Museum of Tea Ware

Museum of Tea Ware

The Museum of Tea Ware was formerly known as the Old Commander of the Forces House, also called Flagstaff House. It is located at 10 Cotton Tree Drive, Hong Kong Park, on Hong Kong Island. This two-storey building once served as the official residence of the Commander of the British Forces in Hong Kong during the colonial period, and is the oldest surviving building in Hong Kong with strong British colonial architectural features. The building is designed in the Greek Revival style, constructed entirely from granite, with a simple yet distinctive colonial design.

Today, the building houses the Museum of Tea Ware, a branch of the Hong Kong Museum of Art, which exhibits a variety of Chinese tea ware artifacts. As a witness to over a century of Hong Kong’s colonial history, it holds significant historical value and has been designated a declared monument of Hong Kong. The museum’s two floors are divided into six exhibition areas, showcasing the history of tea drinking in China and displaying various types of tea ware from the Tang Dynasty to the modern era. The core collection was donated by the late Dr. Lo Kwee-seong, with Yixing teaware being the most representative, along with Chinese ceramics and seals. The museum regularly hosts pottery demonstrations, tea ceremonies, and lectures to promote ceramic art and Chinese tea culture.

Museum of Tea Ware

Must-visit reason: The oldest surviving building in Hong Kong with strong British colonial architectural features