Through the 231 items/sets of rare artefacts including goldware, glassware, bronze sculptures and ivory carvings, unearthed from the four famous archaeological sites in Tepe Fullol, AïKhanum, Tillya Tepe (Hill of Gold) and Begram, now in the collection of the National Museum of Afghanistan, this exhibition catalogue records the profound influence of foreign ancient cultures such as Greek, Indian and Roman on Afghanistan and its surrounding regions from the Bronze Age to the first century AD, as well as a cultural diversity embracing the features of different Steppe cultures. These artefacts also attest to the role played by ancient Afghanistan as the cultural crossroads of the Silk Road, which subsequently promoted the exchange and integration of world civilisations.

A collection of featured essays by curators of the British Museum and experts of Mediterranean and Middle East history, this catalogue makes use of the exhibits showcased in the exhibition An Age of Luxury: The Assyrians to Alexander to explore the concept, origin and use of luxury items, as well as the perpetuation of luxurious taste between 900 BC and 300 BC – from the Assyrian, Babylonian and Achaemenid (Persian) empires to the reign of Alexander the Great.

This catalogue presents over 160 items/sets of cultural relics from the four provinces of Shaanxi, Henan, Gansu and Xinjiang, as well as some 50 items/sets more from Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, introducing the cultural and historical value and significance of "Silk Roads: the Routes Network of Chang'an–Tianshan Corridor" from the perspectives of road network, postal stations, nodal cities, transportation, commodity exchange, religion, art, cultural integration and history of Central Asian people coming to China. Also featured in the catalogue is a monograph introducing the research achievements of the Silk Road heritage, written by Professor Ge Chengyong of Chinese Academy of Cultural Heritage.

Set against the first hundred years of British rule, this volume narrates Hong Kong's urban development and modern Sino-Hong Kong relations through accounts of prominent Chinese and foreign individuals visiting or passing through Hong Kong between 1841 and 1941. They visited Hong Kong for different purposes: treaty negotiations, official visits, research and study, or looking for business opportunities, for example. Others came for personal reasons, such as escaping from adversity, recuperating from illness, travelling, performing, or even to earn a living.

This richly illustrated exhibition catalogue features 210 rare items / sets from the collection of The Palace Museum in association with the birthday celebrations of the Qing emperors and empress dowagers. It introduces the rituals of the emperor's and empress dowager's birthday celebrations in the Qing Court, as well as the culture of conveying birthday wishes in the context of Birthday Traditions, Birthday Celebration in the Qing Palace, Birthday Gifts, Grand Celebration Ceremony at Court, Birthday Banquet and Theatrical Performances. The catalogue also contains three articles form the specialists of The Place Museum on the topics related to the verses and illustrations delivering birthday wishes, giving readers an in-depth knowledge of the content of the birthday celebrations of the Qing emperors and empress dowagers.

Toys are not only children's playmates; they also bear testimony to changes over time. For Hong Kong, toys have a special meaning because the city was once the world's largest toy manufacturing hub, with orders coming from all around the world. The volume of toys produced here was astoundingly large, and Hong Kong toys naturally reflected global trends. This catalogue features approximately 330 selected toys that were made in Hong Kong or were well known among Hong Kong people. Using historical images, the book allows readers to reminisce about their childhood, and at the same time narrates the interesting stories behind the different kinds of toys, the glorious history of the Hong Kong toy industry, and how toys have adapted to the new era.

Starting in the mid 19th century, many Chinese workers were kidnapped or coaxed into the Americas, where they were forced to do hard labour. Some of them ended up in Cuba. The Chinese labourers there had to work more than 16 hours a day. They were underfed and poorly clothed, and some were even tortured by their owners. They were nominally protected by their contracts, but in fact many owners blatantly disregarded the contracts. Even after their contracts expired, the Chinese labourers were not free, as most of them could not afford a ship ticket home, so they were trapped in lives of desperation on the plantations they worked until they died.

In order to present an account of the arduous lives of Cuban Chinese labourers in the 19th century, the Museum commissioned Mr Louie Kin-sheun, Honorary Research Fellow in the Hong Kong Institute of Asia-Pacific Studies at The Chinese University of Hong Kong, to conduct research on 10 related historical documents in our collection. Based on these documents, combined with other archive materials and invaluable historical images, this book systematically illustrates the background in which Cuban Chinese labourers departed China, how they were treated at work, the hard labour they performed, and their influence on later generations of overseas Chinese people.

