Flagstaff House Museum of Tea Ware
Flagstaff House Museum of Tea Ware
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The area
Neighbourhood: Central
When people think of Hong Kong, most imagine movies with famous skyscrapers dominating the skyline. The area widely known as Central is the major financial hub and entertainment district, which truly lives up to the saying, “work hard, play hard.” Bars stay open late into the night and there just happens to be a street party every weekend. Although everything seems to be operating at lightning speed, Central is full of quiet, hidden gems. Nestled between office towers are wet markets and some of the city’s oldest restaurants dating back to the 1960s. Feeling a bit overwhelmed? Retreat from the crowds by exploring beautifully restored historical buildings and even a green oasis of botanical gardens.
How to get there
- Admiralty • 3 min walk
- Central • 7 min walk
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See what travellers are saying
- Ross MSydney, Australia258 contributionsA fascinating survey of the art of tea making through the agesThis is not a visit I expected to take nearly as long as it did nor be nearly as interesting as it was. I was very glad to be proved wrong! The building itself is delightful with its own fascinating history as the former office and residence of the Commander of British Forces. It has been beautifully restored as a museum and we were particularly impressed with the very logical flow of exhibits. The exhibits provide both a history of tea drinking through the ages and a detailed explanation of all the various equipment used in tea making. Naturally, it is almost entirely focused on China, but this is to be expected. There is a very useful and informative brochure and the attendants are pleasant and helpful. Descriptions of every artefact are plentiful in English. This is well worth a visit.Visited November 2023Travelled as a coupleWritten 11 November 2023
- Kelsey PSan Rafael, California112 contributionsInteresting tea museumThis is a charming little museum in an antique house, well worth a visit if you like tea or beautiful dishware. The museum shop has a lot of nice souvenirs, and don't miss the teahouse next door! It's located inside beautiful Hong Kong Park and less than a 10 minute walk from the Victoria Peak Tram entrance.Visited February 2024Travelled as a coupleWritten 22 February 2024
- ArpitaS20 contributionsFor a lazy happy day.One often misses this museum for the more known ones that are clustered together in TST. This is however, a fascinating place to be in. It offers a display of beautiful collections of tea ware and stationaries like calligraphy brushes, brush stands, wrist rests and the likes. The next building also houses a one storey collection of stone seals. It helps in slowing the mind down and enjoying every moment one spends in that place.Visited March 2024Travelled soloWritten 23 March 2024
- DW@BallaratBallarat, Australia1,298 contributionsTea Wares CollectionLocated within Hong Kong Park is the beautifully restored Flagstaff House Museum of Tea Ware. Over 600 pieces of tea ware may be seen as you walk around the two floors of this former residence for the Commander of British Forces in Hong Kong. The museum specializes in the study and display of tea wares from cups and saucers to tea pots.Visited May 2024Travelled as a coupleWritten 11 June 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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ArpitaS
20 contributions
Mar 2024 • Solo
One often misses this museum for the more known ones that are clustered together in TST. This is however, a fascinating place to be in. It offers a display of beautiful collections of tea ware and stationaries like calligraphy brushes, brush stands, wrist rests and the likes. The next building also houses a one storey collection of stone seals. It helps in slowing the mind down and enjoying every moment one spends in that place.
Written 24 March 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
DW@Ballarat
Ballarat, Australia1,298 contributions
May 2024 • Couples
Located within Hong Kong Park is the beautifully restored Flagstaff House Museum of Tea Ware. Over 600 pieces of tea ware may be seen as you walk around the two floors of this former residence for the Commander of British Forces in Hong Kong. The museum specializes in the study and display of tea wares from cups and saucers to tea pots.
Written 12 June 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kelsey P
San Rafael, CA112 contributions
Feb 2024 • Couples
This is a charming little museum in an antique house, well worth a visit if you like tea or beautiful dishware. The museum shop has a lot of nice souvenirs, and don't miss the teahouse next door! It's located inside beautiful Hong Kong Park and less than a 10 minute walk from the Victoria Peak Tram entrance.
Written 22 February 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Brad
Hong Kong, China1,74,739 contributions
May 2019 • Couples
The Flagstaff House Museum of Tea Ware is one of the free attractions you'll find within Hong Park. Here visitors can spend time learning about tea, tea ware and China's history as a tea drinking nation. Opening hours are 10am to 6pm daily (Closed on Tuesdays)
This is actually a two part attraction. First, this is the historic Flagstaff House, which served the residency of numerous British Governors of Hong Kong and other statesmen from the mid 1850s when the building was constructed until the late 1970s when the building fell under the responsibility of the Urban Council. It is Greek Revival in architecture and an attractive representation of western architecture from the mid 19th century.
