Best Art Galleries in Hong Kong

Best Art Galleries in Hong Kong - Guide for Art lovers

Explore the best art Hong Kong has to offer with our must-see list!
By Dom Bewley

If you’re looking to get stuck into Hong Kong’s art scene, here are our top gallery suggestions!

If you're looking for some thought-provoking art to expand your horizons, check out our picks of the best art galleries in Hong Kong!

Including:

  • What is the most prestigious art gallery in the world?
  • What art is Hong Kong known for?
  • What is the most important art event in Hong Kong?
  • The Best Art Galleries in Hong Kong
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What is the most prestigious art gallery in the world?

While there are many prestigious art galleries around the world, it's hard to argue that the Louvre in Paris is at the top of the pile. What was once a royal palace is now the largest museum in the world and displays arguably the most famous painting of all time - the Mona Lisa.

What art is Hong Kong known for?

In the middle of the Twentieth Century, many of China's most prominent artists moved to Hong Kong in the wake of the People's Republic's rise to power, bringing with them a revitalized version of traditional Chinese painting and calligraphy. As such, Hong Kong's art world began to flourish, and its mix of classic styles and modern sensibilities have led to widespread innovation in the art world.

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What is the most important art event in Hong Kong?

That would be the Hong Kong Arts Festival. Having been a mainstay in Hong Kong for over half a century, the festival runs annually between mid-February and mid-March. This month of art showcases up-and-coming local artists and international stars, while also highlighting all forms of art, including cinema, music, dance, and more.

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Best Art Galleries in Hong Kong: M+

If you're looking for Hong Kong's premier hub for visual art, culture, architecture, and design, then M+ is the art gallery for you.

Showcasing a dynamic collection spanning the 20th and 21st centuries, all while emphasizing local talent, the museum's collection encompasses modern and contemporary art from Asia and the wider world. The M+ permanent collection boasts well over 10,000 works of art, including architectural gems by luminaries like Frank Lloyd Wright and Ludwig Mies van der Rohe.

Pick up an English audio guide and see it all at your own pace. When you've exhausted the museum's exhaustive collection, check out the rest of the complex, which includes an arthouse cinema, diverse shops, and culinary delights.

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Best Art Galleries in Hong Kong: Tang Contemporary Art

Opened back in 1997 in Bangkok, Tang Contemporary Art has expanded its presence with galleries in Beijing and Hong Kong. As a trailblazer in the Asian contemporary art landscape, the gallery specializes in Chinese and Southeast Asian contemporary artists.

Renowned Chinese figures like Ai Weiwei, Huang Yongping, Shen Yuan, and Wang Du are among its featured talents. Notably, Tang Contemporary Art was the inaugural gallery to occupy H Queen's, Hong Kong's pioneering "vertical art complex," strategically located in a cutting-edge glass tower designed exclusively for galleries.

The gallery's commitment to showcasing unique art experiences makes it an obvious addition to our list of the best art galleries in Hong Kong!

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Best Art Galleries in Hong Kong: Edouard Malingue Gallery

Edouard Malingue Gallery aims to cultivate a meaningful discourse between Asian and international contemporary artists.

The gallery serves as a platform for both emerging and established creatives, featuring diverse talents such as Hong Kong sound performance artist and composer Samson Young and renowned Korean abstract painter Cho Yong-ik. Edouard Malingue Gallery embraces a wide spectrum of art styles, showcasing works encompassing video, painting, and installation.

By bridging cultural boundaries, the gallery contributes to the dynamic and evolving landscape of contemporary art, fostering a space for dialogue and exploration.

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Best Art Galleries in Hong Kong: Lehmann Maupin

Named after creators Rachel Lehmann and David Maupin, the Lehmann Maupin is a series of galleries that stretch from New York to Seoul and Hong Kong.

Housed within the Peddler Building, one of the last remaining buildings that predate World War 2 in the city, it showcases trailblazing, eye-opening pieces from some of Hong Kong - and the world's brightest artistic minds.

