FREE EXHIBITION!! I went to the Hong Kong Museum of History and saw the exhibition called “The Hong Kong Story”. What better way to get to know about a city or country than to check out their museums! I also wanted to check out the Hong Kong Museum of Art, but it was under renovation until mid-2019 🙁 That’s okay though! I know this Hong Kong trip is not going to be my last! 🙂

The suggested time to give yourself to walk around this exhibition is about 2 hours. It’s best to arrive early so you have enough time to see everything! There are also free showings in their theaters about each section of the exhibition. If you want to go to them, then you should spend about 3 to 4 hours of your day in this exhibition.

When you enter, you will learn about Hong Kong’s natural setting. You’ll read about their climate, typhoon season, environment, and so much more.

Random fact #1: Fog is common between February and April.

Those are NOT rocks! The scientific term for that dinosaur egg below is Macroolithus yaotunensis.

Here is the “Nature of a Terrestrial Ecosystem.”

Beware of this snake!! It is venomous and blends in with the grass or anything green in nature!

Does anybody remember that SpongeBob SquarePants episode with the butterfly, when they zoomed in super close on a real-life butterfly??? I don’t recommend you to look it up if you don’t know what I am talking about. I’m traumatized for life. This butterfly display reminded me of that.

Also, this male butterfly is the biggest butterfly I have ever seen in my life. LOOK AT THE SIZE OF THAT COMPARED TO MY HAND.

The second gallery of the Hong Kong Story exhibition is Prehistoric Hong Kong.

Random fact #2: Archaeologists believe that Hong Kong’s early inhabitants originated from the ancient Yue tribes.

In the next gallery, we explore the different Dynasties.

Random fact #3: Before Hong Kong became a British colony in the mid-19 century, there were four main Chinese ethnic groups living in Hong Kong: the Punti, the Hakka, the Boat Dwellers (formerly known as the Tanko), and the Haklo.

I think it’s so amazing to see this model of the Kowloon Walled City from the early stages (the 1800s) because it exponentially grew in the mid-’90s. This was a military fort. Later, there were more and more inhabitants and the buildings’ skyrocketed! Today, it has been demolished and turned into a park with a beautiful garden.

What did people wear during this time? Their clothes looked quite comfortable and practical to me. But was it?

I would honestly wear that raincoat if only it was socially acceptable and trending. I wish it was the only raincoat that existed…then maybe we would all be okay with wearing it.

The fourth gallery, Folk Culture in Hong Kong. This one was fascinating to see what their daily life was like!

Since there was no refrigeration in Chinese fishing vessels in the past, unsold fish were salted and dried for sale later.

Random fact #4: On the 15th day of the first Chinese lunar month, the Tang clan at Kam Tin maintain their tradition of raising lanterns and holding a communal banquet to celebrate the village’s newborn sons in the past year.

Can we start celebrating daughters too?…

In a traditional wedding ceremony, this is what a bride would wear. This one has “dragon-and-phoenix” patterns made with golden thread.

These beddings were used in a traditional wedding. Wow. When I first saw them, I thought they looked similar to what my parents have at home.

Back then, a bride had to be carried in a bridal sedan chair to the groom’s house. She must not step on the ground nor see the sky!!

Welcome to my historic house.

It would be interesting to cook in this kitchen. Also, I wonder how long it took to cook a meal for a family of five.

What did they do for entertainment?
In the late 1960s, not many families in Hong Kong could afford a television set. The radio became the most popular and cheapest form of entertainment among the general public.

Random fact #5: In Cantonese opera, female artists sometimes play the male roles.

Next, I entered a room with a wishing tree…so I made a few wishes.

Now going into the final galleries, 5 and 6. You can see the early growth of the city.

Random fact #6: Before the establishment of bank institutions in Hong Kong, pawnshops filled the role of financial institutions where people deposited personal belongings as a pledge for the money borrowed.

Tea time!
Random fact #7: The Cantonese teahouse originated in Guangzhou. The early tea-drinking places were poorly constructed huts, and the price of the tea for each was only two li (less than one cent) and therefore they were commonly known as “two-li-house”.

I find it so fascinating how families have to cram themselves in very small living spaces.
Random fact #8: Families of seven or eight were jammed into tiny cubicle of 11 square metres. Meals had to be cooked on a narrow balcony, and residents of each floor had to use communal washing and toilet facilities. 

This is what a barber stall looked like. Most of the time they are sat outside.

The museum closes at 6:00 PM. I arrived at the museum at 3:00 PM. So, I had about 3 hours to explore the exhibition. And yet, I was not able to go through everything! Although, I did spend a little too much time reading and trying to absorb all the information. But that’s how I like to spend my time at museums.

For dinner, I met up with my friend in Mong Kok at Aberdeen Fish Ball & Noodles Restaurant!

We ordered a wonton noodle soup dish. I also ordered lemon tea. The wonton noodles were savory and the noodles were cooked just right. The soup tasted so good even though it was a little too salty. The dumplings were nice bite sizes with shrimp and pork filling. The lemon iced tea was so refreshing! I’m glad it wasn’t too sweet. It was a delicious and inexpensive dinner. The total cost for me was under HK$80.

After dinner, we went to the Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade.

It’s so beautiful here!!!

My friend and I parted ways, and then I went for a stroll in Kowloon Park. There is also a sports center here! That’s so cool!! There was an outdoor pool too!

I think I saw this exact building from the top of Victoria Peak on my first day in Hong Kong.

There is so much you need to learn about and see in Hong Kong! You should definitely make a stop at the Hong Kong Museum of History or even at any of the Hong Kong museums! Next time I want to check out the Hong Kong Museum of Art, Hong Kong Science Museum, Hong Kong Space Museum, and Hong Kong Heritage Museum!

Which museum are you interested in going to?

Sincerely,
Amy♡

AMY HANG in HONG KONG. Day 4.