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Coordinates: 22°14′35.5″N 114°9′43.2″E / 22.243194°N 114.162000°E / 22.243194; 114.162000
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| rating =
| rating =
| street-address = Shum Wan Pier Drive, Wong Chuk Hang, Aberdeen, Hong Kong
| street-address = Shum Wan Pier Drive, Wong Chuk Hang, Aberdeen, Hong Kong
| city = [[Hong Kong]]
| country = [[Hong Kong]]
| country = China
| coordinates ={{coord|22|14|35.5|N|114|9|43.2|E|type:landmark|display=it}}
| coordinates ={{coord|22|14|35.5|N|114|9|43.2|E|type:landmark|display=it}}
| seating-capacity =2300
| seating-capacity =2300

Revision as of 18:13, 20 June 2022

Jumbo Kingdom
Jumbo Kingdom in 2017
Map
Restaurant information
Established19 October 1976
Closed3 March 2020 (towed away on 14 June 2022, sank 19 June 2022)
Owner(s)Stanley Ho
Food typeCantonese, dim sum, Western
Street addressShum Wan Pier Drive, Wong Chuk Hang, Aberdeen, Hong Kong
CountryHong Kong
Coordinates22°14′35.5″N 114°9′43.2″E / 22.243194°N 114.162000°E / 22.243194; 114.162000
Seating capacity2300
WebsiteOfficial website
Jumbo Kingdom
Traditional Chinese珍寶王國
Literal meaningTreasure Kingdom
Transcriptions
Yue: Cantonese
Yale RomanizationJān bóu wòhng gwok
JyutpingZan1 bou2 wong4 gwok3
Jumbo Floating Restaurant
Traditional Chinese珍寶海鮮舫
Transcriptions
Yue: Cantonese
Yale RomanizationJān bóu hói sīn fóng
JyutpingZan1 bou2 hoi2 sin1 fong5
Tai Pak Floating Restaurant
Traditional Chinese太白海鮮舫
Transcriptions
Yue: Cantonese
Yale RomanizationTaai baahk hói sīn fóng
JyutpingTaai3 baak6 hoi2 sin1 fong2

Jumbo Kingdom (Chinese: 珍寶王國) consisted of the Jumbo Floating Restaurant (Chinese: 珍寶海鮮舫) and the adjacent Tai Pak Floating Restaurant (Chinese: 太白海鮮舫), which were renowned tourist attractions in Aberdeen South Typhoon Shelter, within Hong Kong's Aberdeen Harbour. During its 44 years of operation, over thirty million visitors visited Jumbo Kingdom, including Queen Elizabeth II, Jimmy Carter, Tom Cruise, Chow Yun Fat, and Gong Li.[1] A subsidiary, Jumbo Kingdom Manila, also operated in Manila Bay, Philippines, but it was closed after eight years of operation. Jumbo Kingdom was part of Melco International Development Limited, a company listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange.

It suspended operations in 2020 amidst the coronavirus outbreak and on 14 June 2022 was towed out of Hong Kong to an unspecified location to await a new operator.[2][3] While being towed in the South China Sea, it experienced bad weather and capsized near the Paracel Islands on 19 June 2022.

History

The Tai Pak Floating Restaurant was established in 1952,[4] when Wong Lo-kat purchased a boat and transformed it into a floating restaurant spanning 105 feet in length.[5] Six years later, Tai Pak was extended to accommodate 800 guests.[6] The second Tai Pak floating restaurant operated from Castle Peak, now Tuen Mun, and sold off and relocated to Guangxi in the 1980s.[7][verification needed]

Wong constructed a second restaurant, Jumbo Floating Restaurant, in Aberdeen Harbour.[8] On 30 October 1971,[4] a four-alarm fire occurred at the Jumbo Floating Restaurant before its opening which left 34 dead and 42 injured.[9][10][11][12] The new Jumbo Floating Restaurant was built at Kowloon Chung Hwa Shipyards in Yau Tong.[citation needed]

