7 Best Sights in Hong Kong, China

A former slaughterhouse has been transformed into an artistic hub, housing a number of artists' studios, galleries, and theater groups, including 1a Space, an experimental art venue, and On & On Theatre Workshop, a professional theater company. Individual artists and galleries keep erratic hours, and what you see will depend on who's open to the public at any given time.

Devoted to the creative and quirky world of comics and animation, this center celebrates local artists by offering up ample space to create, exhibit, and sell their work. The complex is also a great example of Hong Kong’s historic East-meets-West architecture, as it’s housed in a cluster of revitalized prewar tenement-style buildings with cantilevered balconies, high ceilings, and staircases made of China fir wood.

The 19-story Hong Kong Arts Centre houses a branch of the Hong Kong Art School, several contemporary art galleries, interactive workshops, multimedia installations, art studios, a cinema, and performing arts venues. There are also a handful of eateries. It has been a longtime champion of up-and-coming artists and diverse genres, and also operates the comic and animation hub Comix Home Base, on nearby Mallory Street. There are free guided tours every Wednesday and Saturday at 3 pm, lasting about 45 minutes.

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.

The government transformed this former movie theater (which screened adult films for years before being abandoned) into a 300-seat venue for Chinese opera performances. Some of the shows have English supertitles. A historic redbrick building around the corner on Shanghai Street serves as the theater's administration building.