5 West Kowloon Cultural District must-sees

The West Kowloon Cultural District is a growing arts and cultural hub with performance and exhibition centres, green open spaces, a growing selection of cafes and restaurants, and a waterfront promenade perfect for enjoying sunset views and evening strolls. The district stretches from MTR Austin Station to the waterfront west of MTR Kowloon Station, and all venues are within easy distance of public transport.

Hong Kong Palace Museum

Start your exploration at Hong Kong Palace Museum, a collaborative project between the West Kowloon Cultural District Authority and the Palace Museum committed to the study and appreciation of Chinese art and culture, while advancing dialogue among world civilisations through international partnerships. The museum presents the finest objects from the Palace Museum and other important cultural institutions around the world. In addition, it will also lead community engagement programmes to promote creativity and interdisciplinary collaboration to the public.

Photo by Kevin Mak　　Courtesy of Herzog de Meuron

Photograph by Virgile Simon Bertrand　　Courtesy of Herzog & de Meuron

An evening view of M+ on the edge of Kowloon

Photograph by Kevin Mak　　Courtesy of Herzog & de Meuron

M+

M+ , Asia’s first global museum of contemporary visual culture, features collections spanning 20th- and 21st-century visual art, design and architecture, moving image and Hong Kong visual culture. The expansive podium cantilevers above ground and includes 17,000 square metres of exhibition space across 33 galleries, three cinema houses, the Mediatheque, Learning Hub, and Roof Garden that faces Victoria Harbour. The tower stretching up from the podium contains the museum’s Research Centre, offices and restaurants. The museum’s prime location on the waterfront offers beautiful views of Hong Kong throughout the day.

Art Park

The Art Park Get me there {{title}} {{taRatingReviewTotal}} {{taRatingReviewText}} Address {{address}} Website {{website}} More info offers open green spaces where visitors can relax, play or picnic on the lawns, and a long waterfront promenade perfect for sunset views of the harbour. The pet-friendly park is a vibrant venue for open-air performances, exhibitions and other cultural events, and home to occasional street performers, a gourmet food truck and multiple restaurants and cafes. You can also rent a SmartBike to explore the pathways, or relax in the cool timber structure of the Competition Pavilion – the perfect spot for taking a break in the shade or capturing IG-worthy images.

Freespace

Freespace Get me there {{title}} {{taRatingReviewTotal}} {{taRatingReviewText}} Address {{address}} Website {{website}} More info — Hong Kong’s centre for contemporary performance in the heart of the Art Park — presents multi-genre performances and events, and showcases emerging and established artists from Hong Kong and around the world. It also houses Hong Kong’s largest black box theatre, The Box, and Lau Bak Livehouse — an intimate bar and performance space featuring regular weekend programmes of live music and cultural events, and a full menu of delicious food and craft beer.

Xiqu Centre

Located at the eastern end of the district, the Xiqu Centre is an award-winning venue showcasing world-class productions of Cantonese opera and other regional forms of Chinese opera (xiqu). The larger of its two theatres, the Grand Theatre, features performances by some of the best troupes in the region. The more intimate Tea House Theatre, designed in the style of Hong Kong’s early 20^th-century tea houses, is home to the signature Tea House Theatre Experience — a narrated performance of Cantonese opera excerpts perfect for new audiences. The Xiqu Centre also hosts regular film screenings, workshops, talks, exhibitions and guided tours. With its welcoming public atrium, fine restaurants and cafes, and gift shop specialising in xiqu-inspired products, the Xiqu Centre is the perfect place to escape the city bustle.