Definitions of the 1911 Revolution can encompass a large timespan, but the subject matter of this publication focuses more narrowly on the period in history from the outbreak of the Wuchang uprising on 10 October 1911 to the inauguration of Dr Sun Yat-sen as Provisional President of the Republic of China in Nanjing on 1 January 1912. Discussing Dr Sun's travels and experiences in the US, Britain and France, as well as his journey from Marseille in France back to mainland China via the Straits Settlements and Hong Kong; accompanied by information on the ocean liners that Dr Sun Yat-sen travelled on as he toured the world to drum up support for his revolutionary cause, this publication marking the 150th anniversary of his birth sets out to provide another perspective on the research about the man who changed China.

The catalogue comprises over three hundred pieces (groups) of rare Ming antiques from the collections of the members of the Min Chiu Society, complemented by maps and historical images. An easy-to-understand approach has been adopted to help the readers explore in depth and reflect on Ming history, and to showcase the court art as well as the rich and diverse material civilisation of the Ming dynasty. From mid Ming onward, the Chinese society saw rapid growth of its commodity economy and underwent earth-shaking social changes while Europe also started to rise in the 16th century. This catalogue also explores foreign relations of Ming China and offers a new perspective to the study of Ming history.

This fully illustrated exhibition catalogue features more than 160 sets of stunning exhibits selected from cultural institutions of 10 provinces, cities and autonomous regions in mainland China. Supplemented by maps, extra information and a feature article, the catalogue introduces the history and culture of the Han dynasty, with special emphasis on social and economic developments, lives of Han aristocrats, religions and beliefs, as well as cultural exchanges along the Silk Road. The catalogue also covers the history, layout and archaeological finds of Weiyang Palace, one of the most famous palaces of the Han dynasty.

The Hong Kong Museum of Coastal Defence (HKMCD) is formerly known as the Lei Yue Mun (LYM) Fort, which was the most formidable fortifications in the territory built more than a century ago. It was also an important battlefield during the Battle for Hong Kong in 1941. Today it has been revitalized as a Museum to preserve and present the 600-year history of Hong Kong's coastal defences.
In the early 1990s, Dr Bard visited various military establishments, museums and coastal fortifications in Britain, and conducted a comprehensive study of the old LYM Fort as part of the preparations for the planning of the HKMCD.This publication includes his original Notes on the information of the old LYM Fort and research papers on local coastal defences. It covers the period from 1841 to 1986 within which the subject is further sub-divided into events related to the garrison, the coastal defences, and LYM, which give the readers a deeper understanding of the history of local coastal defences during the British Administration.

The late Dr Solomon Matthew Bard served as a Museum Expert Adviser on the archaeology, local history and military panels of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department.

To complement the "Treasures from Tsarskoye Selo, Residence of the Russian Monarchs" exhibition, the Hong Kong Museum of History has produced a fully illustrated catalogue detailing over 200 sets of valuable artefacts that will be showcased at this spectacular event. Supplemented by maps, historical images and feature articles, the catalogue focuses on Russian court life during the Romanov dynasty as well as the historical vicissitudes witnessed by this summer residence of the emperors and empresses. Restoration work on Tsarskoye Selo started after the Second World War and has since transformed it into a major part of Russia's cultural heritage, in which the country's citizens take huge pride. Recording the historical milestones that set Tsarskoye Selo apart, the catalogue recounts the important events in Russia's development from the 17th century to the present day.

Specially designed and produced for children, this booklet presents the development of Tsarskoye Selo as a summer residence and the broader context of contemporary Russian history in a series of rich graphics, easy-to-read texts and interactive elements, including pop-ups. Starting with an introduction to the famous Russian monarchs, the booklet goes on to look at their coronation ceremonies and their residences. Located in St Petersburg, Tsarskoye Selo was one of the favourite homes of the Russian emperors and empresses – especially the last emperor Nicholas II. Alongside the Catherine Palace and the Alexander Palace, the pavilions and monuments in the parks of Tsarskoye Selo also bear witness to the heroic and moving history of imperial Russia, while the fascinating chapter on the rebirth of Tsarskoye Selo tells the story of its restoration from the end of the Second World War to the present day.

