Hong Kong Museum of Coastal Defence
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The Museum of Coastal Defence at Shau Kei Wan has recently reopened after being closed for repair and renovations for the past four years. The museum is located within the old Lei Yue Mon Fort and is open from 10am to 6pm daily (summer months) and 10am to 5pm daily (winter months). Entry is free to public. Historically, the Lai Yue Mun fort was built in 1887 to protect the narrow Lei Yue Mun channel and east entry into Victoria Harbour. It was the scene of intense battle during the Japanese invasion in Dec 1941. After the war, it was a training ground for British forces until 1987. In 1993, it was allocated for the site of the future Museum of Coastal Defence, which originally opened to the public in 2000. The museum of coastal defence is accessed by main lobby lift to the 8/F of the old fort Redoubt which is so perfectly suited for hosting this particular museum. These days the Redoubt serves as an indoor and sheltered exhibition gallery with 11 rooms featuring different interesting themed topics including the building of the fort, coastal defence during the earlier Chinese periods, the British Colonial Period and after Hong Kong's return to China. There are several exhibitions related to the Japanese invasion, local resistance fighters as well as general topics such as that of volunteer forces to have served in Hong Kong. The exhibition galleries have been given an impressive make-over with the recent reopening of the museum. All displays are new, modern and clean. There remains a lot of text with the various traditional museum wall and counter displays. However, they have added updated films in some exhibition rooms as well as interactive screens and some multimedia additions to help liven up the experience. The various rooms are jammed packed with things to see and learn about. Allow 10-15 minutes per gallery if you want to visit leisurely. There is a cafe setup with panoramic views at the top level of the redoubt. This is a good place to take a break from viewing various exhibition rooms. Given the vantage point of the cafe, you will be able to view across the Lai Yue Mun Strait and enjoy views of the eastern end of Victoria Harbour as well. Outside of the Redoubt, visitors can enjoy nice walkways with views as well as 24 war relics, memorials and the likes situated amongst the old fort grounds and along the Historical Trail. You'll see military vehicles, anti-aircraft field guns and other armaments, batteries, fort caponiers, drawbridges, search lights and torpedo installations. Allow around 45-60 minutes to enjoy these sights on the Historical Trail at a leisurely pace. Note: There is a downloadable museum guide map available on the museum website that provides a detailed layout of the old fort grounds, the Redoubt exhibition programme as well as the various war relics that you can see along the Historic Trail. This is the same brochure you can pick up in the main lobby (1/F) of the fort when visiting the museum. Note: To visit the museum, the most convenient route is to take the MTR to the Shau Kei Wan Station and walk around 10 minutes to the museum. Alternatively, you can take the Ding Ding Tram to/from the Shau Kai Wan depot with a similar approximately 10 minute walk.
Brad
00
I have spent many enchanting hours at this place during my years in Hong Kong. I loved their Cafetaria overlooking the channel. Very quiet and absolutely out of the world experience. But the Hong Kong Museum of Coastal Defence is not very well known to the ordinary visitors who are enamoured more by the enchanting natural beauty and equally fascinating shopping experience. The fort in which the museum is located was built by the British in 1887 and intended for the defence of the eastern approaches to Victoria harbour. It overlooks the Lei Yue Mun channel near Shau Kei Wan. It opened on 25th July 2000.The museum consists of three main areas, namely the Reception area, the Redoubt, and the Historical Trail. It is converted from the hundred-year-old Lei Yue Mun Fort. Its historical structure has an extensive outdoor area with the unique architectural design, a strong tensile structure with other traditional building material, which provides a comfort and historical feeling for visitors. The casemates inside the Redoubt were converted into exhibition galleries for permanent displays on the history of Hong Kong's Coastal Defence covering the Ming and Qing period, the British period, the Japanese invasion and the period after the transfer of sovereignty of China.
Gautam Banerjee
00
Great day out at this wonderfully restored museum - and it's free! First time visiting here after living in HK for so many years! Was really impressed by the exhibits, by the main redoubt building itself and the historical war relics walks that are scattered around the whole building. We were the first people to arrive at 9:55am - they open at 10am. But it was pretty busy by 10:30am. As others have said, take the lift to the 8th floor and then walk across the footbridge into the main exhibits in the redoubt. If coming with a baby or young child, there is a place you can leave your stroller in the redoubt area to make it easier to walk around. We brought our carrier as well, which was handy when we were doing the outdoor walks as there are several places with small sets of stairs that aren't suitable for a stroller (pram). Really very interesting and beautiful place, even if you aren't a big fan of military history (which none of us were). There is a cafe on the top floor which is good for a simple coffee or tea and nice spot to feed a baby and look at the view over the harbour. Best itinerary is to look around the indoor exhibits, have a coffee/snack in the cafe, then do some of the outdoor historical walks before heading downhill back to the MTR station.
RENEE CONKLIN
00
Free admission to one of Hong Kong's most engaging museums. It is my view that the Museum of Coastal Defense is the only place in Hong Kong where a coherent narrative of the British’s presence in Hong Kong is presented, a narrative approached from the specific angle of the defense of Hong Kong during war times. Surely, in British Hong Kong’s history there was really only one invasion that took place during WWII by the Japanese imperial forces. But the defense of Hong Kong was always a critical matter for the British military, due to the threats of war from other European powers during the 19th century, and the British’s own ambitions in China. The exhibitions at the Museum of Coastal Defense lay out story of Hong Kong’s military defense in full light, beginning in the early dynastic times before the British takeover. The exhibitions then proceed to tell visitors about the British’s strategic considerations in preparing Hong Kong against the threat of invasion as early as the 19th century, as soon as the British took over the administration of Hong Kong. The cafe offers 270 views of the Lei Yue Mun Channel, with the Devil's Peak afar. Certainly stop by for a meal, or just coffee.
Helen Yu (Chestnut Journal)
00
MCD has just finished a major renovation. The tour guide told us that the tent was broken as a result of Typhoon Mangkhut. The museum has updated some of the content of its exhibition, from naval defense in Qing Dynasty, to the Treaty of Nanjing, Treaty of Beijjng and the subsequent territory expansion treaty that set the historic context of Hong Kong under British rule. There were new exhibits (some replicas and some authentic) to show visitors coastal defense and naval establishments between WW I and WW II. There is a new short film which detailed the landing of Japanese troops on Hong Kong Island and the short resistance by the British and Canadian forces in WW II. The historic trail was interesting and outdoor exhibits are all well maintained. There is a mobile app that allows visitors to collect e-stamps along the trail. You get different souvenirs from the museum if you collected 10, 14, 24 e-stamps. The museum is free for everyone. I wish they could make the trail even more accessible for wheelchair users.
Kenneth Cheuk
00
Old British fort over looking Lei Yue Mun channel, hosting a fantastic history collection. Built in 1887 this fort was built to stop access to Victoria harbour. It saw action in WW2 initially holding out against the Japanese before finally falling. The site now boasts an impressive history and views all of which can still be seen on site. For example there is a very rare example of a Brennan torpedo and launching area, one of the earliest types of torpedo. There is an impressive array of cannons and AA and other guns from various periods of interesting and in some cases unique designs. You can also visit the Tamar's anchor. All this is set out over a large area you can walk at your leisure. In some of the larger areas of the fort you can view objects from the forts collection. These are in thematic stories such as the forts British origin, WW2, Chinese resistance during the war etc. that are fascinating. There is a shop, toilet and place to eat on site.
Rik
00
Nearby Attractions Of Hong Kong Museum of Coastal Defence
Aldrich Bay Promenade
Lei Yue Mun Lighthouse
Lei Yue Mun Park
Shau Kei Wan Tram Terminus
Tam Kung Temple, Shau Kei Wan
Lei Yue Mun
Aldrich Bay Playground
Tin Hau Temple, Shau Kei Wan
Jockey Club Lei Yue Mun Plus
Former Sai Wan Battery