The Urban Council dedicated the building as the Museum of Tea Ware in 1984. Today, there are gallery rooms on the ground floor dedicated to the history of tea and tea ware. There are fine displays, much of collection was donated by K.S. Lo. The upper floors are dedicated to creative tea pots submitted by local students as part of annual competitions.
The Flagstaff House Museum of Tea Ware can be conveniently visited in 15-45 minutes depending on how much time you have available and how much interest you have in tea and tea ware. Its a good place for museum fans and those looking for indoor activities on hot summer days.
This is actually a two part attraction. First, this is the historic Flagstaff House, which served the residency of numerous British Governors of Hong Kong and other statesmen from the mid 1850s when the building was constructed until the late 1970s when the building fell under the responsibility of the Urban Council. It is Greek Revival in architecture and an attractive representation of western architecture from the mid 19th century.
The Urban Council dedicated the building as the Museum of Tea Ware in 1984. Today, there are gallery rooms on the ground floor dedicated to the history of tea and tea ware. There are fine displays, much of collection was donated by K.S. Lo. The upper floors are dedicated to creative tea pots submitted by local students as part of annual competitions.
The Flagstaff House Museum of Tea Ware can be conveniently visited in 15-45 minutes depending on how much time you have available and how much interest you have in tea and tea ware. Its a good place for museum fans and those looking for indoor activities on hot summer days.
Written 22 May 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Brad
Hong Kong, China1,74,739 contributions
Jun 2012 • Couples
When visiting Hong Kong Park in the Central district area, you might want to stop by the Flagstaff House Museum of Tea Ware (free entrance). This building is actually the oldest standing western building in Hong Kong. It has been well maintained and is a historically charming place to enter and admire.
Within the Flagstaff House there are around ten rooms, on two floors, which have been setup as galleries dedicated to various aspects of Chinese tea, tea drinking and tea ware. This might not sound terribly exciting to some but the rooms are well laid out and information presented in a visitor friendly way. You can stroll through in as little as 15 minutes or so or stay an hour or two to watch some of the videos and admire the tea ware on display. There is a children's room to help entertain the younger crowd as well as well as a gift shop inside.
We particularly like the contemporary tea ware sets that are display in the upstairs rooms. There you can see some very interesting, creative and imaginative tea sets.
Overall, while not a world-class collection, this is a free entry museum housed in an important historical building, Flagstaff House, located in the best city park you will find on Hong Kong island. Basically, its not something most plan to see when visiting HK but its a good stop, one that doesn't take much time and can potentially be well enjoyed by those that find themselves in Hong Kong Park.
Within the Flagstaff House there are around ten rooms, on two floors, which have been setup as galleries dedicated to various aspects of Chinese tea, tea drinking and tea ware. This might not sound terribly exciting to some but the rooms are well laid out and information presented in a visitor friendly way. You can stroll through in as little as 15 minutes or so or stay an hour or two to watch some of the videos and admire the tea ware on display. There is a children's room to help entertain the younger crowd as well as well as a gift shop inside.
We particularly like the contemporary tea ware sets that are display in the upstairs rooms. There you can see some very interesting, creative and imaginative tea sets.
Overall, while not a world-class collection, this is a free entry museum housed in an important historical building, Flagstaff House, located in the best city park you will find on Hong Kong island. Basically, its not something most plan to see when visiting HK but its a good stop, one that doesn't take much time and can potentially be well enjoyed by those that find themselves in Hong Kong Park.
Written 17 June 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Brad
Hong Kong, China1,74,739 contributions
Jul 2014 • Couples
The Flagstaff House Museum of Teaware is a surprisingly good speciality museum found in Hong Kong Park and it is free for all to visit. We usually visit here once or twice a year and particularly enjoy seeing the exhibited teaware from the annual Hong Kong Potters competition.
On the ground floor of the museum, you can see a permanent collection of tea ware, along with posters with images and text. It is a fair amount of information that is not overly texty. So you can read through, examine the pieces at a comfortable pace. One of the rooms has a television as well showing a programme on how tea ware is made.
On the ground floor there is also a children's play and entertainment room, a nice place for the little ones if the adults want to spend a bit more time inspecting the various teapots, cups and wares available in the other rooms.
For us, one of main reasons we like visiting this museum is to see the Tea Ware by Hong Kong Potters pieces which are often exhibited at the museum. There are always very interesting, thematic teaware that is very nice to look at and take pictures of. Note to those who enjoy contemporary art, you will get a rise out of some of the more creative teaware sets seen here.
