Aberdeen floating village
Encyclopedia
Aberdeen floating village (Chinese: 香港仔水上人家) is located at the Aberdeen Harbour in the Southern District
of Hong Kong
. The harbour contains approximately 600 junks
, which house an estimated 6,000 people.
Since the 19th century, Aberdeen has emerged as one of the most important fishing ports in Hong Kong. Now in Aberdeen, as the catering and tourism industries are on the rise, so is the demand for seafood. In the past two decades, the population of the Aberbeen Floating Village community has decreased due to rapid fisheries development in the nearby Guangdong
Province and the increase in operating costs of the fishing industry in Hong Kong. Instead of living on the boat permanently, now the majority of the boat people only fish on the boat during the day.
boat people
, who came to Hong Kong by boat in the 1970s.
The total population of boat dwellers in Hong Kong was estimated at 2,000 in 1841, 150,000 in 1963 and at 40,000 in 1982.
attest to a long tradition of marine and fishing cultures and traditions in Hong Kong. Aberdeen's role as a port emerged between the 14th and 17th centuries when sandalwood
(taang heung muk) arrived in junks from Lantau Island
and Sha Tin
. The waters of Aberdeen served as the intermediary, dispatching the sandalwood into larger boats up the East China
coast to major cities in China.
Aberdeen was one of the earliest places to host dragon boat races in Hong Kong.
Aberdeen hosts the Aberdeen Dragon Boat race each year, an event which has received a lot of community support. Today, Aberdeen still continues with its tradition of holding races for long dragon boats which carry 48 paddlers. The standard of paddling and teamwork amongst the racers is very high.
Some of the residents of Aberdeen actively engage in boat activities. They still mainly rely on the boat for daily living, working, and chatting amongst each other. Some common boat activities include: fish salt-processing, washing fish and driving and being a tour guide on the sightseeing sampan
s on the waterfront.
and the Tai Pak Floating Restaurant. In addition to food, non-boat people also go to the marine parks at the waterfront for leisure activities, such as doing exercise, stretching or simply chatting with their neighbors.
is the most common and significant method used nowadays by the fishermen in the South
and East China seas
. The type of trawling method used depends on which type of fish the fisherman intends to catch.
During the Fishing Moratorium Period (June and July), more than 1,000 fishing vessels are anchored at the Aberdeen Typhoon Shelter
.
Wholesale fish markets operated by the F.M.O are located along the Aberdeen Promenade. Every morning the fish market is crowded with fishermen, fish sellers and buyers.
s which serve fresh seafood caught directly from their own boats. Each floating restaurant serves different types of seafood, each with a unique Cantonese cuisine
flavor. Some boat people sell fresh seafood, dried fish and salt fish on their own small boats along the coast.
s. These fish balls are used to create the local Aberdeen specialty: 'Fish Ball Noodles'. Boat people make their own noodles for this specialty, and use simple but traditional and unique ways to cook the fish ball noodles. Every evening at 6pm,people from all over Hong Kong come and visit the village to enjoy the limited dishes of 'Fish Ball Noodles'.
, Lamma and Po Toi
. There are also a series of shuttle ferries to the Jumbo Floating Restaurant. There are also sampan
s for hire for sightseeing.
One should never leave Aberdeen without taking a ride on a traditional sampan to cruise around the typhoon shelter or to cross the waters to Ap Lei Chau
. The sampans to Ap Lei Chau are provided with the Octopus Card
(the multi-purpose store valued smart card system in Hong Kong).
is built around the reservoirs on the southern side of Hong Kong. The Aberdeen Country Park flourishes in leisure trails and attractive promenades. The longest trail can actually be completed within an hour. The Aberdeen Country Park is more than just a park; in more practical terms, the Hong Kong Tourist Association has established an information centre in the park’s southern section for the documentation of informative pamphlets, further contributing to the educational sector of the park.
in Aberdeen was founded in 1851, and it serves the purpose of commemorating Tin Hau. Every April, the temple flourishes with ceremonies for the purpose of celebrating Tin Hau's birthday. During the ceremony, people decorate their boats on the Aberdeen shores and lion dance
s are performed outside the temple.
