Art seems to be the easiest way to look into the cultures of any place, and Hong Kong is never short of talented artists that lead outsiders to their inner worlds. Wan Chai, being one of the earliest developed districts in Hong Kong, is so rich in history and cultures, providing a wonderful breeding ground for creative souls to work their magic and express their feelings through art pieces. Here are our recommendations of the local art so check them out to bless your eyes
Painted Walls
New life has been breathed into the old neighborhood with some extra colors! HKwalls – a local non-profit art organization, picked Wan Chai as 2019’s destination for their stunning array of murals, revamping the forgotten canvases into masterpieces.
With over 40 paintings scattering across the Wan Chai district, why not doing a cultural treasure hunt exploring the neighborhood in a different way? Many of the graffiti are incorporated with local elements or created in a way to arouse the public’s attention towards certain social problems. Well, it is no fun if we tell you all the locations but here’s the hint: they are usually hidden in the back alleys or at street corners. They are also perfect backgrounds for your Instagram street snaps. Or, check them out here if you are impatient.
Hong Kong Arts Centre
Name (English): Hong Kong Arts Centre
Name (Chinese):香港藝術中心
Phone Number: +852 25820200
Address (English): 2 Harbour Road, Wan Chai
Opening Hours:
MON 08:00 – 23:00
TUE 08:00 – 23:00
WED 08:00 – 23:00
THU 08:00 – 23:00
FRI 08:00 – 23:00
SAT 08:00 – 23:00
SUN 08:00 – 23:00
Recommended Time to Visit: Anytime
Reminder: The opening hours are subject to change due to unforeseen circumstances. Please visit the HKAC website for more updated information.
The Hong Kong Arts Centre – a 16-storey building soaring above the Harbour Road in Wan Chai is deemed to be leading the art movement in Hong Kong as a local non-profit art organization, promoting contemporary art and culture since 1977. Equipped with movie theatres, art galleries, bookstores, stages, and cafes, the Centre is definitely a hidden artistic gem of the city.
The Pao Galleries should be the first spot you should check out, which holds year-round exhibitions from both local and international artists, and even the artwork of recent in-house art-school graduates. The two-level space is not big but gold.
Watching a movie isn’t a regular item on everyone’s travel itinerary but how about a local indie movie that you can rarely find elsewhere? HKAC has sowed the seeds of the city’s indie film industry through its widely recognized program called “Hong Kong Independent Short Film and Video Awards (ifva), and is home to numerous screenings from indie filmmakers. You might get a different perspective of the place after watching one!
Foo Tak House & ACO
Name (English): Foo Tak House & ACO
Name (Chinese): 富德樓 & 艺鵠書店
Phone Number: +852 28934808
Address (English): 365-367 Hennessy Road, Wan Chai
Opening Hours:
MON CLOSED
TUE 12:00 – 19:00
WED 12:00 – 19:00
THU 12:00 – 19:00
FRI 12:00 – 19:00
SAT 12:00 – 19:00
SUN 12:00 – 19:00
Recommended Time to Visit: Anytime
Reminder: Not all units in the building are open to the public, you may check with them before visit.
The cultural hubs in Hong Kong always hide in unexpected places. Foo Tak House looks like a nondescript commercial building but you will find different cultural treasures on each floor. Managed by Art and Cultural Outreach (ACO), the building is home to the city’s pioneering changemakers, art galleries, studios, bookstores, and cultural events. The vertical space is for sure worth a few hours digging deep into. Just a heads up that not every space is open to the public so you’d better reach out to them first before you knock on the door.
A must-visit space has to be the hybrid bookstore and gallery of ACO on the top floors of the building. Not only will you be amazed by its selection of books that cover the topics surrounding the social problems the city is facing as well as global issues, but also be overwhelmed by the organization’s dedication in driving social change through offering a safe zone for other community groups. Check out their Facebook page as they also host exhibitions occasionally.
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