Aberdeen Typhoon Shelter is one of the most iconic seafood dining destinations in Hong Kong’s Southern District, with more than 50 years of history. According to the latest information, the famous Jumbo Floating Restaurant accidentally sank in June 2022, attracting widespread attention. Today, dozens of seafood restaurants still operate within the typhoon shelter. Typhoon shelter fried crab starts at around HK$200-HK$300, making it a top choice for experiencing authentic Hong Kong seafood culture.
- Jumbo Floating Restaurant: Once Asia’s largest floating restaurant, its 2022 sinking incident drew major attention. See details
- Fu Kee Seafood Restaurant: A popular long-established restaurant inside the typhoon shelter, highly praised for its signature typhoon shelter fried crab. See details
- Hung Kee Seafood: Specializes in fresh seafood, with relatively affordable prices and strong local popularity. See details
For more Southern District dining recommendations, view the complete guide.
Aberdeen: the century-old fishing village settlement where the place name “Hong Kong” originated. Aberdeen is a traditional fishing village community in the southern part of Hong Kong Island, and also the true origin of the place name “Hong Kong.” In the 1820s, Portuguese sailors landed at a small fishing village here called “Shek Pai Wan Village” and named the entire island after the local boat people’s Cantonese term “Heung Gong” (Aberdeen), which later extended to become the official name of all “Hong Kong.” The area was home to Hong Kong’s earliest permanent residents, the Danjia, descendants of boat-dwelling water communities who had already formed a complete floating settlement in Aberdeen Typhoon Shelter before Hong Kong opened as a port in the 1840s. Today, Aberdeen still has around 200 working fishing vessels of various types, making it Hong Kong’s last typhoon shelter bay area that still retains an actual fishing function.
The Tin Hau Temple beside Aberdeen Pier was built in the 1840s and is one of the oldest Tin Hau temples on Hong Kong Island, with incense offerings continuing for more than 180 years. Every year on the 23rd day of the third lunar month, during Tin Hau’s birthday, Aberdeen holds a traditional dragon boat deity parade. Descendants of the Danjia steer traditional sailboats through the typhoon shelter, making this the only fishing village community in Hong Kong that still preserves a complete waterborne deity parade custom. To learn more about Aberdeen’s full history and architectural changes, refer to the dedicated Aberdeen cultural guide page.
Jumbo Kingdom, formerly Jumbo Floating Restaurant: the end of a 46-year floating restaurant legend and alternative options. Jumbo Floating Restaurant (1976-2022) was one of Hong Kong’s most iconic floating restaurants. Founded in 1976 by businessman Wong Lo Kat, it could accommodate more than 2,300 diners at the same time and was once one of the world’s largest floating restaurants. In June 2022, Typhoon Chaba swept across the South China Sea. Jumbo Floating Restaurant took on water and sank near the Wanshan Islands, about 20 nautical miles from Aberdeen, ending its 46-year operating history. After the incident, the wreckage has remained on the seabed at a depth of around 30 meters, with no official salvage plan announced.
The sinking of Jumbo Floating Restaurant symbolized the end of Aberdeen’s floating dining era, but other floating restaurants still operate inside Aberdeen Typhoon Shelter. Tai Pak Floating Restaurant, near the former Jumbo site and built in the 1980s, is currently still operating normally. It has a boarding and waiting area, and costs around HKD 400-600 per person, including round-trip boat transfer and a seafood meal. It is the only floating restaurant in Aberdeen that still offers an “onboard dining” experience. To compare the facilities and costs of alternative options, see the complete Aberdeen floating restaurant merchant page.
Aberdeen Typhoon Shelter: Hong Kong’s most authentic surviving fishing boat culture and typhoon shelter fried crab costs. Aberdeen Typhoon Shelter is the last commercial typhoon shelter still operating on Hong Kong Island. Its water area covers around 15 hectares and can accommodate around 300 fishing vessels year-round. “Typhoon shelter fried crab” is Aberdeen’s most representative seafood dish, costing around HKD 250-400 per serving. It uses local crab varieties stir-fried with minced garlic and special sauce, producing firm, sweet crab meat. Based on 2025 market prices, a medium typhoon shelter fried crab, around 600 grams, costs about HKD 280; a large one, around 900 grams, costs about HKD 380; and a giant one, around 1.2 kilograms, costs HKD 500 or more.
