Haw Par Mansion, 91, Ditches Old Meds for a New Gig: Hong Kong’s Hottest Cultural Hub

**Haw Par Mansion, 91, Ditches Old Meds for a New Gig: Hong Kong’s Hottest Cultural Hub** After watching over Hong Kong for nearly a century, the 91-year-old Haw Par Mansion is ditching its past for a new act. The historic estate, once home to the Tiger Balm fortune, is being turned into the city’s next major cultural hub, set to host exhibitions and events for the public [139340]. The mansion and its front garden are the last surviving pieces of a once-sprawling estate and theme park built in the 1930s by the Aw family, the founders of the famous Tiger Balm ointment [139340]. The buildings are striking examples of "Chinese Renaissance" architecture, a blend of Eastern and Western styles [139340]. From 2019 to 2022, the restored mansion housed a music school operated by the Aw family [139340]. Now, the public can soon expect access to exhibitions and cultural events in the historic space [139340]. This move reflects a larger push in Hong Kong to leverage arts and culture to shape the city’s future. City leaders argue that a strong, global cultural vision is its next essential step, using arts and culture to define the city's identity and connect different groups of people, just as effectively as money has shaped its past [108890]. 91-Year-Old Haw Par Mansion to Become Hong Kong’s New Cultural Hub Hong Kong's Next Big Trade: Culture Over Capital?