The Hong Kong Racing Museum is a museum that opened at the Happy Valley Racing Course in 1996. It is currently situated at the Happy Valley Stand building, right on the second floor. The museum contains four permanent galleries. ‘The Origin of Our Horses’ exhibit charts the journey of horses to the island from the northern regions of China. The ‘Shaping Sha Tin’ exhibit is about the Sha Tin Racecourse. The exhibit depicts the history of its construction and includes a variety of interesting information about the racecourse.

At the ‘Understanding Horses’ exhibit one can find the skeleton of Silver Lining, a famous horse that became the Hong Kong Champion three times. The final gallery is called ‘Thematic Exhibitions’. This is where visitors can go to learn more about the Jockey Club, including its origins and other interesting trivia. Charitable projects adopted by the HK Jockey Club Charities Trust can also be found on display here. In addition to the galleries, the museum also houses a well-stocked souvenir shop and an excellent cinema.

There are other galleries on display here as well. The racing museum is not just for horse enthusiasts, but can be enjoyed by all. The museum is closed on all Mondays; otherwise it is open throughout the week between 10 am and 5 pm. For group visits one should send in an application in advance. As the racecourse is such a prominent destination, it is quite easy to access using the city’s excellent public transport system.

Hong Kong, which means ‘fragrant harbour’, is a Special Administrative Region of China but feels like an entirely different country. Although the culture is definitely Oriental, long years of British rule have also made it one of the most westernised parts of China. It is a highly popular tourist destination offering visitors a myriad of things to do. Attractions include numerous museums, parks and temples, like the Temple of Ten Thousand Buddhas.

Those planning on visiting the island and are on the lookout for good Hong Kong Kowloon Hotel can try the Eaton Hotel Hong Kong. The Hotel in Jordan Hong Kongenjoys a central location and is ideal for both business and leisure travellers.