Aberdeen, Hong Kong
| Aberdeen, Hong Kong | |||||||||||
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| Harbour of Aberdeen | |||||||||||
| Chinese | 香港仔 | ||||||||||
| Cantonese Jyutping | hoeng1 gong2 zai2 | ||||||||||
| Literal meaning | little Hong Kong | ||||||||||
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Aberdeen (
i/æbərˈdiːn/) is an area and town on the Hong Kong Island in Hong Kong. Administratively, it is part of the Southern District. Aberdeen Harbour is a harbour between Aberdeen and Ap Lei Chau. The name 'Aberdeen' usually covers the areas of Aberdeen, Wong Chuk Hang and Ap Lei Chau, but it is more often used to refer to the town only. Population is approximately 60,000.
Aberdeen is famous to tourists for its floating village and floating seafood restaurants located within the Aberdeen Typhoon Shelters. The Tanka people are generally associated with the fishing industry, and there are also several dozen expatriates living on boats in the harbour.
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Etymology [edit]
Starting during the Ming Dynasty, "Hong Kong" became the original name for the presently-named Aberdeen village.[1] In the early 19th century, foreigners who landed near Aberdeen Village mistook the name of the village "Hong Kong" for the whole island. When the foreigners eventually realized their mistake, the name "Hong Kong" was already commonly used to refer to the entire island.[1] Thus in 1845, Aberdeen was named after the British Secretary of State for War and the Colonies, George Hamilton-Gordon, 4th Earl of Aberdeen.[2]
Aberdeen is known indigenously as Heung Kong Tsai or Hong Kong Tsai (香港仔), which means Hong Kong Minor. It is believed that Aberdeen is where the name of Hong Kong (more accurate transcription, Heung Kong) originates. Heung Kong Tsuen (香港村, Hong Kong village) on Ap Lei Chau was mentioned in Ming maps. Another walled-village Heung Kong Wai in Wong Chuk Hang was also founded during Qianlong era of the Qing Dynasty. Heung Kong means "fragrant harbour" and it was Aberdeen where incense trees (aquilaria sinensis) from the New Territories used to be transferred for export to other cities in China. One alternative Chinese name was "Shek Pai Wan"[3] (石排灣).
Food [edit]
Aberdeen Jumbo Floating Restaurant is a popular tourist spot. Looking like a floating palace of imperial China, it has attracted over 30 million visitors since opening in 1976 and has been featured in several Hong Kong, Hollywood movies and the television adpation of Noble House.
The family-run Shan Loon Tse Kee Fish Ball restaurant has been dishing out the Chiu Chow-style fish ball with soup noodles for 65 years, closed down on 31 March 2012, due to rising fish prices and staffing problems.[4]
Sports [edit]
Aberdeen Sports Ground is a major sports and events venue in Southern District.
In popular culture [edit]
Aberdeen Harbour is the first area of the video game Shenmue II. The "Aberdeen" depictured in this game differs radically in appearance from its real-life counterpart, however, being dominated architecturally by low-rise freight storage facilities and colonial-looking neo-historical architecture; this fictional version also faces an urban landscape slightly reminiscent of Hong Kong Island's north shore, an impossible arrangement due to Aberdeen's being situated south of this area, behind a mountain range.
The Hollywood martial arts film, Enter the Dragon starring Bruce Lee used Aberdeen Harbour as a filming location for the scenes where the principal characters assemble on Han's junk for the sea journey to his island.
In the 2012 video game Sleeping Dogs, Aberdeen is featured as one of the districts of Hong Kong that can be explored.
Education [edit]
Canadian International School of Hong Kong, Singapore International School and Victoria Shanghai Academy are all located on Nam Long Shan. Both Canadian International School and Victoria Shanghai Academy are International Baccalaureate World Schools, and run all three educational programs of the IB. The International Montessori School is located on Ap Lei Chau near Aberdeen. South Island School is located nearby on Hong Kong Island. Local Chinese high schools in Aberdeen district include Pui Tak Canossian College and St Peter's Secondary School in Aberdeen Centre and Aberdeen Technical School in Wong Chuk Hang.
Transport [edit]
Aberdeen is served by Pok Fu Lam Road, Aberdeen Tunnel and Nam Fung Road through Wong Chuk Hang. Nam Fung Road connects Deep Water Bay Road, which also connects Wong Nai Chung Gap Road to Happy Valley. A bridge links Aberdeen with Ap Lei Chau over Aberdeen Harbour.
The proposed MTR South Island Line (West Section) will have stations in this area.
There are regular ferries to Yung Shue Wan and Sok Kwu Wan on Lamma Island.
Transport to and from the boats in the harbour is usually provided by sampans. These can also be hired to Lamma Island.
Gallery [edit]
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Aberdeen Public Library
See also [edit]
- List of harbours in Hong Kong
- List of buildings, sites and areas in Hong Kong
- Aberdeen, Scotland, which the harbor is named after.
- Central Ordnance Munitions Depot
References [edit]
- ^ a b "A short guide to Aberdeen." from sign at Aberdeen Floating Village, Published by: Southern District Council, Hong Kong. Date visited: 12 October 2009.
- ^ Wordie, Jason (2002). Streets: exploring Hong Kong Island. Hong Kong University Press. p. 16. ISBN 978-962-209-563-2.
- ^ Hong Kong Illustrations of China and Its People, John Thomson 1837–1921, (London,1873–1874)
- ^ Man, Joyce "Aberdeen's best fish ball shop to close" CNN Go. 24 February 2012. Retrieved 2012-03-04
- (2005). Eywitness Travel Guides: China, London:Dorling Kindersley. ISBN 1-4053-0876-1.
External links [edit]
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Aberdeen, Hong Kong |
- Aberdeen photo gallery (Archived 2009-10-24)
- Satellite view of the site
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Coordinates: 22°14′52″N 114°09′06″E / 22.24778°N 114.15167°E
