Jumbo Kingdom, Floating restaurant in Southern District, Hong Kong.
The Jumbo Kingdom was a complex of two connected vessels moored in Aberdeen Harbor, their exteriors painted in red and gold to resemble a Chinese imperial palace. The layout of pavilions and balconies followed Ming-era architecture and carried gilded dragons and ornaments across multiple levels.
Stanley Ho opened the floating restaurant in October 1976 after investing more than 30 million Hong Kong dollars as part of his vision for a waterborne entertainment complex. In June 2022, the vessel capsized during transport to storage in the South China Sea and sank near the Paracel Islands.
The Dragon Court restaurant section displays Ming Dynasty design elements while serving Cantonese cuisine, seafood specialties, and traditional dim sum to guests.
The restaurant was accessible through regular complimentary ferry rides from several piers around Aberdeen Harbor, with the crossing taking a few minutes. Today the structure is no longer accessible, as it sank in the South China Sea and exists only in memory and archival material.
Over a span of 44 years, the floating structure received more than 30 million guests, including Queen Elizabeth II, and served as a filming location for several international movie productions. Its glowing colors and elaborate facade made it one of the most photographed sites in Aberdeen Harbor.
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