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The exhibition "The Majesty of All Under Heaven: The Eternal Realm of China's First Emperor" now being held at the Hong Kong Museum of History has attracted tens of thousands visitors in the past three months, breaking the museum's attendance record for thematic exhibitions. The last day of the exhibition falls on November 26. Those who have yet to visit the exhibition should grab the chance to see this largest-ever display of Qin terracotta figures in Hong Kong over the coming two weeks.
A spokesperson for the Hong Kong Museum of History today (November 12) noted that the exhibition has received an overwhelming response from the public, with over 360,000 visitors since its opening on July 25.
"The spectacular Qin terracotta army is one of the 20th century's most significant archaeological discoveries in China and the world. The scale of this exhibition is unprecedented as the number of national treasures and terracotta figures on display exceeds the ceiling normally imposed on loan exhibitions outside the Mainland.
"The exhibition also brings visitors a brand new viewing experience, with magnificent scenes of the mausoleum of Emperor Qin Shihuang reconstructed using innovative multimedia programmes.
"It is expected that many visitors will flock to visit the exhibition in the coming two weeks before it closes. Advance tickets for the daytime sessions over the coming two weekends - November 17 and 18, and November 24 and 25 - have almost all been snapped up. Members of the public are thus advised to purchase advance tickets as early as possible to avoid being disappointed," the spokesperson said.
With an average daily attendance of about 3,700 visitors, this exhibition has marked a new attendance record for thematic exhibitions organised by the Hong Kong Museum of History. In second place is another exhibition involving the history and relics of the Qin, "War and Peace - Treasures of the Qin and Han Dynasties", held in 2002, which received more than 230,000 visitors at an average daily attendance of about 2,500.
Advance tickets for the exhibition are available at all URBTIX outlets and the Hong Kong Museum of History's box office, and concurrently via URBTIX's Internet booking (www.urbtix.hk) and the credit card telephone booking hotline 2111 5999.
For details of ticketing arrangements and ticket sales updates, please visit the exhibition website at firstemperor.lcsd.gov.hk/en/ticketing.php or call the museum (Tel: 2724 9042) or URBTIX (Tel: 2734 9009) for enquiries.
"The Majesty of All Under Heaven: The Eternal Realm of China's First Emperor" is open daily from 9am to 10.30pm with 17 scheduled viewing sessions. Each session lasts one and a half hours. The first session starts at 9am and the last admission is at 9pm. Apart from on public holidays, the exhibition gallery is closed on Tuesdays, the museum's rest day.
There are seven sessions of free guided tours in Cantonese arranged daily - 10.45am, 11.30am, 1.45pm, 2.30pm, 4.45pm, 5.30pm and 7pm. Two extra sessions in English at 11am and 3pm and another two in Putonghua at 2pm and 5pm are provided on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays. Each session of the guided tours, covering highlight exhibits of the Cultural Relics Display Zone, will take about one and a half hours. The quota for each session is 30 on a first-come, first-served basis.
Admission to the exhibition is $10 per session for all visitors. Children under 4 years old are entitled to free admission when accompanied by an adult. As this is a special exhibition, free admission on Wednesdays and concession tickets are not applicable.
Free vouchers for Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) Museum Pass holders will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis at the Museum in four time slots commencing at 8.45am, 11.45am, 2.45pm and 5.45pm for viewing sessions between two time slots (free vouchers for the last viewing sessions of the day will be distributed at 5.45pm).
Schools and registered non-profit-making organisations may apply for free admission along with a guided tour. Interested parties please call 2724 9080 two weeks before the visit is planned, and applications will be processed on a first-come, first-served basis. Application forms can be downloaded from the exhibition website at firstemperor.lcsd.gov.hk/en/group.php.
Jointly presented by the LCSD and the Shaanxi Provincial Cultural Relics Bureau, the exhibition is co-organised by the Hong Kong Museum of History and the Shaanxi Cultural Heritage Promotion Center with the Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust as the sole sponsor. It is one of the highlight programmes celebrating the 15th anniversary of the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
The Hong Kong Museum of History is located at 100 Chatham Road South, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon. Its website is at hk.history.museum. For enquiries, please call 2724 9042.
Ends/Monday, November 12, 2012
Issued at HKT 14:37
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