ANCIENT EGYPT IN HONG KONG: THE DEFINITIVE MAGAZINE GUIDE TO THE CITY’S BIGGEST-EVER EGYPTIAN EXHIBITION
Hong Kong is no stranger to blockbuster museum experiences, but its newest showcase — Ancient Egypt Unveiled: Treasures from Egyptian Museums — marks a milestone. With 250 artefacts transported directly from seven major museums in Egypt, this is the largest and most comprehensive exhibition of ancient Egyptian culture ever staged in the city.
Running from 20 November 2025 to 31 August 2026 at the Hong Kong Palace Museum in West Kowloon, the exhibition reveals not only the grandeur of pharaohs and temples but also the intimate, everyday realities of life along the Nile.
This magazine-style guide will help you immerse yourself fully in this rare cultural encounter — from essential highlights to smart visiting tips and deeper historical context.
THE EXPERIENCE: WHAT THE EXHIBITION FEELS LIKE
Step into Gallery 9 and you’re greeted by a hushed, cathedral-like space bathed in warm light. The scent of polished stone and museum varnish lingers lightly in the air. Soft projections of hieroglyphs ripple across the walls, while ambient desert wind recordings subtly underscore the galleries. The atmosphere is not theatrical, but reverent — a quiet stage honoring civilizations thousands of years old.
The exhibition moves with a deliberate, cinematic rhythm: colossal statues rise dramatically from the dimness, glass cases glow with gold, linen, and faience, and corridors curve gently to reveal ever more intricate worlds.
WHAT TO SEE: FOUR CURATED SECTIONS
Curators have carefully structured the exhibition into four thematic zones, each offering a different portal into ancient Egyptian life.
1. THE LAND OF THE PHARAOHS
A sweeping introduction to 4,000 years of civilization.
This opening section functions like a prologue, laying out ancient Egypt’s belief systems, political structures, and everyday practices. Expect:
Carved reliefs depicting rituals and royal life
Sculptures of deities such as Horus and Hathor
Cosmetic palettes, pottery, and household items
Tools, amulets, and funerary figurines (shabti)
It’s an intimate, humanizing start — reminding visitors that behind the monumental tombs and temples were real people with routines, ambitions, and fears.
2. THE LEGEND OF TUTANKHAMUN
The star of the show — and a colossal surprise.
No Egyptian exhibition is truly complete without Tutankhamun, and Hong Kong’s edition features one of the most breathtaking pieces: an over 2.8-metre-tall quartzite statue of the boy king. The sculpture dominates the room, glowing amber under museum lighting, its serene yet commanding expression embodying the enduring mystique of the 18th-Dynasty pharaoh.
This section also includes:
Jewellery fragments echoing the opulence of his burial trove
Royal insignia symbolizing kingship
Iconography revealing shifting religious politics of his era
Visitors often linger longest here — it’s the emotional and visual centerpiece.
3. THE SECRETS OF SAQQARA
Mummies, mysteries, and new archaeological discoveries.
Saqqara, Egypt’s vast necropolis, is one of the most actively excavated sites in the world today, and this exhibition brings several recent finds to Hong Kong. Highlights include:
Mummified cats wrapped in linen with intricate geometric patterns
Anthropoid coffins decorated in vibrant pigments
Canopic jars, funerary masks, and priestly tools
Artefacts linked to newly uncovered tombs
This zone is where visitors feel closest to the realities of ancient burial practices — mysterious, meticulous, and deeply symbolic.
4. ANCIENT EGYPT AND THE WORLD
An unexpected look at Egypt’s global connections.
While popular imagination often paints ancient Egypt as isolated, this final section reveals how connected the civilization actually was. Exhibits here explore trade, diplomacy, artistic exchange, and cross-cultural influence across Africa, the Mediterranean, and the Near East.
Objects such as imported ceramics, hybrid-style jewellery, and artifacts showing Greek and Roman influence demonstrate Egypt’s dynamic role in early global history.
STAR ARTEFACTS YOU SHOULD NOT MISS
• The Colossal Quartzite Statue of Tutankhamun
Towering, luminous, and exquisitely carved — it’s the exhibition’s showstopper.
• Cat Mummies from Saqqara
Eerie, elegant, and surprisingly advanced in preservation technique.
• Human-shaped Coffins (Anthropoid Coffins)
Eye-level confrontations with the past, richly painted and hauntingly lifelike.
• Gold Jewellery and Personal Adornments
Necklaces, amulets, and bracelets displaying spectacular Egyptian craftsmanship.
• Everyday Objects — Including a Stone Toilet Seat
A charming reminder that ancient life was practical as well as divine.
• Priest’s Tools and Ritual Implements
A window into temple life and the societal importance of the priesthood.
THE PRACTICAL GUIDE
LOCATION
Hong Kong Palace Museum, West Kowloon Cultural District
A waterfront cultural hub easily accessible by MTR, bus, or taxi.
DATES
20 November 2025 – 31 August 2026
OPENING HOURS
Mon, Wed, Thu, Sun: 10:00 am – 6:00 pm
Fri, Sat, Public Holidays: 10:00 am – 8:00 pm
Closed Tuesdays (except public holidays) and the first two days of Lunar New Year.
TICKETS
(Gallery 9 – Special Exhibition)
Adults: HK$190
Concessions: HK$95
(Full Access – All Galleries)
Adults: HK$230
Concessions: HK$115
GUIDED TOURS
Standard guided tour (~45 min): Extra fee
Curator / Egyptologist-led tour (~60 min): Premium ticket, limited slots
If you want context-rich insights, the expert-led tours are exceptional.
TIPS FOR YOUR VISIT
1. Book Early. Really Early.
Tickets sell out quickly, particularly for weekend slots and guided tours.
2. Visit on Weekday Mornings
These are the quietest hours — you can enjoy the statues without large crowds.
3. Allow at Least 90 Minutes
The exhibition is dense, especially with the multimedia content.
4. Don’t Rush the Saqqara Gallery
Many visitors skim past it for Tutankhamun, but Saqqara holds some of the most captivating artefacts.
5. Check Photography Rules
Some objects may have restrictions due to loan agreements.
6. Explore the Museum Shop
Exclusive Egyptian-themed merchandise is available — items have sold out quickly in past special exhibitions.
WHY THIS EXHIBITION MATTERS
This exhibition is more than a display of historical treasures — it’s a cultural milestone.
It marks a historic collaboration between Hong Kong and Egypt.
Many pieces are being shown outside Egypt for the first time.
It ties into the upcoming celebration of 70 years of diplomatic relations between China and Egypt in 2026.
It elevates Hong Kong’s growing reputation as a global museum city.
For history lovers, families, students, and curious newcomers, Ancient Egypt Unveiled offers something increasingly rare: the chance to stand face to face with ancient humanity — to see the brushstrokes, the carvings, and even the fingerprints of people who lived thousands of years ago.
THE BOTTOM LINE
This exhibition is a must-see cultural event of the year. Whether you’re fascinated by mummies, intrigued by pharaohs, or simply love beautifully crafted ancient objects, the Hong Kong Palace Museum’s Egyptian showcase is an unforgettable journey into one of the most iconic civilizations in human history.