Southern District, Hong Kong
The Southern District is one of the 18 districts of Hong Kong. It is located in the southern part of Hong Kong Island. It had a population of 290,240 in 2001. This district has the fourth lowest population of Hong Kong.-Geography:...
of Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
. The harbour contains approximately 600 junks
Junk (ship)
A junk is an ancient Chinese sailing vessel design still in use today. Junks were developed during the Han Dynasty and were used as sea-going vessels as early as the 2nd century AD. They evolved in the later dynasties, and were used throughout Asia for extensive ocean voyages...
, which house an estimated 6,000 people.
Since the 19th century, Aberdeen has emerged as one of the most important fishing ports in Hong Kong. Now in Aberdeen, as the catering and tourism industries are on the rise, so is the demand for seafood. In the past two decades, the population of the Aberbeen Floating Village community has decreased due to rapid fisheries development in the nearby Guangdong
Guangdong
Guangdong is a province on the South China Sea coast of the People's Republic of China. The province was previously often written with the alternative English name Kwangtung Province...
Province and the increase in operating costs of the fishing industry in Hong Kong. Instead of living on the boat permanently, now the majority of the boat people only fish on the boat during the day.
Background
The people living on boats in Aberdeen are mainly Tanka, a group which arrived in Hong Kong around the 7-9th century. While sometimes referred to as "boat people", they are in fact boat dwellers and should not be confused with the unrelated Vietnamese refugeesVietnamese people in Hong Kong
Many of the Vietnamese people in Hong Kong immigrated as a result of the war and persecution in Vietnam since the mid-1970s. There is however also small but growing community of diaspora vietnamese being sent to Hong Kong forming an expatriate community, from countries far afield like Australia,...
boat people
Boat people
Boat people is a term that usually refers to refugees, illegal immigrants or asylum seekers who emigrate in numbers in boats that are sometimes old and crudely made...
, who came to Hong Kong by boat in the 1970s.
The total population of boat dwellers in Hong Kong was estimated at 2,000 in 1841, 150,000 in 1963 and at 40,000 in 1982.
Aberdeen floating village
Aberdeen's temple to Tin HauTin Hau temples in Hong Kong
Over 70 temples are dedicated to Tin Hau in Hong Kong. They include:* Tin Hau temple, located at 10 Tin Hau Temple Road, Causeway Bay, east of Victoria Park, in Eastern District, on Hong Kong Island. It is a declared monument. The temple has given its name to the MTR station serving it .* The Tin...
attest to a long tradition of marine and fishing cultures and traditions in Hong Kong. Aberdeen's role as a port emerged between the 14th and 17th centuries when sandalwood
Sandalwood
Sandalwood is the name of a class of fragrant woods from trees in the genus Santalum. The woods are heavy, yellow, and fine-grained, and unlike many other aromatic woods they retain their fragrance for decades. As well as using the harvested and cut wood in-situ, essential oils are also extracted...
(taang heung muk) arrived in junks from Lantau Island
Lantau Island
Lantau Island , based on the old local name of Lantau Peak , is the largest island in Hong Kong, located at the mouth of the Pearl River. Administratively, most of Lantau Island is part of the Islands District of Hong Kong...
and Sha Tin
Sha Tin
Sha Tin, also spelled Shatin, is an area around the Shing Mun River in the New Territories of Hong Kong. Administratively, it is part of the Sha Tin District.-Geography:...
. The waters of Aberdeen served as the intermediary, dispatching the sandalwood into larger boats up the East China
East China
East China is a geographical and a loosely-defined cultural region that covers the eastern coastal area of China.Although an intangible and loosely defined concept, for administrative and governmental purposes, the region is defined by the government of the People's Republic of China to include...
coast to major cities in China.
