Attraction
Victoria Peak
Hong Kong Island's highest hill, reached by the historic Peak Tram from Central, with harbour views from Sky Terrace 428 and the level loop walk along…
Hong Kong Palace Museum
A museum in the West Kowloon Cultural District showing treasures on long-term loan from the Palace Museum in Beijing alongside exhibitions of Chinese art and culture.
At a glance
- Type
- Museum of Chinese art and imperial treasures
- Area
- West Kowloon Cultural District, Hong Kong
- Opening
- Open 6 days a week (closed Tuesday)
- Official site
- hkpm.org.hk
Good to know
- Step-free access with lifts
- Accessible toilets on all floors
- Free wheelchair and pushchair loans
- Baby care rooms
- Lockers
- Restaurant
- Shop
Why we recommend it
The Hong Kong Palace Museum opened in July 2022 on the western edge of the West Kowloon Cultural District. The building was designed by Rocco Design Architects on a former landfill site, and construction was funded by a large donation from the Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust.
The main draw is the collection on long-term loan from the Palace Museum in Beijing, which cares for the treasures of the former imperial palace known as the Forbidden City. Artworks and objects from the imperial collection are shown in themed galleries, and some of the pieces lent to Hong Kong had never been displayed in public before. Special exhibitions change through the year, so check what is on before you book.
The museum is open from 10am to 6pm on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday, and until 8pm on Friday, Saturday and public holidays. It is closed on Tuesdays, except public holidays, and on the first two days of the Lunar New Year. Ticket sales stop one hour before closing. Tickets are best bought online in advance, although same-day tickets are sold at the ticket office while they last. Children aged six and under enter free, and visitors under 12 must be accompanied by an adult.
Allow two to three hours. The building is fully step-free, with lifts to every floor, accessible toilets on all levels, baby care rooms and free wheelchairs and pushchairs available from the information desk on the ground floor. Lockers can be rented by the hour, and guide dogs are welcome throughout. There is also a restaurant, a museum shop and a 400-seat theatre used for talks and performances.
The museum suits anyone interested in Chinese history and craftsmanship, and it works well on a hot or rainy day. Kowloon MTR station is about 10 to 15 minutes' walk away, either along Nga Cheung Road from exits E4 and E5 or through the ELEMENTS shopping centre, and the Cultural Express minibus CX1 runs from Austin station. M+ is a few minutes' walk along the waterfront, so the two museums pair well in a single visit to West Kowloon.
Hong Kong Palace Museum FAQs
When is the Hong Kong Palace Museum open?
10am to 6pm on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday, and 10am to 8pm on Friday, Saturday and public holidays. It is closed on Tuesdays except public holidays.
Do you need to book tickets?
Advance online booking is recommended. Same-day tickets are sold at the ticket office while stocks last.
When do ticket sales close?
Ticket sales close one hour before the museum closes.
Can children visit?
Yes. Children aged six and under enter free, and visitors under 12 must be accompanied by an adult.
Is the museum wheelchair accessible?
Yes. Lifts serve every floor, there are accessible toilets on all levels, and wheelchairs can be borrowed free of charge.
What can you see there?
Artworks and objects on long-term loan from the Palace Museum in Beijing, plus changing special exhibitions.
How do you get there?
Walk 10 to 15 minutes from Kowloon MTR station or take the Cultural Express minibus CX1 from Austin station.
Is it closed during Lunar New Year?
Yes. It closes on the first two days of the Lunar New Year.