Hong Kong Heritage Museum
Hong Kong Heritage Museum
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Current Exhibitions
6 December 2023 - 5 December 2025 1/F Cantonese Opera Heritage Hall
Born in a family of Cantonese opera, Wai Ming Chu was invited by Ma Sze-tsang and Tam Lan-hing to join the Tai Ping Opera Troupe in 1934. After the outbreak of the Anti-Japanese War, she participated in the Cantonese Opera Service Troupe organised by Kwan Tak-hing to boost morale to fight the Japanese troops as well as raise funds among overseas Chinese compatriots. After the victory of the War, she served as a leading actress in Tai Sheung, Kwang Wah and Tai Lung Fung Opera Troupes and made Cantonese opera films, too. In 1950s, Wai was invited to perform in Southeast Asia, the United States and Canada, and successfully won the support of Chinese people at home and abroad with the artistry of her Cantonese opera skills. She faded out of the stage after the 1970s. Wai Ming Chu passed away in 2000. In 2019, her family generously donated her collections to the museum, and the museum immediately sent staff to receive them in San Francisco, USA. This batch of precious cultural relics of Cantonese opera including costumes, props, boots, headgear and photos. Among which, Wai’s costumes were mainly made of sequins when the production of Cantonese opera sequined and beaded costumes was in vogue. It is of great historical importance in studying the evolution of Cantonese opera costume styles. Through selected exhibits from Wai’s collection, visitors can have an opportunity to revisit her stage career and appreciate her marvelous skills in both singing and acting.
Buddhist Pilgrimage: Treasures from the Donation of The Tsui Art Foundation
T.T. Tsui Gallery of Chinese Art, 2/F
From 30 October 2024 onwards
This exhibition showcases 70 treasures of Buddhist art from the collection donated to the Hong Kong Heritage Museum by the Tsui Art Foundation. It includes many exquisite thangka paintings dating from the 17th to the 20th centuries, as well as gilt-bronze Buddhist statues and other rare artefacts such as Buddhist scriptures and ritual objects. These items all illustrate the distinctive refined artistic style of Tibetan Buddhism and reflect their specific historical contexts.
A unique artistic form of Tibetan Buddhism, thangkas are paintings that typically depict major Buddhist deities or respected religious patriarchs encompassed by their divine entourage, and illustrate their life stories and surroundings. The thangkas on display offer viewers the opportunity to learn more about this unique and beautiful artform from the perspectives of history, culture and art. The gilt-bronze Buddhist statues on display demonstrate the makers’ exquisite craftsmanship and ingenuity in metal craft, and also reflect the mutual influence of different cultures over various periods.
Supplementing the exhibition is a multimedia display giving an account of the pilgrimage journey of the great Buddhist master of the Tang dynasty, Xuanzang, and exploring his contribution to cultural exchanges between China and various foreign countries. The display also explores the impact of Buddhism on Chinese language and culture, giving visitors a comprehensive learning experience.
About the Museum
Under the umbrella of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, the Hong Kong Heritage Museum features an exhibition area of some 7,500 square metres, the museum houses six permanent galleries - Hong Kong Pop 60+, the Jin Yong Gallery, the Cantonese Opera Heritage Hall, the T.T. Tsui Gallery of Chinese Art, the Chao Shao-an Gallery and the Children's Discovery Gallery - as well as six thematic galleries that regularly host exhibitions showcasing the diverse treasures of our heritage.
As part of our mission is to reach out to the community and encourage public participation in museum activities, we organise a wide array of programmes, such as thematic talks, seminars, guided tours, workshops, family/ children activities, school and theatre programmes, and online programmes to promote our permanent and special exhibitions to the general public and various target audiences, including students, teachers, older adults and family groups, to raise their interest in Hong Kong’s art and culture.
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