To tie in with the Historical Imprints of Lingnan: Major Archaeological Discoveries of Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao exhibition, the Hong Kong Museum of History has produced a catalogue with full colour images of over 700 items of important archaeological finds selected from the cultural institutions and museums in Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao, as well as three featured articles by experts of the three places, introducing the historical development of the Lingnan region spanning from the Palaeolithic period to the Ming dynasty. Supplemented with detailed descriptions, this catalogue will give readers a better understanding of the archaeological achievements of Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao.

This publication of collected essays features the fruitful results from twenty experts and academics from mainland China, Hong Kong, Macao, and abroad to share their recent research on the history of the Lingnan region from the prehistoric period to the Song and Ming dynastiies, technology in archaeological excavations, conservation of archaeological sites, and recent archaeological discoveries in these three regions.

The New Territories in Hong Kong and Weihaiwei in Shandong were leased to Britain at around the same time in 1898, and both were placed under the administration of the British Colonial Office. Sir James Stewart Lockhart and Sir Reginald Johnston both started out in the civil service as Hong Kong Cadets and ended their political careers as Commissioner in Weihaiwei. They brought the wealth of experience of effective administration that they had accumulated in office in Hong Kong to Weihaiwei and formulated many policies in Britain's 32-year lease of Weihaiwei. They were both 'old China hands' with a passion for Chinese culture and preserving traditional Chinese customs, but as officers they were obliged to conduct the tasks assigned to them by the British government. Their work included strengthening the rule and protecting Britain's political and economic interests in the Far East, and they achieved this ends by implementing policies such as 'controlling the Chinese with the Chinese'. Based on extensive material drawn from the Collection of Sir James Stewart Lockhart held by the National Library of Scotland, this catalogue will provide an insight into how Britain implemented its governing policies in the leased lands, as well as showcase the unique social settings of the New Territories and Weihaiwei at the turn of the last century.

To complement the "Images Through Time: Photos of Old Hong Kong" exhibition, the Hong Kong Museum of History has produced a fully illustrated catalogue featuring about 500 rarely seen photos of various themes, including grand celebrations, food culture, disasters, occupations, transport, leisure activities, as well as the transformation in people's lives and cityscape, selected from the museum's collections and "The Moonchu Collection of Early Photography of China". Supplemented with detailed descriptions, this catalogue will give readers a better understanding of the introduction of photography to China and the historical developments of Hong Kong from the mid-nineteenth to the early twentieth century.

The catalogue, published in December 2013, was sold out in March 2014. The second edition was revised and published in June 2014.

Click here for the revisions

Presenting a comprehensive record of the exhibition on the cheongsam held in conjunction with the ‘Hong Kong Week 2013@ Taipei', this catalogue features a wealth of insightful articles, images of exhibit highlights and historical photographs. Fully illustrated and divided into three main sections – "The Emergence and Development of the Cheongsam in Hong Kong", "Hong Kong's Cheongsam Tailors and their Craft" and "Cheongsam Legends in Hong Kong" – it will allow the reader to gain a deeper understanding of the historical and social contexts in which the cheongsam developed and the processes that have made the dress an everlasting classic in Hong Kong.

Volume I contains images and illustrations of some 130 rare items / sets of the Qing court attire from The Palace Museum Collection, comprising Official Costumes, Festive Costumes, Regular Costumes, Travel Costumes, Military Costumes and Leisure Costumes, complemented by Q&A sections and images of palace paintings and other pictures to help readers understand the characteristics of the Qing court attire.

Volume II contains six monographs written by specialists of The Palace Museum on topics related to the Qing court attire, complemented by pictures. These monographs represent the fruition of The Palace Museum specialists' research in the area of the Qing court attire.

Featuring insightful articles and around 500 historical images and maps, this newly edited catalogue is divided into three main sections: ‘Dr Sun Yat-sen and Modern China' explores Dr Sun's life and his path from school to revolution; ‘Hong Kong in the Time of Dr Sun Yat-sen' explains why Hong Kong proved to be such an effective staging post for Dr Sun's revolutionary cause in terms of timing, geographical convenience and human talent; ‘The Development of the Dr Sun Yat-sen Museum' looks at the history of the 100-year-old Kom Tong Hall, which houses the museum today, as well as the colourful life of its original owner, Ho Kom-tong. Shedding light on the indissoluble links that connect Dr Sun with Hong Kong, the catalogue pays tribute to this great historical figure on the 130th anniversary of his first visit to the territory.

