Published : 2026-07-05
The Old Yau Ma Tei Police Station in Hong Kong can be described as the go-to filming location for Hong Kong crime thrillers. with numerous classic Hong Kong films such as such as Infernal Affairs (無間道), Love Undercover (新紮師妹) and Cold War (寒戰) being shot here.
Earlier this year, this pre-war historic building was transformed into a cinema-themed exhibition venue, featuring the "Yau Ma Tei Police Station Light: A Cinematic Journey" exhibition to let visitors experience what it feels like to step into the shoes of a movie protagonist.
Old Yau Ma Tei Police Station: One of the few pre-war police stations
The Old Yau Ma Tei Police Station was built in 1922 and is one of the few remaining pre-war police stations in Hong Kong.
The building was constructed in the British Edwardian architectural style, with a semi-circular portico, classical-style columns and an arcade on its facade, as well as a triangular roof structure. The design is distinctive and exudes an exotic charm.
As a landmark for Hong Kong crime films, the Old Yau Ma Tei Police Station has been the setting for many iconic movies and has long been a popular photo spot for film fans visiting Hong Kong. Earlier in 2026, with the launch of the "Yau Ma Tei Police Station: A Cinematic Journey" exhibition, it has attracted even more tourists to visit.
Although the "Yau Ma Tei Police Station Movie Tour" exhibition has been open for some time, its popularity remains as high as ever, with weekday visiting slots frequently fully booked.
Those interested in visiting must purchase tickets online in advance and enter at the designated time shown on their tickets, as no on-site ticket sales are available.
As each visiting session is only 25 minutes long, if your goal is to take photos at the popular spots, you must plan ahead.
"Yau Ma Tei Police Station: A Cinematic Journey" exhibition has 4 major exhibition zones
The exhibition can be divided into four major exhibition zones, including the "Cinema Entrance", "Time Tunnel", "Detectives' Office" and "Detention Room".
Upon opening the main gates of the Old Yau Ma Tei Police Station, visitors are greeted by the "Cinema Entrance", designed like an old-fashioned cinema ticket booth. Staff will check visitors' tickets here and guided them into the cinematic world of Hong Kong crime films.
Passing through the cinema entrance, there is a narrow corridor, which is the second stop "Time Tunnel".
After arranging the visitors to stand at both ends of the corridor, the staffs immediately draw a black curtain, and the black walls on both sides instantly light up, transforming into a dazzling tunnel of light and shadow.
Visitors can relive exciting moments from numerous classic crime films through immersive visual and sound effects, preparing them for the film sets created by a professional art director.
Read more: Old Yau Ma Tei Police Station: From HK film set to tourist destination
Detention room converted into photo booth
After watching the highlights, visitors step into the CID room (miscellaneous duty room), a highly cinematic set recreated by professional art directors in the style of a 1970s–80s police station.
The office comprises an office area, exhibit room, identification parade room, monitoring room, and armoury, each a perfect photo spot.
Visitors can pose as the suspects in the identification parade room, holding up an identification plaque to take a "mugshot", handle prop guns in the arms room, or sit in front of multiple surveillance monitors, playing the role of a mastermind "pulling the strings" and letting their imagination run wild.
The meticulous detail of the set decorations reveals the boundless creativity of the film's art directors.
Visitors can snap photos in the small office, pretending to be on duty, and the solid government wooden desk is covered with highly realistic document files, while the decorations behind are even more impressive: such as the Guan Gong altar (關公神壇) on the wall, the medals and trophies on top of the cabinet, the "Eliminate Violence and Pacify the People" banner behind the door, and the clue relationship chart connected by red strings on the "case-breaking wall".
Every inch of the layout is ingeniously designed. Combined with special sound and lighting effects, the photos taken have a particularly atmospheric feel.
Beyond the lifelike movie sets, the Old Yau Ma Tei Police Station has also transformed its former suspect detention room into photo booths. Through the interactive photo devices, visitors can have their photos taken wearing virtual police or prisoner uniforms as souvenirs.
Additionally, visitors can also select their favourite movie posters, instantly swap faces to become the lead character, and generate a unique composite movie poster to download and share with friends.
Besides taking photos for social media, there are also many video interviews with behind-the-scenes crew members on-site, allowing visitors to understand the creative insights behind Hong Kong films.
Visit the gift gallery for Police Panda souvenirs
After the tour, if you like to have some souvenirs, you can walk through the arcade to the side entrance of the Old Yau Ma Tei Police Station and drop by the Hong Kong Police Gift Shop to buy souvenirs. With an adorable Police Panda plush toy or other police-themed ornaments, you can bring a perfect end to your visit.
In fact, many landmarks around the Old Yau Ma Tei Police Station have been used as filming locations for films, for example, the Yau Ma Tei Market on Reclamation Street was a filming location for Ghost in the Shell (攻殼機動隊); Yau Ma Tei Fruit Market was used for filming As Tears Go By (旺角卡門) and Fallen Angels (墮落天使).
Temple Street was also featured in films such as C'est la vie, mon chéri (新不了情) and The God of Cookery (食神), and there is also Mido Cafe, which appeared in The Stool Pigeon (線人) and Gallants (打擂台), as well as filming locations for SPL II: A Time for Consequences (殺破狼2) and I'm Livin' It (麥路人), such as the Yim Yeung Tin Night Club (艷陽天歌座) at 49 Temple Street.
For film fans who love Hong Kong films, Yau Ma Tei has more than enough to explore for a whole day!
"Yau Ma Tei Police Station: A Cinematic Journey" Exhibition
Address: 627 Canton Road, Yau Ma Tei, Kowloon
Opening Hours: Tuesday to Friday (except public holidays) 10:00–17:00 and 18:00–20:00, Saturday, Sunday and public holidays 09:00–20:00 (Closed on Mondays), *Opening hours may be adjusted in different months
Tickets: HK$30 for adults, HK$10 for full-time students, senior citizens aged 60 or above, people with disabilities and Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (CSSA) recipients, free admission for children aged 6 or below. Tickets are not available on-site, all visitors must purchase tickets online on Cityline, and children eligible for free admission must also make a reservation.
Note: Each ticket is valid for one 25-minute slot only; visitors arriving more than 15 minutes late will not be admitted.
Website: https://fpf.ccidahk.gov.hk/tc/ymtps/ymtps.html
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