Aldrich Bay Promenade
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Lei Yue Mun Lighthouse
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Lei Yue Mun Park
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Shau Kei Wan Tram Terminus
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Nearby Restaurants Of Hong Kong Museum of Coastal Defence
Kam Tung Kitchen
Master Low-key Food Shop (Shan Kei Wan)
Wong Lam Kee Chiu Chow Fish Ball Noodles
On Lee Noodle Soup
Sun Kee Chicken Congee
Capital Cafe (Shau Kei Wan)
Happiness Seafood Restaurant
Gateway Cuisine
Monet Garden
Dirty Skillet HK

Kam Tung Kitchen
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Master Low-key Food Shop (Shan Kei Wan)
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Wong Lam Kee Chiu Chow Fish Ball Noodles
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On Lee Noodle Soup
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Basic Info
Address
175號 Tung Hei Rd, Shau Kei Wan, Hong Kong
Map
Phone
+852 2569 1500
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Website
lcsd.gov.hk
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Overview
4.3
(907 reviews)
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cultural
scenic
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Description
The Hong Kong Museum of Coastal Defence is a public museum in Hong Kong, located in a former coastal defence fort overlooking the Lei Yue Mun channel, near Shau Kei Wan on Hong Kong Island. The fort was built by the British in 1887, intended to defend the eastern approaches to Victoria Harbour.
attractions: Aldrich Bay Promenade, Lei Yue Mun Lighthouse, Lei Yue Mun Park, Shau Kei Wan Tram Terminus, Tam Kung Temple, Shau Kei Wan, Lei Yue Mun, Aldrich Bay Playground, Tin Hau Temple, Shau Kei Wan, Jockey Club Lei Yue Mun Plus, Former Sai Wan Battery, restaurants: Kam Tung Kitchen, Master Low-key Food Shop (Shan Kei Wan), Wong Lam Kee Chiu Chow Fish Ball Noodles, On Lee Noodle Soup, Sun Kee Chicken Congee, Capital Cafe (Shau Kei Wan), Happiness Seafood Restaurant, Gateway Cuisine, Monet Garden, Dirty Skillet HK

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