Hong Kong Palace Museum, West Kowloon
The Forbidden City has never been a closed door. For six centuries it sat at the centre of a web of trade, diplomacy and ideas that stretched from Venice to the Persian Gulf, and the Hong Kong Palace Museum’s newest blockbuster sets out to prove it. The Forbidden City and the World, which opened on 3 June 2026, gathers more than 130 imperial treasures to tell the story of how China and the wider world shaped each other across the Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties. For expats, it is one of the most ambitious shows in the city this year, and a good reason to spend an afternoon in West Kowloon.
What the Exhibition Is About
Officially titled The Hong Kong Jockey Club Series: The Forbidden City and the World, Cultural Encounters, the exhibition spans more than 600 years and frames the imperial court not as an isolated power but as a hub of global exchange. It brings together over 130 precious artefacts from three major institutions: the Palace Museum in Beijing, the Hong Kong Palace Museum itself (including the Chris Hall Collection), and the Museum of Islamic Art in Doha. Anchoring the show are 18 grade-one national treasures, the highest classification China gives its cultural relics. Because the works are fragile, roughly 80 objects are on display at any time, with rotations every three months, so a second visit later in the run rewards you with new pieces.
The Four Sections
The exhibition is organised into four thematic chapters that trace different channels of exchange:
- Routes of Exchange, Marco Polo and Zheng He – the land and sea routes that connected the Yuan and early Ming courts to the world, from the Silk Road to the great treasure-fleet voyages
- Imported Treasures, Ming Court Art and New Knowledge of the World – how foreign materials, motifs and ideas entered Ming court craft and learning
- East Meets West, Artistic and Scientific Exchanges in the Qing Dynasty – the Jesuit-era cross-currents in painting, clockwork, astronomy and mathematics
- The Emperor’s Southern Treasury, the Canton Customs and the World – Guangzhou as the gateway through which global luxuries flowed to the throne, a story with deep resonance for the Greater Bay Area today
Highlights Not to Miss
With dozens of museum-grade objects on rotation, a few standouts are worth seeking out:
- A late Yuan to early Ming mosque lamp inscribed with a verse from the Qur’an, a striking emblem of cross-cultural craft
- A ruyi sceptre in the form of lingzhi fungus, designated a grade-one national treasure
- A sapphire pendant, another grade-one national treasure
- A singing bird cage automaton and a geometric polyhedron model, showpieces of Qing-era fascination with European mechanics and mathematics
- A Hongwu-period mounting fabric with crane and deer patterns, rarely shown textile work
If you have enjoyed the museum’s other landmark shows, this sits alongside the Ancient Egypt exhibition and the immersive Mona Lisa experience as part of a remarkable run of blockbusters in the city.
Tickets and Admission
Access is straightforward. The exhibition is included in the museum’s General Admission ticket, HK$70 for adults and HK$35 for concessions, which also covers Galleries 1 to 7; a Special Exhibition ticket is available too. Concessions apply to children aged 7 to 11, full-time students, seniors aged 60 and above, people with disabilities and one companion, and CSSA recipients, while children aged 6 and under enter free. Buy or reserve tickets through the Hong Kong Palace Museum website, the WestK website and app, the WestK WeChat mini-programme, or the museum’s ticketing partners. Booking ahead is wise at weekends.
Getting There: The Hong Kong Palace Museum
The museum sits at the western tip of the West Kowloon Cultural District, on the harbourfront. The easiest route is the MTR to Kowloon Station or Austin Station, from where it is a walk or a short ride across the district; the Airport Express also stops at Kowloon Station. Allow at least a couple of hours for this exhibition alone, and more if you want to see the rest of the galleries. The museum is generally open from 10am, until 6pm on most days and 8pm on Fridays, Saturdays and public holidays, and is closed on Tuesdays, so check the latest hours before you travel. A 20-track audio guide in Cantonese, Putonghua and English walks you through the highlights.
Make a Day of It in West Kowloon
The Palace Museum is one anchor of a whole arts district. Next door, M+ runs its own major exhibitions, the Art Park and harbourfront promenade are free to roam, and there are cafes and restaurants throughout. It is easy to pair the show with a half-day of culture and a harbour walk, and it slots neatly into a wider list of things to do in Hong Kong. Culture lovers should also keep an eye on Art Basel season.
Quick Info
| Exhibition | The Forbidden City and the World, Cultural Encounters |
| Venue | Gallery 1, Hong Kong Palace Museum, West Kowloon Cultural District |
| Dates | Opened 3 June 2026; reported to run to 2028, with objects rotating every three months (confirm the closing date on the museum site) |
| Opening Hours | Generally 10am to 6pm, until 8pm on Fri, Sat and public holidays; closed Tuesdays |
| Admission | General Admission HK$70 adult / HK$35 concession (Galleries 1-7); free for under-6s |
| Scale | 130+ artefacts, including 18 grade-one national treasures; about 80 shown per rotation |
| Getting There | MTR to Kowloon or Austin Station, then a short walk or ride across West Kowloon |
| Tickets | Hong Kong Palace Museum website, WestK website/app and WeChat, or ticketing partners |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is The Forbidden City and the World exhibition?
It is a major exhibition at the Hong Kong Palace Museum, opened on 3 June 2026, showing over 130 imperial treasures that trace 600 years of exchange between China and the world across the Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties, including 18 grade-one national treasures.
How much are tickets?
The exhibition is included in the museum’s General Admission ticket, HK$70 for adults and HK$35 for concessions, which also covers Galleries 1 to 7. Children aged 6 and under enter free. A Special Exhibition ticket is also available.
How do I get to the Hong Kong Palace Museum?
Take the MTR to Kowloon Station or Austin Station, then walk or ride a short distance across the West Kowloon Cultural District to the harbourfront museum. The Airport Express also stops at Kowloon Station.
Is it worth visiting more than once?
Potentially, yes. Because the artefacts are fragile, only around 80 are shown at a time and they rotate roughly every three months, so a later visit during the run will feature different objects.
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