6 Best Sights in China

The life of Sun Yat-Sen, the revolutionary who helped overthrow the Qing dynasty in 1911 and usher in China’s first Republic, is examined in detail at this museum in the Mid-Levels. The building itself is a handsome colonial-era mansion that belonged to the brother of a prominent Eurasian businessman. Dr Sun spent significant time in Hong Kong, and you can follow in his footsteps by walking the Dr Sun Yat Sen Historical Trail, a self-guided tour available for free by downloading a smartphone app called iM Guide. The walk starts at Hong Kong University in Western and finishes in Central, stopping at 16 waypoints connected to Dr Sun.

Inaugurated in 1993 to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Macau Grand Prix, this museum tells the stories of the best drivers from every year—including German legend Michael Schumacher—but the highlights are the actual race cars on display. More than 20 Formula vehicles are exhibited in the hall, the centerpiece being the red-and-white Formula Three car driven by the late Brazilian champion Aryton Senna. Though Macau has lost its premier Formula Three race, replaced by a Formula Regional championship, its sporting legacy lives on here as well as the tough, twisting Guia Circuit.

Housed in Central Ferry Pier No. 8, this family-friendly museum explores over 2,000 years of Hong Kong's maritime history. There are interactive exhibits and historic artefacts aplenty, including hoards of precious Chinese porcelain salvaged from Ming dynasty wrecks in the harbor. In the basement, an exhibition on the opium trade takes an uncompromising look at Britain's colonial takeover of Hong Kong. Don't miss the chance to have a drink and snack on the terrace of Cafe 8 above the museum. The views are world class, and your money supports a local charity that finds vocational opportunities for adults with learning difficulties.

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.

Looking like a ship, with jutting white slats and porthole windows, and set on the site where the first Portuguese explorers landed on Macau in 1553, this handsome building across from the A-Ma Temple is a great place to spend an hour brushing up on seafaring history. Multimedia exhibits cover fishermen, merchants, and explorers from Portugal, China, and Japan, displaying compasses, telescopes, and sections of ships. There’s even a small aquarium gallery with local sea life and a replica dragon boat outside. Try your hand at astronomic navigation, which sailors have used for thousands of years, by looking up at the top floor’s celestial dome ceiling.

Tak Seng On, “the virtue and success” store, offers a unique look at early-20th-century pawnshops and the important role they played in China for centuries. The architecture, interior design, and furniture date back to 1917, when this shop was established. It includes old abacuses, metal safes, accounting books, signboards in Chinese and Portuguese, and other items from that era. Public guided tours run Saturday from 3 to 5 pm.