The Aberdeen Dragon Boat Race
The Duanwu Festival (the fifth day of the fifth month in the Lunar calendar) is an event of tremendous importance to Hong Kong fishermen. Dragon boat racing in Hong Kong commenced around the 1900s. Fishermen think that rowing dragon boats during the Duanwu festival will bring them luck.Aberdeen was one of the earliest places to host dragon boat races in Hong Kong.
Aberdeen hosts the Aberdeen Dragon Boat race each year, an event which has received a lot of community support. Today, Aberdeen still continues with its tradition of holding races for long dragon boats which carry 48 paddlers. The standard of paddling and teamwork amongst the racers is very high.
Lifestyle
Although now Aberdeen has been transformed into a semi-commercial district, it has still maintained the style of a fishing village.Some of the residents of Aberdeen actively engage in boat activities. They still mainly rely on the boat for daily living, working, and chatting amongst each other. Some common boat activities include: fish salt-processing, washing fish and driving and being a tour guide on the sightseeing sampan
Sampan
A sampan is a relatively flat bottomed Chinese wooden boat from long. Some sampans include a small shelter on board, and may be used as a permanent habitation on inland waters. Sampans are generally used for transportation in coastal areas or rivers, and are often used as traditional fishing boats...
s on the waterfront.
Boat restaurants
Some boat people are employed at boat restaurants, which sell fresh seafood mainly for tourists. The chefs in the restaurants use traditional methods to cook fresh seafood to provide tourists with a taste of Aberdeen.Sightseeing sampans
Some boat people drive and are tour guides for sightseeing sampans on the waterfront. When people are walking along the shore, the boat people would invite them for a boat travel to some small islands nearby or the surrounding area for around 20 to 30 minutes. The tour guide would introduce the scenic and special points of those areas to the tourists during the ride. After that, they will charge a fee of around $50 to $80 Hong Kong dollars.Fish catching
At least once a day, boat people drive their boats out to the surrounding areas to catch fish. They will then hand them over to the wholesalers in the Fish Marketing Organization (F.M.O) for further wholesaling, or simply sell them directly to wet markets or seafood restaurants.Non-boat people living in the Aberdeen Floating Village
There are many other people in Aberdeen who neither live nor work on boats. Most of these people consume fresh seafood from small-scale fish boats, or go to seafood restaurants to dine. There are two famous floating restaurants in Aberdeen: the Jumbo Floating RestaurantJumbo Kingdom
Jumbo Kingdom consists of the Jumbo Floating Restaurant and the adjacent Tai Pak Floating Restaurant , renowned tourist attractions in Aberdeen South Typhoon Shelter, within Hong Kong's Aberdeen Harbour. Over 30 million visitors have visited Jumbo Kingdom, including Queen Elizabeth II, John...
and the Tai Pak Floating Restaurant. In addition to food, non-boat people also go to the marine parks at the waterfront for leisure activities, such as doing exercise, stretching or simply chatting with their neighbors.
Fishing methods
TrawlingTrawling
Trawling is a method of fishing that involves pulling a fishing net through the water behind one or more boats. The net that is used for trawling is called a trawl....
is the most common and significant method used nowadays by the fishermen in the South
South China Sea
The South China Sea is a marginal sea that is part of the Pacific Ocean, encompassing an area from the Singapore and Malacca Straits to the Strait of Taiwan of around...
and East China seas
East China Sea
The East China Sea is a marginal sea east of China. It is a part of the Pacific Ocean and covers an area of 1,249,000 km² or 750,000 square miles.-Geography:...
. The type of trawling method used depends on which type of fish the fisherman intends to catch.
