Kowloon (translated: “nine dragons”) is the large peninsula north of Hong Kong Island (the name “Hong Kong” means “fragrant harbor”). Tsim Sha Tsui is the southernmost district of Kowloon. This is the most popular with tourists. The main attraction here are the shops.

The port of Aberdeen used to be famous for the many Chinese sampans (small flat-bottomed boats) and junks that anchored there, and for the “floating” restaurants and houseboats the fishermen lived on.

At the Hung Hom Ferry Piers, take a drive across the harbor to the Star Ferry or Queens Pier in Victoria. Although it is no longer the fascinating exotic place it once was, Aberdeen is still worth a visit. It is most interesting in the early morning when the catch of the previous night is sold on the harbor promenade.

In the harbor you can admire a variety of boats. Here you will find both the larger cargo ships and smaller boats that serve regional trade. It’s a hustle and bustle. On the water trade is driven and lived. Many Chinese people can not afford the expensive apartments in the high-rise buildings and therefore live on their boats, which are moored at the moorings.

We visit a small fish factory, of which there are many. In small pools lobsters and other rare marine animals are kept fresh for the clientele. Also popular are ornamental fish, which are offered for sale at horrendous prices. Lobsters are a delicacy offered at all fish markets.

It is interesting to observe the fishermen deleting their fresh catch. The fish below looks very successful. The boat is full of baskets full of fish. The baskets are so heavy that they can just be carried by two fishermen. Of the income often have to live several families. Often the fishermen are at sea for several days. A private boat can afford only the richer fishermen.

The boat industry consists of small shipyards scattered around the coast, which manufacture the boats completely out of wood in laborious manual labor. Here, real carpentry work is needed.

Everywhere in the harbor area you will find the houseboats on which not only the fishermen live. The boats are close together and usually in several rows from the shore. This creates a lively melting pot of different living spaces.

However, certain moorings are reserved for larger vessels. Opposites attract, they say.

The small wooden boats provide a bizarre picture in front of the gigantic backdrop of the skyscrapers of Hong Kong.