Travel bucket list idea:
Tai Kwun Centre for Heritage & Arts
Hong Kong, China
Credit Shutterstock.com/Roaming Panda Photos
Last updated: 05 April, 2024
Visiting an old police station doesn’t sound terribly arresting, but this one is bang on. Originally built in the mid-19th century to house crooks and conmen, it was meticulously restored by The Jockey Club and reopened in 2019 as a vibrant arts and heritage hub.
Former cells and courts have been transformed into galleries and interactive museums, and the multi-level courtyards are now home to some of the hippest bars and restaurants in the city.
There are new visiting exhibitions and events on an almost weekly basis, so check out the listings before you go.
Logistics
Price: Free
Minimum age: 0
Age suitable: 18+
When: All year around
Getting there & doing it
Tai Kwun is located half-way up the Mid-Levels escalator, which cuts through the middle of the city centre, and is easily reached on foot from Central MTR Station.
The centre offers free 45-minute guided tours three times a day. Spaces need to be booked in advance via the Tai Kwun website. Accessible guided tours can also be arranged for people with different needs. Otherwise, you can download a number of different audio guides – heritage, architecture, photography – from the free Tai Kwun app (available on Apple and Google Play).
When to do it
The complex is open all year round, seven days a week.
