On one of the southern tips of Hong Kong Island, Aberdeen is the largest satellite town with a population of about sixty thousand. It was a pirates' den two centuries ago and later turned into a simple fishing village. In recent years, with local high-rise building developments, it has modernized, and now it becomes a vibrant waterfront resort for people from metropolitan Hong Kong.
Local People's Life
Despite modernization, traditional fishing life still prevails. Especially, in Bei Fung Tong Typhoon Shelter, hundreds of junks and sampans, old-fashioned boats serve as floating homes for thousands of people. They crowd in the narrow harbor, dramatically juxtaposed against a modern high-rise building that spreads up the nearby hillsides. If you were lucky, warm-hearted fishers would invite you onto their dwellings, from where you can glimpse the life of the boat-people. If no invitation forthcoming, you can always take a sampan ride yourself. But do place caution and safety first. You should take rides only with licensed operators.
Floating Restaurants
Besides experiencing the traditional life of boat-dwellers, you may also enjoy tasty seafood here. Two magnificent floating restaurants, namely Jumbo and the Tai Bak seafood boats are available. They are anchored in the Aberdeen Harbor, where guests can take a free ferryboat shuttle to reach them for a feast of delicious seafood.
 | | Aberdeen, Hong Kong | |  | | Wholesale Fish Market | |
In Aberdeen, you may go to visit Country Park or Promenade. The Country Park has an area of about 1,045 acres (423 hectares). It's one of the country parks that Hong Kong developed in the earlier period. The Promenade neighbors on Wholesale Fish Market on the west and Squash&Tennis Center on the east with a total length of around 800 meters. The Promenade provides the open-air plaza, children's playground, basketball ground and many other facilities. Along the seashore of the Promenade, there are a few of piers, which offer the ships to Ap Lei Chau and the outlying islands. The ferryboats to Jumbo also anchor there.
 | | Private Yachts | |  | | Fishing Boat | |
How to get to Aberdeen
1. You can take a bus to get there, including bus no. 7, 37A, 37B, 37X, 38, 40P, 41A, 42, 42C, 47P, 48, 70, 70M, 70P, 71, 71P, 72, 73, 73P, 77, 78, 90B, 91, 91A, 93, 93A, 93C, 94, 94A, 94X, 95C, 95P, 98, 107, 107P, 170, 595, 970X, 971, 973, 973P, A10, N72, and N170.
2. There are green-roofed minibuses to take you there, including Minibuses No.4A, 4B, 4C, 4S, 5, 35M, 39C, 39S, 51, 51S, 52, 58, 58A, 59, 59A, 59B, 63, 63A, 69, 69A, and 69X. Also there are red-roofed minibuses to go there too.
Aberdeen Pictures