To tie in with "The Wonders of Ancient Mesopotamia" exhibition, the Hong Kong Museum of History has produced a fully illustrated catalogue to introduce the history of ancient Mesopotamia. This catalogue explores significant episodes of ancient Mesopotamian history from 3500 BC to 539 BC – the birth of cities in Sumer, the powerful military empire of Assyria and the development and legacy of cosmopolitan Babylon. Supplemented with detailed descriptions, this catalogue will let you understand the wonders of ancient Mesopotamia.

The Hong Kong Museum of History has published a booklet to supplement "The Wonders of Ancient Mesopotamia" exhibition. Featuring 45 highlight exhibits and 26 articles, this booklet will provide readers with a better understanding of the significant episodes of ancient Mesopotamian history.

To tie in with "The Majesty of All Under Heaven: The Eternal Realm of China's First Emperor" exhibition, the Hong Kong Museum of History has produced a fully illustrated catalogue to introduce the history of Qin, the construction and cultural relics of the Mausoleum of Qin Shihuang as well as China's policy on the conservation of national large-scale sites of Qin Culture. The catalogue not only contains rich information on the Qin culture, but also helps enhance the readers' understanding of Qin's cultural development through detailed descriptions, illustrations and drawings.

In conjunction with the "Hong Kong Currency" exhibition, the Hong Kong Museum of History produced this catalogue to illustrate the development of Hong Kong's coinage and paper money from the mid-19th century to the present. Included in this catalogue are images of early coinage and notes, as well as the bauhinia coins and the 2010 banknote series in circulation in Hong Kong today. Our currency bears silent witness to the changes that have taken place in people's livelihoods over the century. Supplemented with detailed descriptions and invaluable historical photographs, this catalogue will let you understand the evolution of our currency in depth.

Back in 2010, we joined forces with the Institute of Textiles & Clothing of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University to organise "The Evergreen Classic – Transformation of the Qipao", an exhibition that was enthusiastically received by the public and widely reported in the media. Now, to allow a wider audience to appreciate the beauty of qipao, we have specially produced this catalogue presenting most of the valuable exhibits and images that were showcased in the exhibition. It illustrates the origins and history of the qipao: how the development of this classic Chinese dress was intricately related to socio-cultural changes between the 1920s and 1960s; how it survived after the 1970s when it was no longer worn as daily attire and was later transformed into a cultural icon; and how designers today have "fashionised" and modernised the qipao to ensure its continual evolution.

Including a free DVD set containing video clips of some of the exhibit highlights and capturing details of a fine selection of qipao, the catalogue is a must-have for all qipao lovers and anyone interested in fashion, design or social history of Mainland China!

2011 marks the centenary of the Xinhai Revolution. To commemorate this watershed event at the turn of the last century, the Hong Kong Museum of History has published a fully illustrated catalogue detailing invaluable artefacts from Hong Kong, mainland China and overseas and featuring over 300 historical photographs as well as 100 copies of woodblock prints and pictorial newspapers. Offering a comprehensive account of the relationship between Hong Kong and the Xinhai Revolution, the campaigns of the reformist and revolutionary camps to save China, the Late Qing Reform in the last decade of the Qing dynasty and the major incidents that occurred between the Wuchang Uprising and the founding of the Republic of China, the catalogue bears testimony to the sacrifices made by people from all walks of life and their efforts both before and after the Xinhai Revolution to make China a strong nation.

In conjunction with the special exhibition Hong Kong, Benevolent City: Tung Wah and the Growth of Chinese Communities, the Hong Kong Museum of History published this catalogue to feature Tung Wah's contribution in serving Hong Kong in medical care, disaster relief, education, social services and cultural preservation; its burial service in particular highlights the significant role of Hong Kong in bringing together mainland and overseas Chinese. From a civil charitable organization to a modern charitable enterprise, Tung Wah grows with Hong Kong, and its presence is felt in all walks of life; its services witness Hong Kong's contribution in uniting mainland and overseas Chinese.

