The museum first opened in 2005 in the Stanley neighborhood, but the 800-meter-square building was not large enough to contain the more than 1200 objects, so in 2013 it was moved to the splendid Pier 8 building on the Central Harbor Waterfront looking onto Victoria Harbor.
This extraordinary museum illustrates over 3000 years of history of sea transport and trade in Hong Kong, the South China Sea and the Pearl River Delta.
Since the very beginning, the development of Hong Kong has always been closely linked with the sea and the activities connected with it. Here in the museum, you’ll discover that many Chinese ships set out from this port to trade in silk, porcelain and fine goods from the 8th century; you’ll learn about the strong influence the British colonial power had on navigation from the 19th century, and the scourge that piracy was in the early 20th century.
The 13 permanent themed galleries and the various rooms that host temporary exhibitions will take you on a fascinating voyage back in time.
The 4400 square meters of exhibition space are arranged on three levels, skillfully organized into galleries featuring not only a wealth of artefacts such as scale models, instruments, tools and photographs, but also interactive multimedia displays that will make your visit even more interesting.
There are two spots in the museum that offer splendid views over Victoria Harbor: the large Harbor Viewing Gallery, on Deck B, often used for meetings and events, and Café 8, the bar on the top floor with a delightful terrace.
Remember to start your visit from Deck C.
An interesting fact: as you observe the city’s port, you’d be forgiven for thinking that the lowest point in its history were the bombing raids during the Second World War, but in fact the greatest damage was caused by the typhoons of the last century, such as those in 1906 and 1937 and you can see surprising evidence here in the museum.
Language: English