Hong Kong Palace Museum – Review guide to HK’s best museums

The Hong Kong Palace Museum is one of the latest museums in Hong Kong. The newly opened attraction is not only a popular place to visit. It is also another cultural landmark of the city. The unique mixture of traditional and modern Chinese architecture is located at the West Kowloon Cultural District. On display are precious objects from the Forbidden City in Beijing. This sightseeing attraction is highly recommended. Especially, if you are interested in Chinese history, culture and art.

Tickets are available from ticket counters and many authorized sellers. To save time and avoid waiting in line, it is recommended to secure tickets in advance online.

Below are all the info you need to know about the popular Palace Museum, including e.g. entrance fees, ticket prices, how to get to the museum, what you can do, activities, exhibitions and events.

What is Hong Kong Palace Museum?

The Hong Kong Palace Museum (HKPM) is one of the latest sightseeing attractions. This new museum opened on July 3, 2022, right on time to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the handover of Hong Kong.

On 7,800 square meters, the world-class museum showcases precious artefacts, arts and exhibits borrowed from the famous national Palace Museum at the Forbidden City in Beijing. So, in case you don’t have time to Beijing and visit the famous Forbidden City, this is your chance to take a closer look at some of the most precious and famous art collections.

Architecture of the Palace Museum

Hong Kong star architect Rocco Yim designed the newly opened Palace Museum. Maybe you are not familiar with his work, but throughout Hong Kong you can find many unique and outstanding buildings designed by him. They are not only influential and impressive, but also immediately recognisable (e.g. Tamar government complex, iSquare, One Peking Road, Four Seasons or the Kerry Hotel).

The impressive design and architecture of the HKPM combines traditional Chinese architecture with modern contemporary aesthetics. The design has been inspired by the ‘original’ Palace Museum as well as the central axis concept of the Forbidden City in Beijing.

Modern construction elements, space and lighting concepts have been combined with traditional Chinese elements such as e.g. bright red doors or golden tiles. These traditional elements pay reference to the impressive Palace of the Forbidden City in Beijing. Although, the building is echoing traditional Chinese architecture and aesthetics, it represents a fresh, modern and contemporary approach.

The shape of the building reminds many locals and Mainland Chinese visitors of a classic Chinese cauldron called ding. A ding is an ancient cauldron. The cauldron can have either 3 or 4 legs and can be round- or square-shaped with a lid and two handles. It is one of the most important shapes used in Chinese ritual bronzes.

The design concept of the museum connects history and modernity. Needless to say that the newly building itself became with an blink of an eye one of the city’s famous landmarks. In addition, it is one of the recent Instagram and selfie hotspots.

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Highlights of Hong Kong Palace Museum

The HKMP houses seven permanent exhibition galleries and two galleries for special themed exhibitions.

Permanent Exhibitions

There are over 900 rare artefacts, art pieces and objects. These are displayed at the seven permanent exhibitions galleries. These priceless treasures have been borrowed from the national Palace Museum from the Forbidden City in Beijing.

Some of the borrowed items have been never shown to the public before. As you can imagine these items and fine collections are one of the major highlights of the exhibition.

The permanent exhibition galleries cover and provide some insights to the famous Ming (1368 – 1644) and Qing (1636 – 1912) dynasties. They are highly recommended. Not only if you are interested in Chinese culture, art and history.

Special Thematic Exhibitions

Another highlight of the Palace Museum is the regular changing Special Exhibition. These exhibitions are just temporarily available. They focus on specific art topics, masterpieces or time periods. Below are some of the most popular exhibitions of the past:

• Radiance: Ancient Gold from the Hong Kong Palace Museum Collection and the Mengdiexuan Collection
• Gazing at Sanxingdui: New Archaeological Discoveries in Sichuan
• Cartier and Women
• Radiance: Ancient Gold from Hong Kong Palace Museum collection and the Mengdiexuan collection
• Odysseys of Art: Masterpieces Collected by the Princes of Liechtenstein
• The Making of Masterpieces: Chinese Painting and calligraphy from the Palace Museum
• Grand Gallop: Art and Culture of the Horse

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What can you do at the Palace Museum?

The permanent and special exhibitions are not the only things you can do at the HKMP. The museum also houses e.g. an auditorium, learning spaces, activity rooms and a gift shop. Furthermore, they organise e.g. special lectures, guided tours, workshops, talks, performances, movie screening and activities.

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Ticket information: prices, Where to get tickets of Hong Kong Palace Museum

Ticket prices are categorized to General Admission and Special Exhibition.

All the tickets (general admission and special exhibition tickets) can be purchased directly from the ticket counters of Hong Kong Palace Museum. Be prepared that the museum may be very popular and there will be long queue at the ticket counter. To save time, you also can secure ticket from authorized platforms online.

