Hong Kong Island South

The south of Hong Kong Island is characterised by a more relaxed pace of life, and beautiful bays and harbours. Aberdeen Harbour can be toured by traditional fishing junks and sampans. It is perhaps best known, however, for its neon-lit Jumbo Floating Restaurant (one of the largest in the world).

Situated near the harbour is Ocean Park, a popular amusement park with roller coaster rides, large reef aquariums, performing dolphins and killer whales, as well as giant pandas. Repulse Bay is renowned for its pristine beach, overlooked by the Tin Hau Temple, and Stanley is well worth a trip for its outdoor markets.

Pok Fu Lam and Aberdeen

The southwest corner of Hong Kong Island has a long maritime heritage: incense was being exported from Aberdeen harbour long before the British arrived on the scene. Indeed Aberdeen's Chinese name - Heung Gong Tsai - is what British sailors heard when they asked the name of the island they were visiting. Form this came the name 'Hong Kong'.

Aberdeen harbour is still active today, with a large fleet of ocean-faring fishing boats and sampans to service them. Ocean Park one of the largest theme parks in Southeast Asia, occupies a hill beside the harbour.

Pok Fu Lam was undeveloped until the late 19th century. Dairy farms were then established there to provide Hong Kong's European community with fresh milk, and the French Mission moved in to open a printing press. Nowadays the area has scattered up market housing which enjoys expansive sea views to the west.

Residential

Upmarket housing in Pok Fu Lam and in South Horizons on Ap Lei Chau generally comes with elevated sea views. Prices are lower than on the Southside and the city is easily accessible.

Retail

Pok Fu Lam is mostly residential, with few shops - the nearest large shopping centres are at Chi Fu and Kennedy Town, although Baguio Villa and Cyberport offer some urban area. Horizon Plaza on Ap Lei Chau is a popular shopping destination; expats flock there to buy carpets, upholstery, barbecues and outdoor furniture.

Places of Interest

Starting from the north, Mount Davis is topped by wartime gun emplacements which can be explored. A youth hostel up there is a world away from the madding crowd below. They new Cyberport development on the coast was touted as an IT hub, but take-up of its high-tech office space has been slow. Its shopping arcade has Pok Fu Lam's only cinema. University Hall and Bethanie, two attractive colonial buildings, survive on Pok Fu Lam Road near the original Pok Fu Lam Village, which is now an untidy sprawl of ramshackle homes. Two nearby octagonal cowsheds dating from the 19th century were recently converted into the Welcome Theater.

Passing Wah Fu, a big public housing estate, the road descends to Aberdeen. The town has a waterfront fish market which starts early. Ferries run from the harbour to Lamma Island and Po Toi. Aberdeen Harbour also has two giant floating restaurants, the Jumbo and the Tai Pak, serving Cantonese cuisine. Free sampans run from the waterfront. A western restaurant has recently opened on the top level of the Jumbo. On the same stretch of water, marina clubs have moorings fro pleasures boats.

Ap Lei Chau is connected to Aberdeen by bridge but also by sampan, which is a more interesting journey. There is a Hung Shing temple close to the sampan landing steps at Ap Lei Chau.

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Hong Kong Travel