When modernisation of China's cities took off during the 1840s, Shanghai was a county town while Hong Kong was a fishing village, but both developed into thriving metropolises over the course of time. The people of Shanghai and Hong Kong gained an in-depth understanding of modern civilisation through intimate contact with western goods, regulations and systems. In the one hundred years since opening to foreign trade, residents of the two cities had witnessed dramatic changes, from everyday life to outlook on life and social norms. Life in the twin cities was a cosmopolitan mixture of Chinese and western cultures, serving as hallmarks of the cities' modernisation. Featuring some 200 sets of artefacts with supplementary historical photos, this catalogue gives a vivid account of the city characters and people's lifestyles that distinguished Shanghai and Hong Kong from the traditional cities further inland. Don't miss the chance to own a copy of this well illustrated catalogue, and feel the charisma of Shanghai and Hong Kong as modern metropolises!

A Fully illustrated catalogue comprises a total of 60 horse related artefacts selected from 28 museums and cultural institutes in 14 provinces, including bronze, jade and pottery ware as well as paintings. The Bronze Horse Head form Yuanmingyuan (the Old Summer Palace) of the Qing dynasty is also featured. With three excellent articles by Prof. Yang Hong, Prof. Sun Ji and Prof. Lin Meicun, the catalogue serves as useful reference for those who are interested in the role of horse in Chinese art and culture.

As two of the world's most advanced financial centres, Shanghai and Hong Kong are home to sophisticated financial institutions and extensive transaction networks. Although the banking industries in Shanghai and Hong Kong have been shaped by different historical circumstances, their native banks maintained business relationships with each other, while a number of domestic and foreign-funded banks also developed their business in both cities at the same time. Featuring some 500 artefacts and about 100 historical photographs, this catalogue provides a comprehensive record of the banks in these two financial centres and how the local co-operation between them complemented their development. With a journey through time, you will be amazed at the banking development of the twin cities over the past 150 years.

This publication is compiled to complement the thematic exhibition of the same title displayed at the Hong Kong Museum of Coastal Defence from 2003 to 2009 and to let the readers have a better understanding of the development and features of the Asian traditional archery. Supplemented with colourful drawings and photographs, it introduces the historical development of bows and arrows, the differences between modern bows and traditional bows, the physics of the Chinese traditional bows, the making of traditional bows and arrows, famous Chinese archery inventions, Chinese archery technique and the living traditional archery in other Asian cultures.

This catalogue is compiled to complement the "Major Archaeological Discoveries of China in Recent Years" exhibition. It reveals the major achievements of Chinese archaeology over the past decades and collects the cultural relics excavated at over 20 archaeological sites in nine provinces throughout the nation. From the Neolithic jade ware unearthed from Lingjiatan in Anhui province to the Shang and Zhou dynasties bronze ware from Yin Ruins in Henan province and Mei county in Shaanxi province; from the baixi acrobat tomb figures of Qinshihuang to the jade burial suit sewn with silver threads of the Chu Prince in the Western Han dynasty; from the three-colour glazed pottery and the painted sarcophagus of the High Tang dynasty to the Southern Song and Qing dynasties porcelain recovered from shipwrecks in the South China Sea, with a long period spanning from the Neolithic period to the Qing dynasty.

From the mid-19^th century onwards, being awakened by the powerful battleships and ammunition of the West, the young Chinese intelligentsia went abroad to Europe, the United States and Japan for education with an eye to strengthening China, by bringing about radical changes to society and the modernization of China. A total of 38 selected papers (37 in Chinese and 1 in English) on foreign-educated students of modern China, written by scholars and experts from the United States, Japan, the Mainland, Taiwan and Hong Kong, are included in this publication. It is not to be missed by all who wish to better understand the history of the Chinese students studying abroad in modern China, the touching stories of their studies and their contributions to the motherland.

Lei Cheng Uk Han Tomb has full details of the 58 funerary objects discovered in the tomb. The excavation report of Professor F. S. Drake "On the Excavation of an Ancient Tomb East of the Li Cheng Uk （李鄭屋）Resettlement Area, at the End of Tonkin Street, Sham Shui Po" is also included in the book. Professor Jao Tsung-i has kindly contributed an article "Introduction to 'Panyu' during the Eastern Han Dynasty to the Three Kingdoms Period Based on Inscriptions on Bricks" and his inscriptions on the front cover. This book is a useful reference for readers who are interested in the Han culture in South China and the early Hong Kong history.