The Jumbo Kingdom was established in October 1976 by Stanley Ho after four years and over HK$30 million were spent to design and build it.[1][5] It was originally decorated in the style of an ancient Chinese imperial palace.[13] In 1980, Ho purchased Tai Pak and in 1982, Ho purchased Sea Palace.[6] During the 1980s, Jumbo Kingdom included Jumbo, Tai Pak, and Sea Palace.[6]

In 2000, two tugboats brought one of the floating barges (Sea Palace) from the Aberdeen Harbour to the mouth of Manila Bay, and it was rebranded as the "Jumbo Kingdom Manila".[citation needed] Much of the original ancient Chinese imperial palace style renovation was retained. The Manila restaurant closed in 2008.[14]

The Jumbo Kingdom went through a major multimillion-dollar renovation in 2003.[15] The restaurant had an area of 45,000 square feet and could seat 2,300 diners.[16]

On 1 March 2020, the restaurant announced it would be closed until further notice and laid off all staff due to the coronavirus pandemic.[17]

Capsizing of Jumbo Floating Restaurant

On 30 May 2022, parent company Aberdeen Restaurant Enterprises announced the restaurant would leave Hong Kong in June 2022. Aberdeen Restaurant Enterprises Limited offered to donate the floating restaurant for free, though without success as all interested parties cited high operating costs.[18] At roughly 11pm on 31 May, the kitchen boat of the restaurant began listing after a hull breach occurred. This occurred as preparations were being made to tow the restaurant elsewhere.[19] Jumbo Kingdom was eventually towed out of Hong Kong on 14 June, though the kitchen boat was left behind.[20]

On 19 June 2022, while being towed in the South China Sea, it experienced bad weather and capsized near the Paracel Islands on 19 June 2022 in waters over 1000 metres deep. There were no casualties.[21][22]

Attractions

  • Roof Deck: An alfresco banquet hall located on the top deck of Jumbo.[23]
  • Dragon Court: Dragon Court was a fine dining Chinese restaurant located on the first deck of Jumbo. The interior design of the restaurant is a mixture of Ming Dynasty and contemporary Chinese.[24]
  • Cooking Academy: A Chinese culinary school taught by the chefs of Jumbo Kingdom.[citation needed]
  • Sampan Dining: Hong Kong dining from a bygone era, serving Typhoon Shelter seafood meals on a sampan.[citation needed]
  • The Chinese Tea Garden[citation needed]
  • Shum Wan Pier Garden: Outdoor venue for wedding and cocktail receptions.[25]
  • Bronzeware Exhibition[citation needed]
  • Wine Garden[citation needed]

A staff canteen was located on the fourth floor of Jumbo Kingdom, named So-Kee Coffee Shop (蘇記茶檔).[citation needed] Traditional Hong Kong-style fast food such as sandwiches, hotdogs, noodles, soft drinks, coffee and tea were provided.[26][verification needed]

Access

The Jumbo Kingdom was formerly accessed via a free shuttle boat from Aberdeen Promenade or from Sham Wan pier.[31][32]

  • Jumbo Kingdom pier along Aberdeen Promenade
    Jumbo Kingdom pier along Aberdeen Promenade
  • Transport boat to the restaurant
    Transport boat to the restaurant
  • Distant view
    Distant view
  • Staircase leading up to topdeck
    Staircase leading up to topdeck
  • Interior dragon court
    Interior dragon court
  • Back of Jumbo Kingdom. Kitchen block
    Back of Jumbo Kingdom. Kitchen block

