Summary
- Tsim Sha Tsui, the tip of Kowloon, is home to many museums and malls and is connected by a long trail by the sea called the “Avenue of Stars.”
- The Hong Kong Museum of Art is one of the largest, yet most exhibitions have free entry. Coincidentally, I visited many museums and realized that numerous national museums offer free admission on Wednesdays.
Highlights
Hong Kong Museum of Art
- This is the primary art museum in Hong Kong, where we can see unique items that combine both Chinese and Western cultures.
- Traditional art may not seem attractive to young people, but this museum helps us rediscover it through colorful modern artwork and videos based on traditional methods. We can also learn how ancient people created and used national treasures.
K11 & K11 Musea
- These are luxurious department stores in the Bay Area; however, using green and wood makes the environment comfortable and inviting for all people.
- The glass sphere in K11 Musea is famous, and we can also enjoy many artworks along the way.
MoMA Design Store
- Located inside K11 Musea, it offers unique electronic devices and ornaments.
- It features a variety of creative works that we can appreciate even if we don’t know much about art, and the display device called “Cotodama,” which reacts to music relics, was cool.
Avenue of Stars & Railway Clock Tower
- The Avenue of Stars is the pathway by the sea that connects all the museums and shopping malls at the tip of the Bay Area.
- This is known as a viewpoint for “A Symphony of Lights,” a light show at 8 PM where the lights on the skyscrapers are synchronized.
Hong Kong Space Museum
- This museum is located right next to the art museum. It is small but features artistic exhibitions. The crystals on the meteorites were especially beautiful.
Hong Kong Science Museum
- Electronics, magnetism, and kinetics are visualized in an interactive way, beautifully enhanced by colorful lights.
- Unfortunately, the giant marble coaster was not working, but it would have been a spectacular sight if I could have seen it.
Hong Kong History Museum
- There was a national security exhibition when I went there, but it was partially about the integration of Hong Kong into China.
- Many futuristic technologies have been used, such as 3D holograms and robots, to show how the latest technology helps national security.
- The exhibition emphasized that Hong Kong is part of China and criticized the Hong Kong protests as a national crisis. In the future, freedom of speech in Hong Kong and unique artwork inspired by the CCP might not be seen.
A Symphony of Lights
- It was cool with many light beams, but it was not as impressive as Shanghai, Singapore, or Las Vegas, which use fountains and music. I think it would be better to have music and fountains.
Other Interesting Places
- This is a vending machine-like library. It costs some money to borrow books, but it makes the library much more accessible.
- Kowloon’s buildings are relatively old and chaotic, but we can enjoy amazing local food at cheap prices.
- We can go to China using a train, subway, bus, or ferry, but taking the bus is a much less crowded option and especially good when we apply for a visa.
Food
- Cafe de Coral is a fast-food chain in Hong Kong that offers giant and satisfying meals. It’s mostly Western, but we can see some special modifications.
Opinions
- Many countries offer free museums, and Japan might be one of the few countries that do not offer them. Setting a fee might be effective for controlling visitors, but it will promote disparity in wealth and education.
- Artwork can be expensive, so sharing it in public spaces, just like in a library, seems to be a good idea. Artwork is not consumable, so it can inspire and benefit people in the long term.
- National museums are always great, but I hope there will be some unique specializations, such as one focused on IT technology. Chinese museums are always superior when it comes to the use of computer graphics. The movie at the beginning of the museum makes the experience much more immersive and engaging.
- While Hong Kong is a wealthy city, I also saw a lot of homeless people, some of whom were physically disabled. Achieving economic growth and equality seems difficult to accomplish at the same time.
