Exploring Aqua Luna Junk

The Aqua Luna Junk is one of the most recognisable landmarks in Hong Kong’s Victoria Harbour. With its vivid red sails, this traditional Chinese junk has come to represent the city’s singular blend of its long maritime history and contemporary charm. It glides through the waters with grace, giving visitors a unique opportunity to see Hong Kong from a different angle and a window into the city’s illustrious shipbuilding past.

Originally designed in 2006, the Aqua Luna was constructed at a challenging time for the Kwong Ming Shipyard. The project to build a commercial junk was viewed as a last-ditch attempt to save the shipyard, which was facing an uncertain future and fewer orders. Intricate details, such as three tall masts and wide red sails, distinguished the ship from the usual junk found in Hong Kong’s waters.

Craftsmanship Behind the Aqua Luna

Built by Au Sai-kit and his father at the Kwong Ming Shipyard, the Aqua Luna is a testament to their dedication and skill. Located in Shau Kei Wan, a district on Hong Kong Island, the shipyard has been in the family for three generations. The shipyard, with its two-storey tin-roofed structure and green sign, is home to a wealth of traditional shipbuilding techniques passed down through the decades.

The Aqua Luna is a remarkable creation, blending modern design with ancient craftsmanship. The wooden planks, carefully crafted to fit together without the use of modern tools, highlight the precision and care required to build such a vessel. The junk’s sails, which are made from durable fabric, billow elegantly against the backdrop of Hong Kong’s skyline. The design of the Aqua Luna is an attempt to bridge the past with the present, offering visitors a chance to experience traditional shipbuilding techniques while cruising in a modern, luxury setting.

Crafting wooden junks requires an incredible level of precision, as even the smallest error can result in mismatched planks or leaks. For instance, a mistake as small as a 0.5-centimetre miscalculation could lead to major structural issues. This was a challenge faced by Au and his father as they built the Aqua Luna, but it was one they embraced as an opportunity to showcase their mastery. Despite the difficulties, the shipyard was determined to complete the project, driven by a desire to keep the family business alive.

From Struggles to Success

The story of the Aqua Luna’s creation is not just about craftsmanship; it’s about resilience and the will to adapt in the face of adversity. During the 1980s, Kwong Ming Shipyard was at its peak, producing over 50% of Hong Kong’s commercial vessels. The shipyard was responsible for crafting ferry boats and shuttle boats, including those used by the renowned Jumbo Kingdom, one of the world’s largest floating restaurants. However, the rise of modern, lighter vessels and high material costs led to a decline in demand for traditional wooden junks.

By the early 2000s, the shipyard had shifted focus from manufacturing new ships to repairing and maintaining existing vessels. As demand for new wooden junks dwindled, many shipyards, including Kwong Ming, had to evolve and adapt to survive. The Aqua Luna project, conceived in 2006, was a bold move to revitalise the shipyard’s fortunes, and it succeeded. Today, the Aqua Luna serves as a key part of Hong Kong’s tourist landscape, ferrying visitors across Victoria Harbour multiple times each day, offering them a unique, hands-on connection to the city’s maritime heritage.

A Journey Through Time

The Aqua Luna, with its graceful design and rich history, offers much more than a simple ferry ride. It serves as a living symbol of Hong Kong’s maritime past, showcasing the skills of traditional shipbuilders while offering a modern, luxury experience to visitors from around the world. As the boat glides across the harbour, visitors are treated to stunning views of Hong Kong’s skyline, a testament to the city’s rapid development and modernisation.

Despite its modern allure, the Aqua Luna holds a deep connection to Hong Kong’s maritime heritage. The vessel’s design harks back to the golden age of Chinese junks, which once dominated the region’s waters. These traditional boats were known for their stability in rough seas and their ability to stay cool in hot weather. The Aqua Luna, like the junks of old, is a robust, reliable vessel, built to endure the harsh conditions of the sea.

For many visitors, a trip aboard the Aqua Luna offers a rare opportunity to experience a piece of history. It serves as a reminder of the craftsmanship that once defined Hong Kong’s maritime industry, and it continues to capture the imagination of those who embark on its journey.

Reviving the Craft of Shipbuilding

In recent years, the Kwong Ming Shipyard has become a place of pilgrimage for those interested in learning about traditional Chinese shipbuilding. Au Sai-kit, now in his 60s, is one of the last remaining master shipbuilders in Hong Kong. Despite the decline of traditional shipbuilding, he remains committed to keeping the craft alive, sharing his knowledge with younger generations. The shipyard has become a small museum of sorts, with models of junks displayed throughout the building.

Au’s passion for his craft is evident in the way he speaks about the shipyard and the Aqua Luna. He believes that by educating people about the history and importance of traditional Chinese shipbuilding, he can inspire a new generation to appreciate the art. As the Aqua Luna continues to sail through the waters of Victoria Harbour, it carries not just tourists but also the hopes of a tradition that has spanned centuries.

A Lasting Legacy

The Aqua Luna symbolises Hong Kong’s continued ties to its maritime heritage and is more than just a tourist destination. The Aqua Luna provides visitors with a unique view of the city’s breathtaking skyline from the water while also acting as a reminder of the city’s past as it continues to change. A trip on the Aqua Luna is essential for anyone who wants to experience both Hong Kong’s past and present in one trip.

Hong Kong is still firmly anchored in its history even as it embraces its future. The Aqua Luna is a brilliant illustration of how tradition and modernity can coexist to produce something genuinely one of a kind. It honours skill, tenacity, and the timeless essence of Hong Kong’s maritime history.