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How much is Palace Museum ticket?

So, how much are the ticket prices, entrance fees and admissions to Hong Kong Palace Museum? Ticket prices and entrance fees depends which part and galleries of the museum you want to visit.

– General Admission tickets to the Exhibition Galleries 1 – 7

Ticket prices for the permanent thematic Exhibitions Halls are:

• Standard Ticket – HKD 60
• Concession Ticket – HKD 30 (Children age 7 to 11, full-time students, seniors age 60+, people with disabilities and CSSA recipients))

– Ticket prices for the Special Thematic Exhibition Galleries 8 – 9

In case you would like to visit and explore the special thematic exhibitions (e.g. Botticelli to Van Gogh exhibition), you need to purchase tickets for the Special Exhibition Galleries. These tickets also include a General Admission ticket. Hence, you can enter and enjoy the exhibitions of the whole museum.

Ticket prices for the Special Exhibitions Gallery Halls 8 and 9 (includes General Admission Ticket) are:

• Standard Ticket – HKD 150
• Concession Ticket – HKD 75 (Children age 7 to 11, full-time students, seniors age 60+, people with disabilities and CSSA recipients)

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Where to buy admission tickets?

In general, both types of admission tickets are available from the official ticket counter of the museum as well as through internet online booking platforms.

• From Official Ticket Counter

  General admission tickets as well as tickets for the Special Thematic Exhibition galleries can be purchased directly from the official ticket counters of the museum.

  In case you plan to purchase tickets directly at the counter, be aware that you might have to wait long times in line. This attraction is very popular. And it is not unusual to see visitors queuing up hours before the official opening hours of the museum.

  

  Queuing up for admission tickets

  In order to avoid disappointment try to purchase and secure your entrance tickets in advance. This can be done through one of the following official online booking platforms.

• From Online Booking Platforms

  The HKPM cooperates with several big online booking platforms such as e.g. China Travel Service (CTS), Fliggy, Ctrip, Trip.com, Klook and KKDay.

  China Travel Service (CTS), Fliggy, Ctrip and Trip.com cater mainly to Chinese tourists. Klook and KKDay offer discounted tickets to the rest of foreign travellers.

  Booking through one of the platforms has the several advantages. First, you can immediately see which days are sold out. Second, you can immediately secure your preferred day of visit (instant confirmation). Third, booking from the online discount providers entitles the visitors with direct admission. And lastly, don’t forget to check tickets for other sightseeing attractions. These platforms provide discounted admission tickets to all kind of attractions.

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Is Hong Kong Palace Museum still free on Wednesdays?

Unfortunately, the Palace Museum decided to suspend the “free Wednesday” admission scheme. At the moment it is unclear if the museum will launch some new promotions or reduced admission ticket prices in future.

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Is it worthwhile to visit the Palace Museum?

The Palace Museum is highly recommended not only if you are Chinese history, art and culture lover. The precious objects from the Forbidden City from the Qing and Ming dynasty are the highlight to visit this attraction. As mentioned above, some of the items have never been on display for the public. Alone these rare priceless treasures make it worthwhile to visit.

Furthermore, the beautiful designed building itself is an highlight. Especially, if you are interested in design and architecture, you should not miss this unique landmark. There is plenty to discover inside and outside.

The exhibitions are very well curated. The museum also uses some of the latest technologies in parts of their special exhibitions such as e.g. panoramic video projections, lenticular prints, light boxes, 3D animations and interactive exhibits.

Having said that, the Palace Museum is a must-visit and not only a great choice on a rainy day. Expect to stay the whole day.

Read More About:
What can you do on rainy days in Hong Kong

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Hotels close to the Palace Museum – or where are the best places to stay

No matter if you are a first-time or repeating visitor to Hong Kong, it is recommended to plan your stay ahead. Choosing to either stay on the Kowloon or Hong Kong Island side is not the only thing to decide. Hotel rooms and accommodation fill up quickly and room rates skyrocket. Having said that try to book and secure your hotel room as early as possible!

Stay in Western Kowloon (close to Palace Museum)

The closest location to Hong Kong Palace Museum is Western Kowloon. There are three hotels located within walking range to the museum. The area is convenient and has several other top sightseeing attractions, restaurants and shopping options in close proximity. All three hotels are in close proximity to the city’s MTR subway system, Airport Express train and High Speed Rail (HSR) system.

The Airport Express train travels directly from Hong Kong International Airpot to West Kowloon within 22 minutes. The Kowloon station of Airport Express is conveniently only steps away from the Palace Museum.

