Magnificent clocks and watches from the 18th and 19th centuries are on display at the “Treasures of Time” exhibition at the Hong Kong Science Museum, highlighting their historical significance and technological achievements.

The exhibition displays about 120 mechanical clocks and watches from the collection of the Palace Museum in Beijing. Most of the items were tributes from Europe presented by Western missionaries to the Qing (1644-1911) court, while others were manufactured by local craftsmen in the imperial workshops of the Qing court and Guangzhou.

The exhibition merges science, history and art. Alongside the treasures, special features with the latest technology, animations, models and interactive exhibits have been created for visitors to learn about the principles of different time-measuring tools, from ancient Chinese instruments and mechanical timepieces to the latest atomic clocks. A workshop setting from the 18th century in Europe is re-created with tools and equipment provided by the Science Museum, London, which is part of the Science Museum Group, to show how craftsmen worked in the past.

In addition, the Science Museum has specially created a series of WhatsApp emoji stickers (Android version only) for the exhibition. Members of the public are welcome to download the stickers through the signage at the exhibition hall or Google Play free of charge.

Dates: Until April 10

Tickets: HK$5-15

Hours: 10 a.m.-7 p.m. (Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays); 10 a.m.-9 p.m. (Saturdays, Sundays); closed Thursdays

Venue: Hong Kong Science Museum, 2 Science Museum Road, Tsim Sha Tsui East, Kowloon, Hong Kong

MTR: Tsim Sha Tsui Station