Cathay Members’ Choice Awards 2024: Asia’s cultural capital

Welcome to the Cathay Members’ Choice Awards: our flagship awards which celebrate everything that makes the world so amazing – as voted for by you, our global community of members. Discover the winner that captured your hearts – and your votes – as well as the contenders that made it to the shortlist. 

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Winner: Kyoto

Once the capital of Japan, Kyoto is still home to thousands of temples and shrines, including the famous Fushimi Inari Shrine, with its thousands of vermilion torii gates. Kyoto’s storied past is preserved in its architecture, with historic buildings like traditional machiya (wooden houses) and ochaya (teahouses) on nearly every corner. It’s also one of the few places to experience a traditional geisha performance, which can be found in Gion, Kyoto's protected geisha district.

Beijing

Though most people come to Beijing for the historical treasures, like the Forbidden City, Summer Palace or the Great Wall, there are plenty of contemporary gems too. The city’s many world-class performance venues, like the futuristic egg-shaped National Centre for the Performing Arts, feature everything from Peking opera and acrobatics to avant-garde theatre. Hipsters can head to the 798 Art Zone or the trendy hutongs of Nanluoguxiang for a taste of the indie art scene.

Tokyo

Art and design are the lifeblood of Tokyo, home to some of the world’s best galleries and museums. The Nezu Museum contains traditional fine arts and serene gardens, while more modern collections can be found at institutions like the Mori Art Museum and the National Art Center Tokyo. Moreover, Japan’s most famous living artist, Yayoi Kusama, has her own dedicated museum, or check out the immersive digital installations on display at Teamlab Planets.

Hong Kong SAR

Hong Kong is one of the world’s foremost art hubs, long known for hosting the international art fair, Art Basel, and its thriving underground art community. Now with stand-out spaces like the monolithic M+ Museum, which houses the Sigg Collection (one of the world’s most comprehensive collections of contemporary Chinese art), the Hong Kong Palace Museum, and the Tai Kwun arts, culture and heritage complex, Hong Kong has never been more prominent on the creative scene.

Seoul

Seoul is a city where art breathes life into every corner, from its vibrant street art to cutting-edge galleries and museums. Global galleries like White Cube, Pace Gallery and Thaddaeus Ropac have all opened or expanded locations here, and in 2022, the city welcomed the Frieze Seoul international art fair. Meanwhile, design enthusiasts can revel in the futuristic architecture of Zaha Hadid's Dongdaemun Design Plaza, which also hosts Seoul Fashion Week.