Central Hong Kong is the site of many of the government and cultural buildings that the British built during over 150 years of powerful British influence in Hong Kong. The Flagstaff House, with its distinctive Greek revival architecture, stands apart from the gleaming skyscrapers of the cosmopolitan city and recalls the days of colonial Hong Kong.
Visit Hong Kong Park, just minutes from the bustle of Central and the cacophony of Wan Chai, for quiet moments amid lush greenery. Here, find Flagstaff House, the 1846 building that was home to the leader of the British forces for decades. The house was damaged during World War II and Japanese occupation, but was restored in 1989 and now serves as a specialized arm of the Hong Kong Museum of Art.
Between the Chinese production of tea and the British drinking of tea, the museum finds plenty to include in its exhibits and activities. Find displays including traditional Chinese tea wares ranging from the Tang dynasty in the 7th century to eclectic 21st-century vessels created by modern potters. Attend a demonstration of tea for four seasons or enjoy tea and music pairings. Lectures are in Cantonese, Putonghua or English check the website for days, times and languages.
Enjoy more of Hong Kong Park when you leave Flagstaff House. Visit the Hong Kong Visual Arts Centre in Cassels Block. The marriage registry is located at the edge of the park, so you may observe a wedding couple posing for marriage photography with Flagstaff House as a backdrop. In the morning join locals for exercise in Tai Chi Garden. Walk past a waterfall and small lake to the aviary to see nearly seventy species of birds indigenous to Southeast Asia. On Sundays, marvel at the numbers of foreign domestic helpers enjoying get-togethers in the park on their day off.
Flagstaff House has free admission and is open daily except for Tuesdays and public holidays. The bright white building is located on Cotton Tree Drive inside Hong Kong Park in Central, a short walk from the Admiralty MTR station.
