Tai Kwun

Strolling through Central, it’s impossible to miss the Tai Kwun– this ornate, gleaming white edifice, though dwarved by Hong Kong’s skyscrapers, maintains a formidable presence.

Tai Kwun, Hong Kong’s Centre for Heritage and Arts, brings history and creativity together in a revitalised complex that once served as the city’s Central Police Station, prison, and magistracy. In fact, it boasts not one or two but three declared monuments.

Located in the heart of Central, this cultural landmark offers a mix of contemporary art galleries, heritage exhibits, and performance spaces. Walk through the open courtyards, explore historical cells, and catch a glimpse into Hong Kong’s past while enjoying art installations, rotating exhibitions, and live performances.

Like other revitalised landmarks in Hong Kong, it’s hard not to get a whiff of gentrification– still, the Tai Kwun is worth exploring and you’ll more than enjoy an evening two sipping cocktails in its historical environs.

History

Tai Kwun, originally the Central Police Station compound, is one of Hong Kong’s oldest surviving law enforcement and judicial complexes, dating back to the mid-19th century. Once home to the police station, a magistracy, and a prison, the site played a key role in colonial Hong Kong’s law enforcement. In 2018, after extensive restoration efforts, Tai Kwun reopened as a Centre for Heritage and Arts.

How to get there

By MTR, Central is the closest station. Take Exit D or E, and climb up Pottinger. From there, it’s about a 5-minute walk to the Tai Kwun.