If you're looking for thought-provoking pieces that touch on sensitive topics like class, gender, religion, and politics, you'll love a trip to Lehmann Maupin.

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Best Art Galleries in Hong Kong: Blindspot

Blindspot, a Hong Kong gallery that was created to focus on contemporary photography and image-based art, has since expanded to include various mediums and forms of contemporary art.

Situated in Wong Chuk Hang, an industrial neighborhood on the southern side of Hong Kong Island, this 7,000-square-foot gallery provides a space to explore the works of local Hong Kong artists and creative talents from Southeast Asia.

With a commitment to showcasing diverse artistic expressions, Blindspot offers an immersive experience for art enthusiasts, fostering a connection between the audience and the ever-evolving landscape of contemporary art in the region.

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Best Art Galleries in Hong Kong: Para Site

Para Site is a gallery built by local artists for local artists. Established nearly 30 years ago by Patrick Lee, Leung Chi-wo, Phoebe Man Ching-ying, Sara Wong Chi-hang, Leung Mee-ping, and Tsang Tak-ping, it's now one of Hong Kong's oldest independent art galleries.

This cutting-edge gallery runs exhibitions and educational programs exploring local and international contemporary art and frequently engages in collaborations with other art institutions, museums, and schools.

These projects include Para Site's International Art Residency Programme and pioneering educational scheme for training young local art professionals and curators.

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Best Art Galleries in Hong Kong: Whitestone Gallery

Originally set up in Tokyo, but having made its way to Hong Kong's shores, Whitestone Gallery is a brilliant showcase of Japanese art.

Championing avant-garde Post-War Japanese artists, Whitestone Gallery features renowned figures like Takeo Yamaguchi, Tadaaki Kuwayama, Yayoi Kusama, and Yoshitomo Nara. The gallery extends its representation to members of the revolutionary Gutai group, including the accomplished painter Jiro Yoshihara.

Additionally, Whitestone Gallery supports emerging talents beyond Japan, such as Hong Kong's versatile designer, photographer, and artist Alan Chan.

And those are our picks of the best art galleries in Hong Kong! With your art itch scratched, what about the rest of Hong Kong? Don't worry; Go City's got you covered. With our All-Inclusive Pass and Explorer Pass, you can see all of Hong Kong's best bits for one low price!

Dom Bewley
Go City Travel Expert

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10 Historical Places in Hong Kong
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10 Historical Places in Hong Kong

