TAI KWUN

Opened in 2018, Tai Kwun is a remarkable example of heritage conservation and restoration in Hong Kong. This vast complex was inaugurated after a decade of painstaking restoration, designed to preserve the beauty of its 16 historic buildings while integrating contemporary structures. A must-see when visiting Hong Kong.

In British colonial times, as early as 1841, this complex brought together a prison, a police station and a court, functioning as a unified judicial center, before its definitive closure in 2006. Today, Tai Kwun is home to art galleries, exhibition spaces, a theater, boutiques, restaurants, cafés and bars. It has become a veritable living space, integrated into the neighborhood and popular with locals and tourists alike. The main courtyard regularly hosts a variety of events, including shows, festivals and sound and light shows.

Stroll. We recommend setting aside a few hours to explore the different areas of Tai Kwun. Visit the entire site, focusing on the former prison halls (B and D), then head to JC Contemporary to discover high-quality contemporary art exhibitions. Finally, end your visit with a shopping spree or a moment of relaxation in one of the countless restaurants and cafés.

Central Police Station: these buildings, the main one on Hollywood Road and surrounding the main courtyard, now house exhibition spaces, galleries, restaurants and boutiques. This is one of the central elements of the complex, providing a better understanding of the colonial architecture of the period.

Victoria Prison (halls B and D): the Victoria Prison occupies the buildings at the far end, around the second inner courtyard. Founded in 1841, the very year the British arrived in Hong Kong, it is the oldest prison on the island. It served as a prison until its closure in 2006. Carefully restored, it now houses a permanent exhibition in Halls B and D, which takes visitors back to the prison world of the time, with an insight into daily prison life, basic hygiene and the small size of the cells. One of the particularities of the site is the historical overcrowding, common from the 1940s and 1950s, when the prison could accommodate up to 500 inmates, far more than its initial capacity (150 inmates). Closed in 2006, Victoria Prison had already run out of inmates, as its occupants were gradually transferred to more modern facilities, such as Stanley Prison in the early 2000s. Over the decades, iconic figures have been imprisoned here, such as Ho Chi Minh, the Vietnamese revolutionary, who stayed here between 1931 and 1932. The prison had around 50 single cells in its main building, but as extensions were made, it reached its maximum capacity. Its closure was therefore largely motivated by the need to transfer prisoners to more modern facilities, in order to meet the contemporary requirements of the Hong Kong prison system.

Central Magistracy: this building, located on the left at the far end of the main courtyard, overlooking Arbuthnot Road, housed the former Tai Kwun Court. A new permanent exhibition, recently opened, takes a fresh look at the building's historic role in Hong Kong's judicial system, from 1841 until its disuse in 1979. The exhibition focuses on the personal accounts of those who have come before the courts over the decades. It highlights the experiences of both magistrates and litigants who attended the court, revealing aspects of Hong Kong's social life, marked by social, ethnic and linguistic inequalities. An immersive approach to understanding the context of the time.

JC Contemporary and JC Cube: two contemporary buildings are located at the far end, on the right in the second inner courtyard. Designed by the renowned Swiss firm Herzog & de Meuron, they stand in striking architectural contrast to the rest of the site, yet blend seamlessly into it. The JC Contemporary is a leading contemporary art space, presenting consistently high-quality temporary exhibitions, while the JC Cube is an open-air auditorium dedicated to the performing arts, film screenings and other events. Both buildings are clad in 100% recycled aluminum, inspired by the site's characteristic brick patterns. This unique architecture integrates the buildings into the site while enhancing their contemporary look. The JC Contemporary is open Tuesday to Sunday; some temporary exhibitions may be subject to a charge.

Guided tours. Tai Kwun offers free 45-minute guided tours, in English, on Tuesdays and Saturdays at 2 pm. A special tour, focusing on architecture, is also organized in English on Thursdays at 2pm. Maps of the site are available online for those who prefer a self-guided tour and wish to discover the whole complex at their own pace.

The website also provides a full, detailed day-by-day schedule of activities and events on the site, which will help you organize your visit.