It’s been more than a decade in the making, but Hong Kong’s West Kowloon Cultural District has finally burst into life – and instantly become one of the city’s top attractions. Set out for a day or two exploring the area’s collection of world-class museums, outdoor art spaces, and fine-dining restaurants.
Set aside at least half a day to explore the enormous Herzog & de Meuron-designed M+ Museum, the West Kowloon Cultural District’s star attraction. Dedicated to visual culture collected from around Asia over the last two centuries, its numerous galleries present more than 1,500 works of conceptual art, digital art, photography, moving images, and sculpture. Don’t miss the Sigg Collection, one of the largest and most comprehensive collections of contemporary Chinese art in the world. mplus.org.hk
The West Kowloon Cultural District is packed with cute cafés and colorful food trucks, but for something more sophisticated, make for Mosu, a Korean fine-dining restaurant found adjacent to the panoramic M+ roof garden, with sensational views. Only tasting menus are available and change according to the season. hk.restaurantmosu.com
An offshoot of the Palace Museum in Beijing’s Forbidden City, the newly opened Hong Kong Palace Museum houses an incredible collection of priceless treasures rarely seen outside of Mainland China, from Song and Tang Dynasty calligraphy to ornate Imperial robes and delicate jade jewelry to ancient artifacts. Allow at least half a day to absorb its many wonders. hkpm.org.hk
Cantonese opera dates back to the Ming Dynasty. Shaped like a giant silver tea caddy, the Xiqu Centre is home to several theaters, which produce mesmerizing performances (with electronic subtitles in English) featuring elaborate costumes, headdresses, and makeup, often running for four hours. For a taster, visit the Xiqu’s smaller Tea House Theatre instead, which has a 90-minute showcase accompanied by tea and dim sum. westkowloon.hk
Get a bird’s-eye view of the West Kowloon Cultural District at Perla. Perched on the 101st floor of the International Commerce Centre, this elegant restaurant serves Southern Italian cuisine with flair. Arrive early for an aperitif as the sun sinks into the South China Sea. perlarestauranthk.com
From manicured lawns, grassy hills, and a waterfront promenade, sit back and enjoy West Kowloon’s wondrous views of Victoria Harbour, stretching all the way across the island’s splendid cityscape to the outlying islands in the west. There are also regular pop-up theater and dance performances and music here at Freespace every Friday and Saturday. westkowloon.hk
When you’ve had your fill of fine dining and high culture, head inland to Yuen Po Street Bird Garden in Mong Kok. Here, in a beautiful Chinese walled garden surrounded by decorative mosaics, you can learn about the traditional culture of songbird keeping. bird-garden.hk