1. W Hotel
2. The Ritz Carlton Hong Kong 麗思卡爾頓酒店
3. The Harbourview Place Hong Kong 港景匯

Stay in Tsim Sha Tsui (TST)

Alternatively, you can think to stay in Tsim Shat Tsui. This district is one of the most popular to stay. It has plenty of accommodation, dining, sight seeing and transport options. Tsim Sha Tsui is the transportation center connecting to street markets in Mongkok, other museums (history, science, art and space) as well as Hong Kong Island (to the Peak).

Best Hotel options in Tsim Sha Tsui:

1. Regent Hong Kong (former InterContinental Hong Kong) 香港麗晶酒店 (原香港洲際酒店)
2. Sheraton Hong Kong Hotel & Towers 香港喜來登酒店
3. The Peninsula Hong Kong 香港半島酒店
4. K11 Artus (new) K11寓館
5. Rosewood Hotel (new) 香港瑰麗酒店
6. YMCA Salisbury 港青酒店
7. FWD House 1881
8. Marco Polo Hong Kong Hotel 馬哥孛羅酒店
9. Kowloon Shangri-La Hotel 九龍香格里拉酒店
10. Langham Hotel 香港朗庭酒店

Stay in Wan Chai or Central (center of the city)

In case you can’t find any hotel room around the museum or would like to experience another side of the city, you might want to check out some of the following hotels along Central and Wan Chai areas. Both districts are the most popular areas for visitors. There are plenty of hotel options and you can easily reach Western Kowloon district by subway.

Best Hotel options along Wan Chai area:

1. Grand Hyatt Hong Kong 香港君悅酒店
2. The St. Regis Hong Kong 瑞吉酒店
3. Renaissance Harbour View Hotel 香港萬麗海景酒店
4. The Fleming Hotel 芬名酒店
5. Gloucester Luk Kwok Hotel 六國酒店

Best Hotel options along Central/Admiralty area:

1. JW Marriott Hotel 香港JW萬豪酒店
2. Island Shangri-La 港島香格里拉大酒店
3. The Murray 香港美利酒店
4. Conrad Hong Kong 香港港麗酒店
5. The Upper House 奕居
6. Four Seasons Hong Kong 香港四季酒店
7. Mandarin Oriental Hong Kong 香港文華東方酒店

If you prefer to check out hotels in other locations, you can start with where are the best places to stay.

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What are the Opening Hours and when is it the best time to visit Hong Kong Palace Museum?

The official opening hours of Hong Kong Palace Museum are:

• 10:00am – 6:00pm (Mon, Wed, Thu and Sun)
• 10:00am – 8:00pm (Fri, Sat and public holiday)

The museum is closed on Tuesdays (except public holidays) and the first 2 days of the Lunar New Year.

So, when is the best time to visit? It is always a good idea to plan ahead if you want to visit this attraction. The museum is very popular among travel agencies, teachers and students. Expect large crowds. Therefore, try to purchase and secure your entrance tickets in advance to avoid disappointment.

Besides, it is recommended to avoid weekends and public holidays. Similar to other attractions it can get crowded. Having said that, the best time to visit is during the week.

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Where is the location of Hong Kong Palace Museum?

The HKPM is located at the West Kowloon Cultural District (WKCD). The area is a vibrant hub of the local and international art scene. There are several arts venues and cultural facilities. All of them offer world-class exhibitions, arts, performances and cultural events. Having said that the location of the museum makes it easy to combine several attractions at once.

Next to the Palace Museum is the M+ Museum, Art Park, Freespace, Xiqu Centre and the upcoming Lyric Theatre Complex. On the way to or from the museum, you can also visit another popular sightseeing attraction. The sky100 Observation Deck is inside the ICC (the city’s highest building) and connected with the ELEMENTS shopping mall.

And if that is not enough, the West Kowloon Cultural District offers some stunning and spectacular views of Victoria Harbour and Hong Kong’s magnificent skyline. Simply walk along the Waterfront promenade or enjoy some alfresco dinning at one of the nearby restaurants.

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How to get to Hong Kong Palace Museum?

You can get to Palace Museum by subway and then walk or use free shuttle bus service.

By MTR then walk

The most convenient way to get to Hong Kong Palace Museum is to take Hong Kong’s MTR. Take the subway to the Kowloon MTR Station and take Exit E4 or E5 (this subway exit is closest to the museum). Walk along Nga Cheung Road. Then cross the footbridge and follow the signs to the museum.

Another option is to leave the Kowloon MTR station through Exit C1 or D1. Follow the signs to the Artist Square Bridge and cross it. Then follow the signs towards the museum. It’s an approx. 10 minutes walk.

By MTR then use free shuttle service

Alternatively, you can take the MTR subway and travel to the Austin MTR station and take Exit D. From there you can hop on the free shuttle bus taking you to the museum district. The free shuttle bus departs every 20 minutes.

In case you don’t want to wait or would like to enjoy a walk then you can the Exit B4 or B5. The walk towards the museum is approx. 15-20 minutes.

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