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Jumbo Kingdom. "A Celebrated Landmark". Archived from the original on 19 December 2016. Retrieved 10 July 2007.
  2. ^ "'Great loss to Hong Kong': iconic Jumbo Floating Restaurant leaves city". South China Morning Post. 14 June 2022. Retrieved 14 June 2022.
  3. ^ "Residents bid farewell to Jumbo Floating Restaurant - RTHK". news.rthk.hk. Retrieved 14 June 2022.
  4. ^ a b c d "Hong Kong (& Macau) Stuff: "Tai Pak Floating Restaurant, Aberdeen"". Archived from the original on 5 October 2012. Retrieved 8 October 2020.
  5. ^ a b Mok, Laramie (25 March 2020). "Hong Kong's Jumbo floating restaurants: a stroll down memory lane". South China Morning Post. Retrieved 15 August 2020.
  6. ^ a b c "Hong Kong's Jumbo floating restaurants: a stroll down memory lane". South China Morning Post. 25 March 2020. Retrieved 18 June 2022.
  7. ^ "The mystery of the Tai Pak floating restaurant". Susan Blumberg-Kason. 21 March 2011. Retrieved 8 October 2020.
  8. ^ "Hong Kong's Jumbo floating restaurants: a stroll down memory lane". South China Morning Post. 25 March 2020. Retrieved 18 June 2022.
  9. ^ "調查報告書指出 珍寶大火起於燒焊 此慘劇死傷達七十六人". Ta Kung Pao. 25 May 1972.(in Chinese)
  10. ^ a b "ABERDEEN - HONG KONG EXTRAS3". www.hongkongextras.com. Retrieved 8 October 2020.
  11. ^ NFPA.org. "NFPA.org Archived 30 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine." Key dates in fire history. Retrieved 2008-02-21.
  12. ^ England, Vaudine (1998). The Quest of Noel Croucher: Hong Kong's Quiet Philanthropist. Hong Kong: Hong Kong University Press. p. 237. ISBN 978-962-209-473-4.
  13. ^ "Imperial-style Jumbo to vanish from Aberdeen waters - RTHK". news.rthk.hk. Retrieved 17 June 2022.
  14. ^ "Hong Kong's Jumbo floating restaurants: a stroll down memory lane". South China Morning Post. 25 March 2020. Retrieved 18 June 2022.
  15. ^ "Hong Kong's iconic Jumbo Floating Restaurant to get a facelift". South China Morning Post. 9 October 2017. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
  16. ^ Chan, Cherry. "Jumbo Floating Restaurant bids Hong Kong goodbye next month". Time Out Hong Kong. Retrieved 18 June 2022.
  17. ^ Standard, The. "Virus shutters Jumbo Kingdom". The Standard. Retrieved 2 March 2020.
  18. ^ Interactive, Marketing. "Jumbo floating restaurant exits Hong Kong due to cost crunch". Marketing Interactive. Retrieved 31 May 2022.
  19. ^ "Jumbo Floating Restaurant's kitchen boat listing into waters of Aberdeen Typhoon Shelter". The Standard. Retrieved 1 June 2022.
  20. ^ "Hong Kong's famed floating restaurant Jumbo towed away after half a century". The Straits Times. 14 June 2022. Retrieved 14 June 2022.
  21. ^ Grundy, Tom. "BREAKING: Iconic Jumbo Restaurant sinks in South China Sea". Hong Kong Free Press. Retrieved 20 June 2022.
  22. ^ Jumbo Restaurant capsizes near Xisha Islands, RTHK, 20 June 2022
  23. ^ "Jumbo Kingdom - Roof Deck" (PDF).
  24. ^ "Jumbo Kingdom - Dragon Court" (PDF).
  25. ^ "Jumbo Kingdom - Shum Wan Pier Gardens" (PDF).
  26. ^ "蘇記茶檔". OpenRice. Retrieved 17 June 2022.(in Chinese)
  27. ^ a b c d e f "Films and video games that feature Hong Kong's Jumbo Floating Restaurant". South China Morning Post. 2 June 2022. Retrieved 18 June 2022.
  28. ^ a b "Hong Kong Cinemagic - Mapping Hong Kong film locations". www.hkcinemagic.com. Retrieved 8 October 2020.
  29. ^ "特撮特化 - その他まとめ海外編 (Special Effects - Overseas Scenes. In Japanese)". Retrieved 8 October 2020.
  30. ^ Shindle, Kim (30 November 2010). "'The Amazing Race' contestants find 'fake' Chinese food". pennlive. Retrieved 17 June 2022.
  31. ^ Welcome to 18 Districts: Southern District
  32. ^ "Jumbo Kingdom Floating Restaurant | Hong Kong, China Restaurants". Lonely Planet. Retrieved 18 June 2022.
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