Hong Kong Tourism Board

Start your exploration at the heart and soul of the West Kowloon Cultural District. Encompassing 20^th- and 21^st-century visual art, design and architecture, moving images, and the thematic area of Hong Kong visual culture, M+ is Asia’s first global museum of contemporary visual culture. It is the cornerstone on which the West Kowloon Cultural District was built to become a world-class cultural destination.

The expansive podium houses 17,000 square metres of exhibition space, three cinemas, learning facilities, museum retail, a cafe, a mediatheque, and a public roof terrace, while the tower stretching up from the podium will contain the museum’s research centre, offices, and restaurants.

M+’s prime location on the waterfront means that you will be afforded some of Hong Kong’s most beautiful views throughout the day, too. The exhibits in the museum are sure to be stunning. Click here to find out more about M+ before your visit!

In the heart of the whole West Kowloon Cultural District area is Freespace, Hong Kong’s centre for contemporary performances. It is a versatile space for pushing artistic boundaries and promoting creative exchanges. Freespace houses The Box, Hong Kong’s largest black box theatre, a perfect venue for experimental productions and events, as well as multipurpose venues called The Room and The Studio, which are used for everything from workshops to exhibitions. Should you be in the mood for experiencing art in new ways, this should be your port of call. At a nearby bar, you can fuel up with craft beers, cocktails, bar bites, and live music performances.

Head towards the water and follow the shoreline until you reach FAM. Meaning ‘food, art, and music,’ FAM combines cultural experiences with contemporary Chinese dining into one potent mix. Enjoy the playful, Art Deco vibe at this open-air restaurant with light art installations, and expect well-appointed interiors with plenty of sunlight and bold colours that will leave you with a plethora of Instagram-worthy photos. FAM also enjoys an incredible 180-degree view of Victoria Harbour and the grass lawn of Museum Drive, so the best way to enjoy this restaurant is dining al fresco to appreciate their modern fusion interpretations of Chinese cuisine.

After your meal at FAM, stretch your legs at the Art Park and waterfront promenade, which runs along Victoria Harbour and sits side by side with an open area comprised of trees, plants, and green lawn spaces — perfect for picnicking.

This long stretch of public space is understandably very popular with joggers, and is a great location for sunset and harbour photography. With its unobstructed views of one of the best skylines and cityscapes in the world, you only need minimal effort to end up with stunning shots along the waterfront promenade.

Continue your creative exploration at the Hong Kong Palace Museum (HKPM).

HKPM aspires to become a leading institution on the study and appreciation of Chinese art and culture, while advancing dialogue between world civilisations. Embracing new curatorial approaches, the museum combines a Hong Kong perspective with a global vision to present precious artefacts from the Palace Museum and other important cultural institutions around the world.

The opening exhibitions of HKPM are jointly curated by HKPM and the Palace Museum. 914 pieces of priceless treasure from the Palace Museum — the biggest loan to another cultural institution outside Mainland China since its establishment in 1925 — are put on display on rotation. Some of the pieces are shown in Hong Kong for the first time. HKPM will also display 13 precious art objects loaned from the Louvre Museum in Paris, a testimony to cultural and knowledge exchange between China and other countries.

Between admiring the artwork and advancing your artistic learning, don’t forget to marvel at the stunning views of the Hong Kong skyline, afforded by the museum’s favourable location next to the harbour.

Don’t leave the Art Park without first stopping by the Competition Pavilion! Referred to as ‘Growing Up’, the structure is made out of slender timber pieces, this modern structure sits right by the water and offers superb harbour and sunset views. The pavilion’s nickname is in reference to how Hong Kong is nurturing its cultural growth, this simple but elegant design was the winning entry in the first Hong Kong Young Architects & Designers Competition, and was built to host small concerts and performances.

For a touch of world-class performing arts, turn your eyes towards the Xiqu Centre, Hong Kong’s premier venue for Chinese opera. Step through its iconic facade — worth admiring for its interlocking pattern and undulating silhouette when the sunset reflects off of it — and take in riveting performances and musical concerts, as well as film screenings and various related educational activities.

Artistic endeavours at the Xiqu Centre don’t just come in the form of performances either. The elaborate costuming and make-up of its versatile performers are awe-inspiring as well, providing the perfect platform to educate new generations and out-of-towners on the cultural heritage of this traditional art form. The Tea House Theatre Experience is designed to ease new audiences into Cantonese opera.

Turn away from Victoria Harbour and head back north to the Hong Kong West Kowloon Station of the High Speed Rail. With about 400,000 square metres of space spreading 25 metres underground, the station connects Hong Kong with the Mainland. The most interesting part of this station is actually right above it: climb directly to its arching rooftop via Sky Corridor, a plant-lined path that leads visitors to the wooden-planked Sightseeing Deck, directly overseeing Hong Kong Island’s iconic skyline, the Xiqu Centre, and the rest of the West Kowloon Cultural District.

Whether you are sightseeing during the day or looking for a viewpoint for impressive harbour snaps in the evening, the Sky Corridor and Sightseeing Deck of Hong Kong West Kowloon Station will afford you incredible perspectives of our ever-evolving city.

Located on the 100^th floor of the International Commerce Centre is sky100, an observation deck like no other in Hong Kong. While the 100^th floor isn’t the highest you can go in the ICC, what sky100 does offer is a stunning 360-degree panoramic view of Hong Kong from a greatly elevated perspective. The sights stretching across Hong Kong Island, Kowloon, and beyond should be mesmerising enough, but should your attention wander, there are also other attractions to keep you entertained, such as interactive multimedia exhibits, a virtual reality station, and AR photo-taking. Have a go at their Advanced Telescopes, which provide settings and displays for sunny days, night views, and fireworks, so you have all your bases covered, no matter what time of day you visit!

For the last location on this itinerary, go even further up the ICC and into the Ritz-Carlton to reach Ozone, the highest bar in the world. Sitting all the way up on the 118^th floor, the bar is predominantly blue-hued to match the sky outside the floor-to-ceiling windows, with an outdoor terrace to venture out onto.

On cloudy days, the top of the ICC practically disappears from sight and visitors will find their city views shrouded with mist, but this does still lend the place a slightly ethereal vibe. You should expect things to be different almost half a kilometre above sea level, after all! Enjoy lounge music, mixologist cocktails, Asian-style tapas, and Japanese specialities with views of the setting sun, and give the city a toast for the inspiration it has provided you with.