Hong Kong 2024 - West Kowloon Cultural District

The typhoon was short-lived and by noon the following day, things were getting back to normal and people were going back to work.  Since it was still a bit windy with the occasional drizzle, it was the perfect time for museums and there are a few of these in the new West Kowloon Cultural District  (a new area of reclaimed land from the 1990's) just one subway stop from Tsimshatsui. It is actually within walking distance but since the weather is not great and there would be plenty of exercise walking inside the museum, I took the mini-bus, another great form of transportation.  

Panorama looking out from the Hong Kong Palace Museum

Heavy duty construction activity in the West Kowloon Cultural District 

The M+ Museum, supposdely modernist architecture, struck me as a bit brutalist, especially on the inside.  It is huge, apparently with exhibition space that is slightly larger than MOMA.  There are lots of contemporary art installations and you could spend hours going through them, including works and installations from local and mainland artists.  There was an interesting special exhibit on the architect I.M. Pei when I was visiting.

Entrance to M+

This spiral staircase seems to be a centrepiece on the second floor where the main exhibits were.  Not sure if it leads anywhere or if there is a practical purpose but it is certainly photogenic.

The main floor - quite brutalist

A couple of the installations in the Museum

View of the Hong Kong Palace Museum from M+

The ICC (International Commerce Centre)  a key building on the West Kowloon site can be seen from the Palace Museum entrance.

The Hong Kong Palace Museum is a stunning building, with an exceptionally beautiful interior space with curves and lines that you could chase on different floors. It has over 900 artefacts from the Palace Museum in the Forbidden City in Beijing.  

The main lobby of the Hong Kong Palace Museum

Love that curved ceiling!

The Audditorium from above and below

A Ming dynasty vase among the artefacts

A screen depicting the "Four Friends" in cloisonné from the Qing dynasty

It seems to be a custom to dress up to go to Museums.  

A repeat of the lobby ceiling motif in another section

The Xiqu Performing Arts Centre is just a few minutes by mini-bus from the Hong Kong Palace Museum.  It has two theatres and aims to preserve, promote and nurture the local form of Cantonese opera.  The design is inspired by a traditonal Chinese lantern.  

Looking up from the entrance

Sunset in West Kowloon looking at the Arch Star Tower

The final stop at the High Speed Train station beside the MTR Kowloon station - another stunning building in the area.