Concurrent with the staging exhibition, "East Meets West: Cultural Relics from the Pearl River Delta Region", a comprehensive catalogue featuring some 160 exhibits from Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macau has been published by the Hong Kong Museum of History. Under the main theme of "East Meets West", these exhibits serve to unveil the significance of the trio in the context of overseas trade and the East-West exchanges. Apart from the detailed descriptions in Chinese and English, the catalogue is supplemented by photographs and maps, rendering it a handy reference for the study of China's "Maritime Silk Route".

This catalogue is compiled to complement the exhibition "Impressions of the East: The Art of George Chinnery". It features over 180 masterpieces of the famous British George Chinnery who was active in the south China coast in the mid-19th century. The catalogue gives a full account of Chinnery's artistic career and the development of his styles spanning over his years in England, India and south China.

To coincide with the special exhibition "Hunting and Rituals: Treasures from the Ancient Dian Kingdom of Yunnan", a comprehensive catalogue comprising a total of 118 rare and invaluable exhibits of the ancient Dian culture is published by the Hong Kong Museum of History to introduce the economy, religion, military affairs, fine arts as well as the way of life of the Dian kingdom. Besides detailed descriptions in both Chinese and English, the catalogue also includes a special article "Bronze Culture of the Red Earth Plateau" by Mr Dai Zongpin of the Yunnan Provincial Museum. This catalogue is a useful reference book for those who are interested in the history and culture of Yunnan and the ancient Dian civilization.

Established in 1854, the "Hong Kong Volunteers" was also known as the "Hong Kong Volunteer Defence Corps" and the "Royal Hong Kong Regiment". In the early days, the Force recruited members from the elite group. As times went by, different classes of the society and different ethnic groups also joined the Force. Despite volunteers, they received professional training. Their missions were to make contributions to the society and protect their home. They fought bravely against the Japanese during invasion, maintained law and order during riots and social unrests, as well as rescuing victims during natural disasters. They served in Hong Kong during the most difficult times. Although the Force was disbanded in 1995, its spirit and contributions are much appreciated.

This publication comprises essays on the historical development of the Hong Kong Volunteers and the experiences of its members. It records the glorious history of the Hong Kong Volunteers in the past 150 years.

Over the centuries, China's enemies mainly came from the north. Against this background, the strategy of frontier fortification had all along been the key element in the national defence in ancient China. From the 19th century onward, fleets of warships despatched by the Western powers caused disturbances along the seaboard. The vitalisation of coastal defence and the resistance of foreign aggression became the focus of intense discussion among government officials and the community alike. This book has collected a total of 26 papers which discuss and examine various aspects of modern China's maritime defence, ranging from theories and historical figures of maritime defence, district defence, historical document of maritime defence, to naval construction, navy and diplomacy.

Led by the Chinese Communist Party, the anti-Japanese guerrillas launched guerrilla attacks against the Japanese all over the region of Hong Kong during the Japanese occupation period (1941-1945), and rescued Chinese intellectuals and international friends. They formed the Hong Kong-Kowloon Independent Brigade of the East River Column, dealt a great blow to Japanese rule in Hong Kong, and contributed much to China's resistance efforts against Japanese aggression. The Hong Kong Museum of History compiles a collection of papers which are contributions from Hong Kong and mainland scholars, as well as veteran fighters of the former Hong Kong-Kowloon Independent Brigade. This book illustrates the significant role played by the Brigade in the war of resistance against the Japanese.

In order to allow the general public to browse the fascinating exhibit settings beyond the physical limitation and time constraint, the Museum has produced this information CD-Rom to present a detailed picture of "The Hong Kong Story" in an interactive way. With this CD-Rom, you will be free to walk through any gallery you would like to explore. The 360-degree images with sound effects offer an impressive understanding of the exhibition. It is hoped that readers can plunge into this 400 million years of historical and cultural journey whenever they like.

The CD-ROM on "City of Victoria" presents the development of the Central District, Sheung Wan, Western District (Sai Ying Pun, Shek Tong Tsui and Kennedy Town), Wan Chai (Admiralty and Wan Chai), Causeway Bay (Wong Nai Chung, Happy Valley and East Point) and the Mid-Levels from 1841 up to the outbreak of the Second World War through digital terrain models and historical photographs from the Museum's collection. Besides, to let users acquire a better understanding of the historical development of the City of Victoria, an interactive computer game is installed.