You can comfortable visit both floors of the museum in 30-60 minutes.
Overall, we continue to consider the Flagstaff House Museum of Teaware to be a very good, hidden gem, attraction in Hong Kong. Entry is free and most leave being quite pleased to have stopped here. We still look forward to visits here.
On the ground floor of the museum, you can see a permanent collection of tea ware, along with posters with images and text. It is a fair amount of information that is not overly texty. So you can read through, examine the pieces at a comfortable pace. One of the rooms has a television as well showing a programme on how tea ware is made.
On the ground floor there is also a children's play and entertainment room, a nice place for the little ones if the adults want to spend a bit more time inspecting the various teapots, cups and wares available in the other rooms.
For us, one of main reasons we like visiting this museum is to see the Tea Ware by Hong Kong Potters pieces which are often exhibited at the museum. There are always very interesting, thematic teaware that is very nice to look at and take pictures of. Note to those who enjoy contemporary art, you will get a rise out of some of the more creative teaware sets seen here.
You can comfortable visit both floors of the museum in 30-60 minutes.
Overall, we continue to consider the Flagstaff House Museum of Teaware to be a very good, hidden gem, attraction in Hong Kong. Entry is free and most leave being quite pleased to have stopped here. We still look forward to visits here.
Written 6 July 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
irishfanmn
Plymouth, MN106 contributions
Jun 2011 • Couples
The Flagstaff House was an unexpected highlight of a Hong Kong Visit. I suspect most visitors pass up this building located inside the beautiful Hong Kong Park city park. But in 45 minutes you'll see artistic creativity and learn more than you could ever imagine learning about tea. A number of small galleries take you through a history of teasets (a bit boring perhaps, but it's just the appetizer). Then comes a series of galleries which contain entries and award winners of tea set competitions. This is an incredibly creative and artistic collection - dont miss it. It will forever change the way you think of tea pots and cups. You'll laugh, you'll wonder and you'll smile. Nice giftshop onsite too.
Written 18 August 2011
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Annh
California34 contributions
A very charming museum of Tea Ware. It is presented in the Flagstaff House, built in the 1840s for the Commander of the British Forces in Hong Kong.
There are eight rooms with displays of tea ware, information about the different types of tea, how tea is processed, different tea preparation methods, etc. – all related to CHINESE tea drinking - and all very nicely explained. There are free pamphlets offered in some rooms. One that was particularly notable was “The Classifications of Chinese Tea” which had a well laid out summary of the principle methods for processing tea, and a page each of details for some main categories of tea, i.e. green tea , white tea .
An interesting film was running in one of the rooms showing the procedures for the gongfu tea ceremony. The film runs first in Chinese, then in English.
The museum’s gift shop offers a nice selection of tea ware, accessories, books, tea and other related items. Admission is free. The museum is located in beautiful Hong Kong Park.
There are eight rooms with displays of tea ware, information about the different types of tea, how tea is processed, different tea preparation methods, etc. – all related to CHINESE tea drinking - and all very nicely explained. There are free pamphlets offered in some rooms. One that was particularly notable was “The Classifications of Chinese Tea” which had a well laid out summary of the principle methods for processing tea, and a page each of details for some main categories of tea, i.e. green tea , white tea .
An interesting film was running in one of the rooms showing the procedures for the gongfu tea ceremony. The film runs first in Chinese, then in English.
The museum’s gift shop offers a nice selection of tea ware, accessories, books, tea and other related items. Admission is free. The museum is located in beautiful Hong Kong Park.
Written 10 June 2008
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
BLTurpin
Shaker Heights, OH967 contributions
Apr 2017 • Solo
I recently visited the Flagstaff Museum of Tea Ware as part of my first trip to Hong Kong. It is a small museum and was not interesting to my husband, so I left it for one of my last days. But, I am so glad that I made it! I would have felt cheated had I gone to Hong Kong and not learned something about the tea culture.
The museum is located in Hong Kong park on two floors of the oldest surviving colonial building in the city. Walking through the beautiful park is a lovely experience, so even getting to the museum is immensely enjoyable.
The museum is free, and that was a nice surprise! When I visited, the bottom floor had a special exhibit of ancient jade artifacts while the tea ware pieces were in rooms on the top floor. If you are unable to climb stairs, please check with the museum first. The original structure is about 150 years old. It has been beautifully resotred and, although I did not look for an elevator, I don't recall seeing one. The government's Hong Kong Museum of Art web site has a page about the Tea Ware museum and the museum does take a lot of effort to accommodate persons with disabilities. These services are still being improved, so do check if you or your visitor needs special accommodation, especially for reaching the upper floors.
