All hands on deck
Although the Hong Kong Maritime Museum is located on Ferry Pier in Central, it is often overlooked - even though it was moved to a supposedly more central location from its first one in Murray House, Stanley. People probably associate the piers with the Star Ferry and not with a museum. All the same, this private museum, which is fully funded by the international shipping community, has a lot to offer: old model ships, photos, artifacts, and nautical instruments. Animated maps tell the history of commerce in the colony’s early days highlighted by sound effects like bells, waves, and even sea shanties.
Since the days of the Tang Dynasty there had been brisk trading between China and Southeast Asia, Arabia, and India via the port of Canton, today’s Guangzhou. Although Marco Polo had already given an account of China in the 13th century, it was not until 1513 that a Portuguese expedition left its base in Malacca for China. The Portuguese were dismissed by the Chinese, but they could at least confirm that Marco Polo’s tales about the Middle Kingdom had been no figment of his imagination.
Info
Address Hong Kong Maritime Museum, Central Pier 8 (right next to the Star Ferry Pier) | Public Transport MTR Tsuen Wan Line (red) or Island Line (blue) to Central Station, Exit A, then the pedestrian bridges to the Piers | Hours Mon-Fri 9.30am-5pm, Sat, Sun and public holidays 10am–7pm| Tip Sightseeing tours through the harbour are offered by the Star Ferry Company, Kowloon Point, Tsim Sha Tsui. See their website starferry.com.hk for details.
Despite their negative reception, the persistent Portuguese succeeded over time and were able to establish trade relations with Chinese and Japanese merchants. In 1555 they were allowed for the first time to make a port call at Canton, where they gained the Chinese government’s trust through their help in the fight against piracy and in return were given permission to build an outpost on Macau. For nearly a century all trade between Europe and China was conducted via Macau, which made the city one of the richest in the world. What happened afterwards we learn in the museum.
On top of that, in a mockup of a ship’s bridge you can use computer simulation to control a container ship coming into port at Victoria Harbour in rough seas. It is so realistic that you almost feel seasick.
Back
To the online map