6 Best Sights in Eastern, Hong Kong

The Lei Yue Mun Fort makes for an appropriate home for this museum that focuses on Hong Kong's military history and coastal defense. It's in the redoubt, a high area of land overlooking the narrowest point of the harbor; you take an elevator and cross an aerial walkway to reach it. As well as the fascinating displays indoors, there's a historical trail complete with tunnels, cannons, and observation posts. Free guided tours are available on Wednesday, weekends, and public holidays.

This restored Hakka house was once the home of the Law family, who arrived here from Guangdong in the mid-18th century. It's the perfect example of a triple-jian, double-lang residence. Jian are enclosed rooms—here, the bedroom, living room, and workroom at the back. The front storeroom and kitchen are the lang, where the walls don't reach up to the roof, and thus allow air in. Although the museum is small, informative texts outside and displays of rural furniture and farm implements inside give a powerful idea of what rural Hong Kong was like. It's definitely worth a trip to bustling industrial Chai Wan, at the eastern end of the MTR, to see it. Photos show what the area looked like in the 1930s—these days a leafy square is the only reminder of the woodlands and fields that once surrounded this buttermilk-color dwelling.

A lovely Craftsman-style historic complex that originally housed the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club back when the area was close to the shoreline is now home to Oi!, a relaxed, government-run community art space. It showcases fun, accessible art from internationally recognized and upcoming artists, like twirling trees on giant turntables. The indoor-outdoor layout and large lawn—where kids can run about—make this a popular spot for families.

Located next to Hong Kong's oldest funeral home, this two-story contemporary art center showcases cutting-edge exhibitions exploring social and political themes. It was founded in 1996 by seven artists and is one of the island's few non-profit art spaces. The intimate setting encourages interaction with the art, and the views of the surrounding skyscrapers from here are spectacular, especially at dusk.

This creative community hub is representative of several such spaces popping up in Hong Kong that encourage community interaction. The design of the building is a nod to the industrial heritage of the neighborhood, where the world's largest sugar refinery once stood. The space houses a theater, a workshop, and a community kitchen, where activities like educational tours and culinary lessons are regularly held.

This 670-acre extension of Hong Kong's largest park is packed with challenging trails, like the Mount Parker Trail and Sir Cecil's Ride, that reward hardworking hikers with stunning views of Hong Kong's skyline. Another interesting sight is the Wartime Stoves, relics of cooking ranges built by the government in 1938 in anticipation of war. Since Hong Kong fell soon after the start of the Battle of Hong Kong on 8 December 1941, it's thought that the stoves have never been used. The densely forested park is also home to rich wildlife, including the elusive Chinese leopard and the Hong Kong newt, making this a compelling stop for both history and nature lovers.