Top 10 lists are all the rage these days, from the 10 best films of the year, to 10 ways to change your life right now. We don't deal in fads but are happy to jump on the top 10 trend. So, without further ado, these are our picks of the 10 best historical places in Hong Kong! Including: Aberdeen Fishing Village Victoria Peak Tian Tan Buddha Wong Tai Sin Temple and more! Aberdeen Fishing Village Aberdeen Fishing Village dates back to the 18th century, back when Hong Kong was a much smaller settlement than it is today. Some of that history remains today, including the Hung Shing Temple that dates back to the 1700s, as well as a number of fishing boats throughout the centuries. Why not take a tour of the area, where you'll see and snap all the sights, board a houseboat from the 1960s, and then tuck into a traditional fish and noodle broth often consumed by the local fishermen? Victoria Peak Back in the 19th century, when Hong Kong was a British colony, Victoria Peak was prime real estate for white Europeans. As the highest hill on the island, measuring over 1800 feet, it offered amazing views of the developing city. And being so high up, it also has a cooler microclimate when compared to street level. Nowadays, the mountain has predominantly returned to its verdant roots, but it still offers visitors the best views of the city and historic nature trails to explore. Getting up there is easy enough, thanks to the Peak Tram, which goes from the city streets to the top of Victoria's Peak. Tian Tan Buddha While the Tian Tan Buddha was only built in the 1990s, that's technically the past and, therefore, technically historic! But given the spectacle that it provides, it earns its place on our list. Also known as "Big Buddha", Tian Tan Buddha is massive. 112 ft tall, over 280 tons of bronze, and perched atop Ngong Ping on Lantau Island, it's one of the most prominent sights in Hong Kong. So go see it, take some pics, and revel in its spiritual significance. Take a historical tour of the city If just one historical place isn't enough, why not a bunch? On this historic tour of Hong Kong, you'll get your steps in while seeing the sights. Explore the myriad architectural delights of Central District, including Gothic Revival, classic Colonial, and elegant Neoclassical buildings that rub shoulders with modern skyscrapers. Stop for snaps in Statue Square, then see Norman Foster's famous HSBC building up close. Other highlights include lush Hong Kong Park and historic Hollywood Road, home of Tai Kwun, aka the former Central Police Station Compound, with its beautiful courtyard and original prison cells to explore. Wong Tai Sin Temple Found in north Kowloon - in Lion Rock, to be exact - is the Wong Tai Sin Temple. Also known as the Great Immortal Wong Temple, the distinct red and bronze Taoist temple was built back in the 1920s and is a hugely popular tourist destination to this day. So, why not go and smell the incense that wafts out of there on a daily basis, bask in its grand, spiritual design, and take some photos while you're at it? Man Mo Temple Man Mo Temple is certainly one of the oldest temples that still stand in Hong Kong, having been built around the 1850s. Thankfully, it's considered a protected historical sight now, so it's likely to still be standing decades from now. But there's no time like the present, so go check it out on your visit. Dedicated to King-Emperor Man and Holy King-Emperor Kwan - patrons of study - it was often visited by students hoping to do well in school. Nowadays, its double-eave, green tiled rooftop, and courtyard layout are indicative of the Qing dynasty and more than earn a place on your camera roll. Kowloon Walled City Park Kowloon Walled City has an interesting past, to say the least. Originally a military stronghold during the 1400s, it later became a hodge podge of makeshift flats and residences for miscreants until it was demolished some 30 years ago. Today, a beautiful park lies atop the remains, but elements of its past have been preserved for visitors and locals alike. So go see its lush green spaces and marvel at the interesting artifacts that remain, including The Yamen, a Qing-era building, and what remains of the South Gate. Chi Lin Nunnery Getting its name from the nuns that used to go there in the 20th century, Chi Lin Nunnery is actually a large Buddhist temple. Rebuilt in the last 30 years to match the traditional Tang Dynasty style of architecture, it absolutely deserves its place on this list as one of the 10 historical places to visit in Hong Kong. It's the world's largest hand-made wooden building, and its beautiful, intricate designs cover more than 360k square feet. Go for the architecture and history; stay for the huge ornate statues of gods and goddesses. Wan Chai Blue House If you're after one of the most unusual places in Hong Kong, this historical flat block is sure to break the top 10. Yes, it's just a flat block, but it's also entirely blue, a listed building, and just so happens to be built in the 19th-century style popular in South China at the time. It's also a massively popular tourist destination, thanks to its striking blue color, and the Hong Kong House of Stories event space that's open to one and all. Featuring historical exhibits and artifacts, it's a great way to get a sense of what life was like back then. Clock Tower Built back in 1915, the Hong Kong Clock Tower is easily one of the 10 best historical places to visit in the city. Once standing tall by the Kowloon–Canton train station, now it is all that remains. At over 140 feet tall, it's hard to miss. And its distinct red brick 'stripe' along the center makes it easy fodder for a whole bunch of vacation snaps. So now you know about the 10 best historical places in Hong Kong! If you want to make the most of your visit, check out Go City. With our All-Inclusive Pass and Explorer Pass, you can also see the more modern experiences in the city for one low price!
Dom Bewley
Woman reading map in front of the gold pavilion in Nan Lian Garden
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Relaxing Things to do in Hong Kong

Looking for relaxing things to do in Hong Kong? Take a load off and kick back with our list of the city's most serene spots!
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Sunrise over Hong Kong
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Hong Kong in September

If you're planning a vacation in Hong Kong this September, you're in for a treat, with (mostly) sunny days and plenty of traditional festivals to experience. Read on for our guide, which includes...
Dom Bewley

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