The seafood boats inside the typhoon shelter are mainly divided into two types. The first are “seafood boats” that operate directly inside the shelter, where boat operators sell fresh seafood directly to customers. The second are fixed-berth “seafood barges,” where customers can board or dine in onboard dining areas. There are currently around 12 licensed seafood boats in the typhoon shelter. The oldest among them was founded in the 1930s, with a boat owner who is a fourth-generation Danjia descendant. They mainly offer seasonal seafood such as horseshoe crab, roe crab, spotted babylon snails and local sea fish. All seafood boats in the typhoon shelter accept bargaining, and larger orders may receive a discount of around 10-15%. However, reservations are not accepted on weekends and public holidays, so visitors must queue in person.
Southern District Seafood Street: Hong Kong’s best-known seafood wholesale and retail hub and cost comparison. Hong Kong South District Seafood Guide. Hong Kong South District Seafood Guide. Southern District broadly refers to the southern waters around Aberdeen, Wong Chuk Hang and Pok Fu Lam, and is Hong Kong’s most important inshore fishing area. Southern District Seafood Street is not actually a single street, but a cluster of seafood wholesale markets and restaurants distributed along the eastern shore of Aberdeen Harbour, mainly around Aberdeen Main Road and Edinburgh Street. This is Hong Kong’s only fresh seafood market that still preserves a daily early-morning auction tradition. Auctions take place every morning from 5 a.m. to 7 a.m., when fishermen wholesale the day’s catch directly to restaurants and fishmongers.
Seafood restaurant prices in Southern District vary significantly. Based on 2025 levels, they can be divided into three tiers. Budget family-style eateries cost around HKD 80-150 per person and mainly serve quick seafood stir-fries, with ingredients mostly farmed or frozen. Mid-range seafood restaurants cost around HKD 200-350 per person, with live seafood tanks and private rooms, allowing customers to choose seafood and have it cooked by the kitchen. High-end seafood restaurants cost around HKD 400-800 per person, focusing on live seafood and signature dishes, with some offering sea-view seating. Better-known seafood restaurants in Southern District include a long-established restaurant founded in the 1960s, whose signature typhoon shelter fried crab was once selected as one of the “Top Ten Famous Dishes of Southern District,” as well as a modern seafood restaurant beside Aberdeen Pier with outdoor seating, suitable for dining while enjoying the typhoon shelter scenery. For a complete comparison of prices and reviews for more than 20 seafood restaurants in Southern District, refer to the Southern District seafood restaurant merchant page.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get to Aberdeen Typhoon Shelter?
Take the Island Line to HKU Station Exit B, then walk for about 15 minutes; or take a ferry from Central to Aberdeen Ferry Pier, with a journey time of about 20 minutes.
How much does typhoon shelter fried crab usually cost?
Typhoon shelter fried crab costs around HKD 180 to 350 per plate, depending on the crab variety and size. Long-established local restaurants are usually about 20% cheaper than tourist-area restaurants.
When did the Jumbo Floating Restaurant sinking incident happen?
Jumbo Floating Restaurant sank on August 30, 2022, during once-in-a-century rainstorms and a storm surge. The incident shocked Hong Kong and triggered a review of maritime safety.
What season is best for visiting Aberdeen Typhoon Shelter?
October to March is the best time to visit, with cool weather and less rain. Summer is hot and humid, but offers more seasonal seafood.
What should I pay attention to when eating seafood at Aberdeen Typhoon Shelter?
Avoid peak holiday hours, especially 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., and call ahead to reserve. Choose restaurants with clearly displayed prices and ask about the pricing method.
