Explore Hong Kong's UNESCO-honoured historic treasures

The Blue House (2017)

The Blue House clinched the highest recognition of the UNESCO Asia-Pacific Awards for Cultural Heritage Conservation with the Award of Excellence, honoured for its successful revitalisation efforts that safeguarded both the architecture and the living heritage of the local community. Formerly a pre-war traditional tong lau tenement building, this 1922 structure has been transformed into a vibrant community space that celebrates the area’s rich history and culture.

Visitors can now step back in time and immerse themselves in the city’s past at the Hong Kong House of Stories or explore a variety of engaging arts and culture activities in the communal space with antique exhibitions, traditional craft workshops, live music concerts and community guided tours.

Tai Kwun (2019)

The restoration of this former Central Police Station compound was recognised by UNESCO with their Award of Excellence. This accolade acknowledged the meticulous investigation and rigorous conservation that preserved the authenticity and integrity of the historic 170-year-old buildings. It also set the international standard for this level of award.

The careful transformation of the former police headquarters has injected new creative energy into Hong Kong's central business district. Tai Kwun’s diverse and creative programming enlivens the historic space with engaging experiences of heritage interpretation, contemporary arts and culture events, along with stellar culinary offerings.

There’s no better way to absorb Tai Kwun’s historical significance and cultural value than joining a guided tour for a deeper understanding of the compound’s buildings, stories and conservation efforts.

Salt pans of Yim Tin Tsai (2015)

Tucked away on the scenic isle of Yim Tin Tsai lies a 300-year-old Hakka Catholic village, now the only place in Hong Kong where salt is produced, and where a fascinating piece of the city's history risked being lost. However, a movement in the early 2000s worked to revive this overlooked industrial heritage. These functioning salt pans have been recognised with a UNESCO Award of Distinction, drawing eco-tourists eager to experience the once-lost art of salt making. Dozens of artworks by artists and villagers have turned the island into a dynamic open-air museum and photogenic hotspot.

Continue the adventure in Yim Tin Tsai with the elegant Romanesque St Joseph’s Chapel, which won UNESCO’s Award of Merit in 2005 and was listed as a Grade II historic building in 2011.

Fanling Golf Course (2023)

Fanling Golf Course, China's oldest championship golf course, was honoured with UNESCO's Award of Distinction. Exemplified by the socioecological commitment and harmonious relationship between people, nature and culture, the course conserved a unique landscape heritage amid increasingly urbanised surroundings.

The landscape conservation strengthened ecological values and biodiversity, while enhancing heritage interpretation and inclusive community programs to actualise the site's holistic management philosophy. Visitors may enjoy a unique golfing and leisure experience here, as the Hong Kong Golf Club organises tours for all – golfers and non-golfers, young and old – to explore the course's rare ancient trees, Butterfly Garden, Tortoise Sanctuary, Apiary and a Grade III historic building, the Old Course Halfway House.

The Mills (2019)

In recognition of its innovative design that preserves Hong Kong's industrial heritage, The Mills was bestowed the UNESCO Award for New Design in Heritage Contexts. Hong Kong's rich enterprise history has roots in the 1950s manufacturing boom, and The Mills' adaptive transformation has preserved this legacy, while nurturing new ideas and talents through community building.

New elements were carefully designed to highlight the original utilitarian features, achieving sustainability and resonating with modern society. Reinvented as a cultural hub, The Mills hosts an art space passing on textile heritage knowledge, connecting former workers with designers, artists and the public. An indoor marketplace also features local artisanal brands and sustainable products, offering an inspiring exploration for all.

Lai Chi Wo Rural Cultural Landscape (2020)

Lai Chi Wo Rural Cultural Landscape was awarded UNESCO's Special Recognition for Sustainable Development for its pioneering approach to rural sustainability, upholding economic, social and environmental dimensions in the holistic rejuvenation of the historic Hakka agricultural settlement using nature-based solutions.

This ancient Hakka village in the New Territories is now praised for its revived feng shui woodlands, restored God of War temple, and lush mangrove habitat. About 60,000 square metres of abandoned farmland was transformed, making Lai Chi Wo a model for eco-agriculture and community revitalisation. Visitors can now explore the village's thriving agricultural practices, with residents growing a variety of organic produce such as winter melons, turmeric, ginger, herbs and even coffee beans.