Hong Kong has an international reputation of a vivid metropolis with fantastic dining and shopping opportunities, but surprisingly, not so many tourists know that the city also boasts some great museums that are worth visiting.

This article will take you through five of Hong Kong’s most significant museums.

1) Hong Kong Museum of History is, to me one of the city’s must sees. Located on Tsim sha Tsui’s Chatham Road, this relatively large museum has eight galleries, displaying “the story of Hong Kong”, from early prehistoric times to our days, using hundreds of exciting exhibits, including touch screens and interactive gadgets that make the experience more exciting, especially to the young ones.

Among the exhibits there are plenty of archaeological findings, old bits and pieces, traditional costumes and three-dimensional dioramas, depicting historical events along the territory’s historical timeline.

2) Hong Kong Science Museum can be found right next to the Museum of History, in Tsim sha Tsui, and as its name suggests, it covers almost every aspect of science and technology.

The museum’s sixteen galleries are packed with attention-grabbing exhibits, many of which are interactive, but the “main draw” is the immense, 22 mtrs high, Energy Machine (the biggest of its kind in the world) that occupies the museum’s atrium and shows how the potential energy of a dropped ball converts into other forms of energy throughout the track.

3) Hong Kong Museum of Art is located on Tsim sha Tsui’s waterfront, a stone’s throw away from the Space Museum and a fairly short walk from the other two museums mentioned above.

The main draw of this fantastic museum is its splendid collections of both ancient and modern Chinese art, including some real treasures from the times of the famous Chinese dynasties… Among the exhibits, you can admire fine sculptures of jade, gemstones and gold, as well as splendid Chinese calligraphy and more.

4) Hong Kong Space Museum, also on Tsim sha Tsui’s waterfront, is particularly recommended for families with kids (including teenagers), as there are plenty of exciting interactive displays and touch screens that enhance the experience… Other than lots of interesting stuff about the universe that surrounds us, the museum also boasts one of the world’s best planetariums.

5) Hong Kong Heritage Museum is housed in a colossal, modern Chinese building in the city of Shatin, and although it is outside the city centre, it is right next to a KCR station, which means that getting there is as easy as pie.

The museum focuses on the heritage and traditions of the people of Hong Kong and its environs, with special attention to the New Territories, and the exhibitions boast an impressive range of rich and lavish exhibits, including flamboyant costumes and decors…

Special attention should be given to the exhibition of day-to-day life in an old Hakka village (where you can learn about trades and skills that have already disappeared), the Chinese Opera Gallery, and of course, the T.T.Tsui Gallery of Chinese Art on the second floor, where you can see one of the best private collections of Chinese and Asian art.

To know more about Hong Kong, including some great suggestions for do-it-yourself trips, recommended restaurants and nightspots, shopping tips and hotel recommendations, visit the Hong Kong Travel Guide at metropolasia.com – The ultimate online-guide for travel, dining and lifestyle in the metropolitan cities of East Asia.

Roni Shwartz is a certified travel consultant and an expert to the cities of East Asia, Australia and New Zealand. He writes for http://www.metropolasia.com/