New experience: The renovation works of the Lei Cheng Uk Han Tomb Museum includes building a canopy to cap the tomb and refurbishing the exhibition hall.

A renovation project to enhance the protection of the Lei Cheng Uk Han Tomb Museum has been completed. The museum's specially-designed canopy and refurbished exhibition hall will provide visitors with a new museum experience.

A special ceremony was held today to mark the 50th anniversary of the discovery of the Lei Cheng Uk Han Tomb. Museum of History Chief Curator Dr Joseph Ting said the Leisure & Cultural Services Department carried out a series of renovation works in January this year.

"The Han tomb had been protected by concrete, waterproofing layers, topsoil and turf. In recent years, the tomb suffered from rainwater leakage problems."

Canopy blends with historic monument

The renovation works included building a canopy to cap the tomb and refurbishing the exhibition hall adjacent to it. The exhibition hall renovation was completed in June.

The hall was re-opened the same month, while the canopy was completed in October, Dr Ting said.

He said the specially designed canopy blends with the historic monument and a visit to the renovated Lei Cheng Uk Han Tomb Museum will be both inspiring and educational.

New exhibition theme

On display is one of the new exhibitions, 'Han Culture in South China', he said. The Han tombs and artifacts unearthed in South China are featured in the exhibition to explore the cultural characteristics of the South China during the Han dynasty (206 BC - AD 220).

"The exhibition hall is installed with the latest multimedia equipment to reveal the interior condition of the tomb," Dr Ting said.

The tomb was discovered in 1955 when the Government was levelling a slope at Lei Cheng Uk Village to build resettlement quarters.

Judging by its structure, inscriptions on the tomb bricks and tomb finds, it is believed that it was built in the Eastern Han dynasty (AD 25 - 220).

Declared as gazetted monument

The tomb was declared as a gazetted monument in 1988 and is now permanently preserved. Though the Han tomb is closed for conservation reasons, visitors can glimpse the interior of the tomb through the glass panel at the entrance passage.

The exhibition hall was built adjacent to the tomb. In addition to the display of pottery and bronze ware excavated from the tomb, two exhibitions, 'Lei Cheng Uk Han Tomb' and the new 'Han Culture in South China' are now open to the public.

Text, graphics, photos, maps, videos and models are used to introduce the tomb's geographical situation, discovery and structure, as well as the social and cultural characteristics of South China during the Han dynasties.

Opening hours

The museum is located at 41 Tonkin Street, Sham Shui Po. It opens from 10am to 6pm from Monday to Saturday, from 1pm to 6pm on Sundays and public holidays and from 1pm to 5pm on Lunar New Year's Eve.

It is closed on Thursdays, the first day of January and the first three days of Lunar New Year.