On the upper floors, tastefully arranged in glass cases, you will see tea ware sets. Some of those are old and historical. Others are new, designed and created as part of modern art events or competitions. Many of the sets have themes and you will see everything from aliens to underwater life to forests and geometry inspired tea sets! Enough signs were in English that I was able to follow and understand the displays.
One of the rooms has a video program that runs every few minutes. I watched one that lasted for 20 minutes which explained how tea is grown, harvested, processed, and ultimately served. I strongly suggest that you look for the video. I didn't know how much I didn't know and would have been lost without it. If nothing else, you'll understand about the different kinds of teas and why in the shops you will see tea sold in "cakes." My use of teabags now seems absolutely barbaric!
Had I done better planning, I could have attended a tea ceremony. If you are truly interested in learning about how tea is enjoyed in the culture, do your homework and attend a live demonstration. I have very few regrets about Hong Kong but this is one of them. I would have learned even more if I had taken more care and planned around one of the live ceremonies.
And be sure to stop by the gift shop on the way out. If you are going to purchase tea or a tea set, it is lovely to support the museum with that purchase. I am a pretty devoted fan of museum gift shops because I like to know that any profits from my purchase are going to the museum and it's mission. This is a lovely gift shop, well worth a stop during your visit.
You can run through this museum if you care to, appreciate the beautiful sets, pick-up a few postcards, and be on your way. Or, like a fine cup of tea, you can take a bit more time, go slowly, and savor the experience. Either way will be fine, just don't miss it! The museum is not off-the-beaten path, but there were not many visitors the day I was there. Considering how important tea has been and still is for the people of Hong Kong, I would have expected to see more people. Take an hour and stop by - I promise you will be glad that you did.
The museum is located in Hong Kong park on two floors of the oldest surviving colonial building in the city. Walking through the beautiful park is a lovely experience, so even getting to the museum is immensely enjoyable.
The museum is free, and that was a nice surprise! When I visited, the bottom floor had a special exhibit of ancient jade artifacts while the tea ware pieces were in rooms on the top floor. If you are unable to climb stairs, please check with the museum first. The original structure is about 150 years old. It has been beautifully resotred and, although I did not look for an elevator, I don't recall seeing one. The government's Hong Kong Museum of Art web site has a page about the Tea Ware museum and the museum does take a lot of effort to accommodate persons with disabilities. These services are still being improved, so do check if you or your visitor needs special accommodation, especially for reaching the upper floors.
On the upper floors, tastefully arranged in glass cases, you will see tea ware sets. Some of those are old and historical. Others are new, designed and created as part of modern art events or competitions. Many of the sets have themes and you will see everything from aliens to underwater life to forests and geometry inspired tea sets! Enough signs were in English that I was able to follow and understand the displays.
One of the rooms has a video program that runs every few minutes. I watched one that lasted for 20 minutes which explained how tea is grown, harvested, processed, and ultimately served. I strongly suggest that you look for the video. I didn't know how much I didn't know and would have been lost without it. If nothing else, you'll understand about the different kinds of teas and why in the shops you will see tea sold in "cakes." My use of teabags now seems absolutely barbaric!
Had I done better planning, I could have attended a tea ceremony. If you are truly interested in learning about how tea is enjoyed in the culture, do your homework and attend a live demonstration. I have very few regrets about Hong Kong but this is one of them. I would have learned even more if I had taken more care and planned around one of the live ceremonies.
And be sure to stop by the gift shop on the way out. If you are going to purchase tea or a tea set, it is lovely to support the museum with that purchase. I am a pretty devoted fan of museum gift shops because I like to know that any profits from my purchase are going to the museum and it's mission. This is a lovely gift shop, well worth a stop during your visit.
You can run through this museum if you care to, appreciate the beautiful sets, pick-up a few postcards, and be on your way. Or, like a fine cup of tea, you can take a bit more time, go slowly, and savor the experience. Either way will be fine, just don't miss it! The museum is not off-the-beaten path, but there were not many visitors the day I was there. Considering how important tea has been and still is for the people of Hong Kong, I would have expected to see more people. Take an hour and stop by - I promise you will be glad that you did.
Written 18 April 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
LindyLouMac
Tywyn, UK293 contributions
Jun 2013 • Friends
The Museum of Teaware is housed in Flagstaff House built in 1846 and it used to be home to the Commander of the British Forces in Hong Kong. An elegant building which is interesting in itself as well as the fascinating displays depicting the history of tea drinking. Well worth a visit, especially if you are a lover of tea.
Written 23 June 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
How can I arrange to attend a te ceremony at the museum?
Written 24 January 2018
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