Aberdeen 香港仔
- Traditional Hong Kong atmosphere
- Located south of Central, Wan Chai & Admiralty
- East of Repulse Bay & Stanley
- Chinese characters 香港仔 read "Little Hong Kong"
- Sampan cruises and seafood
Located on the southeast coast of Hong Kong Island, Aberdeen is the "original" Hong Kong.
Easily reached by bus or MTR, Aberdeen offers an authentic Hong Kong experience visiting the seafood market and a cruise on a sampan in the harbour.
History
"Hong Kong" (meaning "fragrant harbour") had been the name for what is now Aberdeen from the Ming dynasty and Europeans arriving in the 19th century mistook this name for the whole island. This subsequently stuck. The "fragrant" comes from the incense brought here from what is now the New Territories for shipment onto other cities in China.
The colonial-era name "Aberdeen" is from George Hamilton-Gordon (1784-1860), 4th Earl of Aberdeen, a former British Prime Minister and Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs.
Ap Lei Chau Bridge connects to Ap Lei Chau Island and the two spans were built from the 1970s to the 1990s. The Aberdeen Channel Bridge brings the MTR over the channel.
Dragon Boat Races
Aberdeen is a venue for an annual Dragon Boat Festival and though not on the same scale as the races on the Shing Mun River in Sha Tin or the races in Stanley they still attract 1000's of spectators to Aberdeen Promenade and the West Typhoon Shelter.
The "Floating Village" of 100s of boats in Aberdeen harks back to the boat-dwelling Tanka people, whose heritage as fisherfolk is celebrated with a series of statues on Aberdeen Promenade.
It is estimated around 10% of Aberdeen's 80,000 inhabitants still live onboard boats.
Attractions
As well as Hong Kong's favorite pastimes of eating and shopping enjoy a stroll on the restored Aberdeen Promenade and a visit to the local Tin Hau Temple - established in 1851 and central to the beliefs of the local Tanka and Hoklo people.
For the more energetic there are hikes up to the two Aberdeen Reservoirs and Aberdeen Country Park.
Nearby is the animal-themed Ocean Park with an aquarium plus lots of fun rides for the young and young-at-heart.
The huge Chinese Permanent Cemetery is built into a local hillside and dates from 1915.
Ap Lei Chau Island ("Duck Tongue Island" - so-called because of the resemblance) is the second most densely populated island on the planet with a population of 90,000. The recently renovated promenade includes the pleasant Ap Lei Chau Wind Tower Park. The nearby Hung Shing Temple dates back to 1773.
The area in and around Aberdeen is home to a number of schools and colleges.
Aberdeen Shopping
Shopping is a big draw in Aberdeen with a visit to Aberdeen Wholesale Fish Market, the largest in Hong Kong, top of the list. The Aberdeen Fish Market Yee Hope Seafood Restaurant within the market is also hugely popular with queues often forming outside.
More contemporary shopping malls include Aberdeen Centre, and the Abba Arcade. Sarangi Nepali & Indian Restaurant for authentic cuisine from the sub-continent and Cafe Whale for New Age burgers and coffee are two recommended eateries here.
On Ap Lei Chau try Marina Square East and Marina Square West near the South Horizons private housing estate.
Horizon Plaza has over a 100 shops on 25 floors. Outlets include agnès b. STOCK, Brooks Brothers, Diesel, Hugo Boss, Kate Spade, Loewe, Max Mara, Paul Smith, Ralf Lauren, and Salvatore Ferragamo.
Aberdeen Restaurants
The iconic, triple-deck Jumbo Floating Restaurant is now sadly closed due to the Covid 19 pandemic with prospects for reopening not yet decided. It is possible the vessel will end up at Ocean Park. Famous diners have included Queen Elizabeth II, Tom Cruise and Hong Kong celebrity Chow Yun Fat.
Check Jumbo Kingdom's Facebook page for the latest: facebook.com/jumbokingdom1976
Update 2022
The restaurant's operations halted in 2020 due to the pandemic and this week, the owner, Aberdeen Restaurant Enterprises, said all the efforts including a high-profile plan to donate the vessel to Ocean Park for conservation and revitalization as part of an ambitious government vision to invigorate the Southern District - have failed. While being towed away to an undisclosed location in June 2022 the vessel sank in the South China Sea near the Paracel Islands.
Oystime in Aberdeen Centre offers excellent oyster platters and a range of seafood.
On Aberdeen Old Main Street, Myanmar Thai Palace, as the name suggests, serves up yummy Thai and Burmese favorites.
Nam Long Shan Road Cooked Food Market
The Nam Long Shan Road Cooked Food Market is located about 30 seconds from Wong Chuk Hang MTR. This hub of food and drink is found just off Nam Long Shan Road and is a hidden gem which has an abundance of local HK and other Asian foods. The food is both cheap and incredibly nice to consume and is popular with both locals and tourists. Address - Shop 5, 1/F, Nam Long Shan Road Cooked Food Market, 1 Nam Long Shan Road, Wong Chuk Hang.
Aberdeen Hotels
Aberdeen has several recommended hotels. Aberdeen's hotels may also have excellent views over Aberdeen Harbour.
The L'hotel Island South offers international dishes in its restaurant and is close to Ocean Park.
The nearby Ovolo Southside has over 160 rooms in Wong Chuk Hang district.
Stay on a boat in Aberdeen Harbour at Kea's or the excellent Bluejay Residences on Ap Lei Chau.
See here for a full selection of hotels in Aberdeen.
Aberdeen Cruises
There are fun 20-30-minute boat trips in the harbour on a traditional sampan, usually steered by a local Tanka or Hoklo woman. Prices start at 80-100 HKD and can go as high as 200 HKD so haggle down if necessary. You will see the Floating Village of around 600-1,000 boats, the Typhoon Shelters built to protect them, Ap Lei Chau Bridge and the floating restaurants.
Aberdeen Marina Club
The ultra modern and prestigious Aberdeen Marina Club was founded and constructed in 1984.
It is an ultra elusive club which has around 3,600 members and an extensive waiting list. It is a vast structure which is around 550,000 square feet in size.
Many of Hong Kong's largest super yachts and boats are parked and moored just off the club.
Amongst its many facilities, there are seven restaurants, separate kids' play zones, indoor and outdoor swimming pools, a bowling alley, fitness centre, a hair and beauty salon and an ice rink.
Address: 8 Shum Wan Rd, Aberdeen
Access - Getting to Aberdeen
Take an MTR metro to Wong Chuk Hang Station or Lei Tung Station and then a bus or walk.
Bus 70 runs to Aberdeen from Central, the 72 or 76 from Causeway Bay, and the 73 from Stanley and Cyberport. From Hong Kong International Airport on Lantau take Bus A10.
Buses 91, 91A, 93 and 95C connect Aberdeen and Ap Lei Chau. From Sheung Wan (Wing Wo Street) take Bus 71. From Tsim Sha Tsui (Mody Road) in Kowloon catch a 973.
There are ferries from Aberdeen to Lamma Island. Boats leave from Aberdeen Promenade to Yung Shung Wan (via Pak Kok Tsuen) and Sok Kwu Wan (via Mo Tat).
A ferry also links Aberdeen Promenade and Ap Lei Chau in about five minutes. It operates from 6 am until midnight and the Octopus Card can be used for the fare.
Aberdeen Map
Gallery
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