yes—temporary exhibition tickets are sold separately or as a combo with permanent galleries (combo is cheaper: 150 HKD for adults vs. 50+120=170 HKD).
Q: Is there a gift shop?
A: Yes—the museum shop (ground floor) sells cultural souvenirs like replica porcelain (80-500 HKD) and books about Chinese history (100-300 HKD). Payment methods are the same as for tickets.
Mike Wang
Mike Wang is a 40-something Chinese travel expert, has explored the world,
hosting numerous foreign visitors. He’s deeply interested in and knowledgeable
about ancient cultural architectures, enriching journeys with his insights.