The Hong Kong Palace Museum (HKPM) faced significant operational challenges this past weekend as the highly anticipated “Ancient Egypt Unveiled: Treasures from Egyptian Museums” exhibition drew massive, unmanageable crowds, continuing a string of high-profile event mishaps in the city. Following a pattern seen in recent months—including the September hot air balloon event debacle and the high-profile 2024 Lionel Messi controversy—the museum struggled to accommodate the visitor volume on Saturday, November 22, and Sunday, November 23, leading to severe congestion, long queues, and visitor dissatisfaction. In response, HKPM temporarily suspended on-site ticket sales, extended operating hours, and offered ticket holders complimentary revisit options.
High Demand Overwhelms Weekend Operations
The exhibition, showcasing mummies, sarcophagi, and historical artifacts, has proven to be a major draw since its opening. However, the surge in attendance quickly exposed operational limitations. On Saturday, after a smooth morning, the museum was inundated by afternoon crowds, resulting in lengthy waits and confusing traffic flow within the venue. Many frustrated visitors reportedly demanded refunds.
To mitigate the confusion and address the poor experience, HKPM took immediate action. The museum offered all Saturday ticket holders the opportunity to return and view the exhibition free of charge within the subsequent three months. Furthermore, HKPM extended its Saturday operating hours until 9 p.m. to disperse the bottleneck, though similar issues resurfaced the following day.
On Sunday, November 23, the museum was forced to temporarily halt all on-site ticket sales for nearly five hours, restricting entry only to individuals who had purchased tickets in advance. Sales resumed at 3:30 p.m., and the closing time was again extended until 8 p.m. to allow existing visitors more time.
Museum Sees Record Attendance, Sold-Out Souvenirs
Despite the logistical hurdles, the visitor data confirms the exhibition’s broad appeal. HKPM announced on Monday, November 24, that the “Ancient Egypt Unveiled” exhibition had welcomed over 16,000 visitors in just its first four days. This substantial number validates the exhibition’s drawing power, reflecting immense public interest in the ancient artifacts.
The enthusiasm extended to specialized merchandise. A popular series of themed plush toys—modeled after the Egyptian goddess Bastet and featuring cat figures dressed as pharaohs—completely sold out over the weekend. While HKPM has indicated that more stock is forthcoming, visitors currently must register online at the museum’s gift shop to receive notifications regarding restock availability.
Addressing Future Crowd Management
The sustained high demand throughout the opening weekend is prompting HKPM officials to consider structural operational changes. The museum is currently evaluating the possibility of extending its permanent operating hours for the duration of the exhibition to manage the flow of patrons and provide a better visitor experience. The success of the late-night extensions implemented over the weekend suggests that longer hours could be a viable solution to the continuing overcrowding issues.
The challenges at HKPM underscore a recurring issue facing Hong Kong’s major attractions: the infrastructure and crowd management systems frequently fail to keep pace with the pent-up demand for world-class cultural and entertainment events. Museums and organizers will need to invest in more robust advance ticketing and timed-entry systems to ensure that public enthusiasm translates into positive patron experiences rather than further operational meltdowns.