As a fortification running thousands of miles through many provinces, cities and autonomous regions, as well as a unique subject in the longstanding history of China, the Great Wall has been closely associated with the evolution of this multi-national country ever since its appearance over 2,000 years ago. This publication is meant to give readers a better idea of the structure and history of the Great Wall as well as the cultures of various nationalities within and beyond its precincts, so as to highlight the integral and diverse characteristics of Chinese culture. The publication features 117 sets of historical artifacts discovered along the Great Wall, supplemented with colourful maps and reconstructions. It is hoped that readers can learn about the subject in a more entertaining and interesting manner.

Shortly before its dissolution, the former Provisional Urban Council commissioned the Centre of Asian Studies, University of Hong Kong to research and publish a book on the history of the municipal councils which played a vital role in local environmental hygiene and provision of leisure and cultural services. The book covers the entire history of the municipal councils in Hong Kong, commencing with the establishment of the Sanitary Board in 1883, which was renamed the Urban Council in 1935 subsequent to expansion of its functions and powers, the founding of the Regional Council in 1986 to December 1999 when the history of the two Councils came to an end.

With the colour illustrations of some 250 artefacts, this catalogue gives a full record of the exhibits from "Heavenly Creations – Gems of Ancient Chinese Inventions" exhibition. It introduces ten categories of ancient inventions by the Chinese, namely astronomy, paper making, printing, compass, gunpowder, agriculture, textiles, ceramics, metallurgy and machinery, through which it is aimed at unfolding China's extraordinary achievements in science and technology in the past 3,000 years, as well as her contribution to world civilization.

This book introduces the development of coastal defence measures in Guangdong during the Ming and Qing dynasties (14th to 19th centuries), with an emphasis on the history and geography of coastal forts and batteries. The official ranks and armaments of the period are also briefly examined.

Two commercial and cultural routes linked China with Europe in ancient times. One of them is the celebrated Silk Route began at Chang'an. The other one, known as the Maritime Silk Route, began at Guangzhou, crossed the South China Sea and the Indian Ocean to reach the Mediterranean. The Route had played an important role in the economic and cultural interflow between China and other countries in the past 2000 years. This book, a catalogue of a thematic exhibition of the same title, discusses the significance of the Maritime Silk Route, with an emphasis on the role played by the trio of Guangzhou, Hong Kong and Macau.

This book is a photo album showing the development of Hong Kong Island since it was occupied by the British in 1841. With selected historical photographs from the Museum's collection, it introduces the growth of the Western District, Sheung Wan, Central, Wanchai, Causeway Bay and the Mid-levels prior to the Second World War, providing a rich source for research in the early history of Hong Kong.

This book contains 16 papers presented by scholars from Hong Kong, Shenzhen, Guangzhou and Beijing in the seminar entitled "Culture of Ancient Yue People in South China", which was organized by the Hong Kong Museum of History on 26-27 November 1993 as an extension activity for the "Archaeological Discoveries of Ancient Yue People in South China" exhibition. Based on the huge amount of archaeological data accumulated in Lingnan area in the past decade, scholars have traced the development of local Palaeolithic and Neolithic folks from various aspects such as archaeology, anthropology, history, ethnology and palaeo-ecology, and their research results are presented in these papers which give the readers a deeper understanding of the culture of ancient Yue people.

This exhibition catalogue contains colour photographs and detailed descriptions of the 93 artefacts from the "Gems of Liangzhu Culture from the Shanghai Museum" exhibition. These exhibits, selected from the Shanghai Museum, are exquisite artefacts of the Liangzhu, Songze and Dawenkou Cultures. An essay written by the Deputy Director of the Shanghai Museum which discusses the date, distribution, characteristics, origin and influence of Liangzhu Culture is also included in the book.

This publication features 24 collected essays, mainly in Chinese, about the modern martime affairs and the economy of China from Ming dynasty to modern China.

To preserve the valuable historical information provided by inscriptions in Hong Kong, the Hong Kong Museum of History published its own record back in 1986. The three volumes of Historical Inscriptions of Hong Kong, the city's first compilation of this kind, contain 585 Chinese inscriptions collected by Dr David Faure, Dr Bernard Hung-kay Luk, Dr Alice Ngai-ha Ng Lun and their research assistants between 1978 and 1984. The majority of the inscriptions came before 1945 and were found in ancestral halls, temples and charitable institutions.