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What:
West Kowloon Cultural District
Where:
Yau Tsim Mong District, Kowloon
Why we love it:
Hong Kong is already Asia’s unrivalled creative capital (sorry Beijing, but do you have Basel?) and now, the Fragrant Harbour is once again upping the ante with the addition of an entire district dedicated to the visual arts.
West Kowloon’s mammoth cultural and curatorial spread has unveiled its spiffy new quarters on the spectacular harbourfront stretch, and while the hub is set to house multiple high-profile commercial galleries and venues (keep peepers peeled for M+ Museum, Xiqu Centre, Freespace and more), most are still being prepped before they are unveiled in the coming years.
Nevertheless, the space is already becoming one of the city’s premier design destis. Star-chitectural M+ Pavilion is W Kowloon’s first permanent exhib, showcasing the crème of visual design n’ archi in the run up to bigger and bolder, Herzog & de Meuron-designed M+ Museum (slated to open in 2019).
As well as flaunting an enviable stash of C.20th to contempo pieces (check the website for up-to-date listings), the archi-wow mirror-clad pavilion itself is well worth an ogle, as are the views of Victoria Harbour and HK island afforded by its prime hill-top posi.
Best of all, visitors can cap off their gallery gander with a stroll through the district’s sprawling public green space spanning a mega 23 hectares with plenty of lounging areas and walking trails, plus fab open-air performances year-round in the Nursery Park. Hop to it!
Yau Tsim Mong District, Kowloon, Hong Kong. +852 2200 0217. westkowloon.hk
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