The Hong Kong Space Museum one of the most famous landmarks in Hong Kong is located on the Tsim Sha Tsui waterfront and is easily recognized by its unique egg-shaped dome. Construction began in 1977 and was completed in 1980, covering an area of 8,000 square meters (about 1.97 acres). This museum is reputed to be the first local planetarium built to popularize astronomy and space science.
The museum is comprised of two wings, east and west. The east wing located under the dome is the planetarium's core, housing the Hall of Space Science, the Space Theatre, workshops and offices. The west wing houses the Hall of Astronomy, the Lecture Hall, the astronomy book store, gift shop and offices.
The planetarium was the first in the world to possess a fully automated control system. The Space theatre is equipped with a domed screen with a diameter of 23 meters (about 25 yards). Every year, two multi-media planetarium shows and the best foreign OMNIMAX films are shown on the dome screen with presentations broadcast simultaneously via head phones in English, Cantonese, Mandarin and Japanese. The images are notable for their unsurpassed size, clarity and impact. The Hong Kong Space Museum was the first planetarium in the eastern hemisphere with an OMNIMAX film projector.
There are two main thematic halls: the Hall of Space Science is on the ground floor and the Hall of Astronomy on the first floor. The Hall of Space Science consists of three parts: the Ancient Astronomical History Area, the Early Rockets Area and the Space Station Area that portrays the history of human space exploration. Visitors have the opportunity to experience many interactive exhibits. In the Launch Vehicles Area, visitors can sit in a 'gyrochair' and learn how to control a gyro as well as launch a multi-stage rocket. The Hall of Astronomy introduces visitors to the solar system, stars and universe. With the help of interactive electronic equipment and the exhibits, visitors can learn about the mysteries of space quite easily.
The Hong Kong Space Museum has a collection of meteorites and organizes¬ extension activities that enrich the lives of both children and adults. A lot of information related to astronomy can be found by visiting the museum's homepage.

* Concession is applicable to full-time students, people with disability and senior citizens aged 60 or above.
* Weekly Pass Holders can enjoy unlimited admission to the following Museums within ONE WEEK: Hong Kong Museum of History, Hong Kong Science Museum, Hong Kong Space Museum (excluding the Space Theatre), Hong Kong Museum of Art, Hong Kong Museum of Coastal Defence and Hong Kong Heritage Museum

Hong Kong Museum of Art

Address: 10 Salisbury Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon, Hong Kong
Tel: (852) 2721 0116
Fax: (852) 2723 7666
E-mail: enquiries@lcsd.gov.hk
Special Opening Hours (30.9 - 3.12.2006):
Daily 10:00 am to 8:00 pm
Closed on Thursdays (except public holidays)
Closed at 6:00 pm on 1 October 2006
Opening Hours (From 4.12.2006):
Daily 10:00 am to 6:00 pm, except on Saturdays from 10:00 am to 8:00 pm
Closed on Thursdays (except public holidays)
Closed at 5:00 pm on Christmas Eve
Closed on the first two days of the Chinese New Year
Closed at 5:00 pm on Chinese New Year's Eve
The Hong Kong Museum of Art is one of the museums managed by the Leisure & Cultural Services Department. Established in 1962, it was first housed in the City Hall, moving to its present purpose-built premises by the Hong Kong Cultural Centre in 1991. The museum also has a branch, the Flagstaff House Museum of Tea Ware, located in Hong Kong Park.

It is the mission of the Hong Kong Museum of Art to preserve the cultural heritage of China and promote art with a local focus. Its collections now number in excess of 14,000 art objects, including Chinese paintings and calligraphy works, antique Chinese treasures, paintings of historical significance as well as creations by local artists. The highlights of the collections are on display in the exhibition galleries. To maintain an essential international character, the museum also presents a great variety of thematic exhibitions drawn from local and overseas sources.

Promoting art among the general public is one of the museum's main objectives, and a wide range of educational programmes are organized in support of the exhibitions to enhance participants' knowledge of and interest in artistic creation.

While navigating through our web pages, please remember that you are always very welcome to visit us in person. After all, there's no substitute for the enjoyable and moving experience of encountering a work of art at first hand!

The Hong Kong Museum of Medical Sciences,
The Hong Kong Museum of Medical Sciences, established in 1996, is an unique institution charting the historical development of medical sciences in Hong Kong. The Museum occupies 10,000 square feet, comprising 11 Exhibition Galleries, 1 Gallery for Tai Ping Shan View, 1 Library and 1 Lecture Room, each presents in a variety of ways to arouse interests and to help members of the community know more about health and diseases, including past conquests, current developments and future challenge of special relevance to Hong Kong. It also explores the interface between Chinese and Western medicine and encourage research in this area. It intends to serve both as an educational venue and to restore and conserve medical objects of historical value. As such, it is the first of its kind amongst medical museums in the world!

History

The Old Bacteriological institute, established in 1906, was the first purpose-built medical laboratory in Hong Kong, situated near to the site of Tai Ping Shan plague outbreak. Originally, there was the main building and two subsidiary blocks - one designed to accommodate the attendants, the other as an animal house containing stables. Over the years, the Institute played a significant role in the development of Hong Kong's medical service. With time, its role changed as did its name, becoming the Pathological Institute. It continued to be used as a laboratory until the 1950's. Ever since Government declared it a listed building, the Hong Kong College of Pathologists, knowing the building's potential and the importance of public awareness of the history and development of medical science in this region, petitioned for its uses as a museum. The Hong Kong Government agreed, and the Hong Kong Museum of Medical Sciences was founded.

The Building

The building is a British architectural design, drawing references from the Edwardian period, and representing Hong Kong architecture in the first decade of the century. It was transformed to suit tropical conditions, with expansive balconies and well-placed windows to encourage cross-ventilation. The use of Chinese roof tiles is probably due to the sensitivity to the local materials and deference to the local culture. It is interesting to imagine that in order to encourage the creativity of the exploring pathologists, the architect's impulse allowed a folly of obelisks to sprout forth from the top of the building corners in stoic formation.
Highlights

• A moulded plaster ceiling in the entrance hall adds to the sense of grandeur which complements the austere heavily balustraded stairs, which suggests Indian influence.
• A manual dumb-waiter originally operated by ropes, allowed for the convenient transportation of specimens between floors. Only one bell remains of those provided for each floor, presumably to announce collections.
• The rarity of seeing a real fireplace, not to mention several in one building, is a source of fascination.
• The terra cotta tiles on the floors are made up of creative patterns, one can admire in the first floor laboratories and on the verandahs.
• Ultimately, it is the internal space that matters. ;One would be impressed by the generous natural light and good ventilation, and with such dignified interiors.