Shrimp catching
To catch shrimp, fishermen use the shrimp trawling operation, during which they would throw small bags into the sea to catch shrimp.Fish Catching
For catching other marine animals such as fish, different methods are used. For the gill-netting operation, the fish boat would pull a long net at its back, which fish will flow into. For the seine fishing operation, fishermen will place a rounded net into the sea when they see a school of fish swim by. The long-lining operation consists of the fish boat pulling a string, tagged with little fish, to attract and lure the fish onto the string.Fishing junks
Shrimp Trawlers are used to catch shrimp using the shrimp-trawling method. However, shrimp trawlers only account for a very small portion of trawlers in Hong Kong. Currently, the most common trawlers in Hong Kong, are the Hang Trawlers, Sten Trawlers, Purse Seniers and Gill-Netters. All of these local fishing boat junks were mechanized only after the Pacific War.Fishing industry in Aberdeen
Before the 1950s, salt fish was the major catch sold in Aberdeen. Today, Aberdeen is the only fishing port in the Southern District in Hong Kong. It continues to play an important role in the fishing industry. The catch of fish in the Aberdeen port accounts for over one-third of the total catch of fish in Hong Kong.During the Fishing Moratorium Period (June and July), more than 1,000 fishing vessels are anchored at the Aberdeen Typhoon Shelter
Aberdeen Typhoon Shelters
The Aberdeen Typhoon Shelters of Hong Kong are Aberdeen West Typhoon Shelter and Aberdeen South Typhoon Shelter . Both typhoon shelters are located in Southern District, between the southern part of Hong Kong Island and the island Ap Lei Chau. They are roughly separated by the Ap Lei Chau Bridge...
.
The fish marketing organization
The Fish Marketing Organization (F.M.O) is a self- financed, non-profit-making organization which provides marketing services for fishermen and fish retailers at the Aberdeen floating village. F.M.O's income derives from the commission on sales and surplus earnings. F.M.O's earnings are used to improve the facilities of the Aberdeen Floating Village.Wholesale fish markets operated by the F.M.O are located along the Aberdeen Promenade. Every morning the fish market is crowded with fishermen, fish sellers and buyers.
Food
Aberdeen boat people are well-known for their floating restaurantFloating restaurant
A floating restaurant is a kind of vessel which is usually a type of steel barge used as a restaurant on water. For example, the Jumbo Palace at Aberdeen in Hong Kong is one such restaurant. Sometimes retired ships are given a second lease on life as floating restaurants. The former car ferry New...
s which serve fresh seafood caught directly from their own boats. Each floating restaurant serves different types of seafood, each with a unique Cantonese cuisine
Cantonese cuisine
Cantonese cuisine comes from Guangdong Province in southern China and is one of 8 superdivisions of Chinese cuisine. Its prominence outside China is due to the great numbers of early emigrants from Guangdong. Cantonese chefs are highly sought after throughout the country...
flavor. Some boat people sell fresh seafood, dried fish and salt fish on their own small boats along the coast.
Fish ball noodles
Every morning the Aberdeen boat people catch fresh fish to make fish ballFish ball
Fish balls are a common food in southern China and overseas Chinese communities made from surimi . They are also common in Scandinavia, where they are usually made from cod or haddock.-Terminology:...
s. These fish balls are used to create the local Aberdeen specialty: 'Fish Ball Noodles'. Boat people make their own noodles for this specialty, and use simple but traditional and unique ways to cook the fish ball noodles. Every evening at 6pm,people from all over Hong Kong come and visit the village to enjoy the limited dishes of 'Fish Ball Noodles'.
From fishing to tourism
The fishing port of Aberdeen has been a major tourist attraction to the local population and tourists due its beautiful scenery and tasty seafood. Since the 1960s, the Hong Kong Tourist Association and the government of Hong Kong have been active participants in promoting the tourism sector of Aberdeen; thereby benefiting the catering and travel industries in the area.Ferries and sampans of Aberdeen
Aberdeen is well-known for its movies with traditional rowing boats and the boat-fishing villages. Along the Aberdeen Promenade, there are multiple ferryboats and a lead-way to Ap Lei ChauAp Lei Chau
Ap Lei Chau , or Aberdeen Island, is an island of Hong Kong, located south-west of Hong Kong Island, next to Aberdeen Harbour and Aberdeen Channel, with an area of 1.30 km². Administratively, it is part of Southern District. Ap Lei Chau is the third most densely populated island in the world.-...
, Lamma and Po Toi
Po Toi
Po Toi is the main island of the Po Toi Islands and the southern-most island of Hong Kong, with an area of 3.69 km².-Name:...
. There are also a series of shuttle ferries to the Jumbo Floating Restaurant. There are also sampan
Sampan
A sampan is a relatively flat bottomed Chinese wooden boat from long. Some sampans include a small shelter on board, and may be used as a permanent habitation on inland waters. Sampans are generally used for transportation in coastal areas or rivers, and are often used as traditional fishing boats...
s for hire for sightseeing.
Jumbo Floating Restaurant
The Jumbo Floating Restaurant is one of the most prominent tourist attractions in Aberdeen. It is a double-storey boat, which serves Cantonese–style cooked seafood on board. Despite its high-quality food, the dining atmosphere is the main attraction of the restaurant. The Jumbo Floating Restaurant is filled mostly with tourists and locals who bring their overseas business clients and foreign friends for a taste of traditional Hong Kong life.The sampans of Aberdeen
Although now Aberdeen has been transformed into a semi-commercial district, it has still maintained the style of a fishing village.One should never leave Aberdeen without taking a ride on a traditional sampan to cruise around the typhoon shelter or to cross the waters to Ap Lei Chau
Ap Lei Chau
Ap Lei Chau , or Aberdeen Island, is an island of Hong Kong, located south-west of Hong Kong Island, next to Aberdeen Harbour and Aberdeen Channel, with an area of 1.30 km². Administratively, it is part of Southern District. Ap Lei Chau is the third most densely populated island in the world.-...
. The sampans to Ap Lei Chau are provided with the Octopus Card
Octopus card
The Octopus card is a rechargeable contactless stored value smart card used to transfer electronic payments in online or offline systems in Hong Kong...
(the multi-purpose store valued smart card system in Hong Kong).
Aberdeen Country Park
The Aberdeen Country ParkAberdeen Country Park
Aberdeen Country Park is located on the south end of Hong Kong Island near the area called Aberdeen, Hong Kong. Much of the south side of the island is underdeveloped and retains more of the rural feel that predominated on the island before it was settled by the British. The park extends to Wan...
is built around the reservoirs on the southern side of Hong Kong. The Aberdeen Country Park flourishes in leisure trails and attractive promenades. The longest trail can actually be completed within an hour. The Aberdeen Country Park is more than just a park; in more practical terms, the Hong Kong Tourist Association has established an information centre in the park’s southern section for the documentation of informative pamphlets, further contributing to the educational sector of the park.
Aberdeen Tin Hau Temple
The Tin Hau TempleTin Hau temples in Hong Kong
Over 70 temples are dedicated to Tin Hau in Hong Kong. They include:* Tin Hau temple, located at 10 Tin Hau Temple Road, Causeway Bay, east of Victoria Park, in Eastern District, on Hong Kong Island. It is a declared monument. The temple has given its name to the MTR station serving it .* The Tin...
in Aberdeen was founded in 1851, and it serves the purpose of commemorating Tin Hau. Every April, the temple flourishes with ceremonies for the purpose of celebrating Tin Hau's birthday. During the ceremony, people decorate their boats on the Aberdeen shores and lion dance
Lion dance
Lion dance is a form of traditional dance in Chinese culture, in which performers mimic a lion's movements in a lion costume. The lion dance is often mistakenly referred to as dragon dance. An easy way to tell the difference is that a lion is operated by two people, while a dragon needs many people...
s are performed outside the temple.