10 things you didn’t know about the Aqualuna Junk Harbour Tours in Hong Kong
Practical Guide for the Aqualuna – pickups, prices, best sailings + honest reviews
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The Aqualuna Fishing Junk | Totally Iconic Harbour Cruises | Hong Kong
Foreword by Jamie
That image above is my 2nd favourite image out of 179,000+ I have taken and uploaded onto my Flickr Site, the planets really did align for that image!
There is something quietly magical about watching one of those big red-sailed junks cut across Victoria Harbour of an evening. The city is all glass high rises and neon and relentless motion, yet here comes this wooden shape from another century, sails catching the last of the light, moving at a pace that forces you to slow down with it. Officially the boats trade under the single-word name Aqualuna (the style their own website and branding prefer), though Aqua Luna with a space remains perfectly common and widely understood. Either way, the vessel (s) have been part of the harbour’s daily rhythm for twenty years now, and for many visitors it has become the floating postcard they take home in their heads. Yet even people who have lived here a long time can still be surprised by the details that sit behind the postcard. What follows are ten things worth knowing about the boats, the company that runs them, the experience itself, and the small practical realities that shape every sailing.
1. The complete history of the Aqualuna from idea to present day
The story begins in the grey aftermath of SARS in 2003. David Yeo and Richard Ward of the Aqua Restaurant Group had opened Aqua and Hutong in One Peking Road (back then) and were watching customers from Hong Kong Island hesitate to cross the harbour. The original thought was simple: put a boat on the water so people could travel between the restaurants more easily. That modest idea quickly grew into something far more ambitious. Yeo wanted to put a traditional Chinese junk back into Victoria Harbour at a time when the real working junks had all but vanished and I had watched this happen over the decades and it was a real shame.
They turned to Au Wai (known as Ah Sin or Sifu Au) and his son Au Sai-kit at the Kwong Ming Shipyard in Shau Kei Wan. The yard was struggling for work; commercial orders for wooden vessels had dried up. Building a full-sized three-masted junk to traditional methods was a major commission. It took roughly eighteen months. The first boat, named Cheung Po Tsai after the famous nineteenth-century pirate, was launched in January 2006 with a party on the roof of a building at Central Pier 4.
It proved so popular that a second vessel was commissioned. Aqua Luna II (Dai Cheung Po - Big Brother Cheung Po) was built over two years and entered service in April 2017. The same family of shipwrights oversaw the work, this time using only wood and bamboo, no nails in the structure. The two boats have operated side by side ever since, offering scheduled harbour cruises, themed food sailings, private charters and occasional longer trips. Twenty years on they remain the most visible traditional-looking junks in the harbour and a quiet act of cultural continuity in a city that rarely looks backwards for long.
2. Complete history and specifications of the actual Aqualuna boats
Both vessels are purpose-built replicas constructed in the traditional Chinese junk style rather than converted working fishing boats.
Aqua Luna I (Cheung Po Tsai)
Launched January 2006
Length 28 metres (92 feet)
Two decks, total floor area approximately 1,500 square feet (140 square metres)
Three crimson decorative sails in the classic junk rig
Motorised (the sails do not propel the boat)
Licensed capacity up to 80 passengers plus crew
Upper open-air deck with lounge seating, lower covered saloon
Aqua Luna II (Dai Cheung Po)
Launched April 2017
Length 29 metres (95 feet), slightly wider than its sister
Also two decks, capacity up to 80 (sometimes listed higher for standing events)
Sails originally blue-and-white with imperial dragon motifs inspired by Ming porcelain; later seen with darker orange or red sails depending on the period
Constructed entirely of wood and bamboo without nails under the same master shipwrights
Same motorised propulsion
Both boats carry Marine Department certification for passenger work in the harbour. The upper decks are the prize for views; the lower cabins offer air-conditioned shelter and space for drinks service or light catering. Private charter rates have been quoted in the region of HK$80,000 for full hire, though actual figures vary with duration, season and catering.
3. Replicas, numbers and expansion plans - The Aqualuna
There are exactly 2 Aqualuna vessels. Both are modern replicas built to traditional designs and methods rather than restored original fishing junks. The shipwright family that built them is among the last in Hong Kong still capable of such work. No public statements have been made about adding a third boat. The economics of hand-building a full-sized wooden junk, the limited pool of craftsmen, and the regulatory environment for passenger vessels all make further expansion unlikely in the near term. The two boats already allow a reasonably dense daily schedule across both sides of the harbour.
4. Overview of the harbour tours on offer for the Aqualuna
The regular public programme is built around 45-minute harbour loops with two pickup points: Tsim Sha Tsui Pier 1 (Kowloon side) and Central Pier 9 (Hong Kong Island side).
Typical offerings include:
Daytime Harbour Cruise - afternoon sailings, lounge seating, one complimentary drink. Adult prices commonly around HK$138 - 168 online, children HK$78 - 138.
Evening Harbour Cruise - multiple departures from late afternoon into the night. One complimentary drink. Adult tickets typically HK$220 range.
Symphony of Lights sailings - timed to the 8 pm light-and-laser show. ********* see comment below
Afternoon Tea Cruise - tea set for two while sailing.
Dim Sum Cruise - often linked with a visit or view towards Lei Yue Mun.
Combined packages with dinner at Aqua or Hutong (sunset dinner and cruise or moonlight dinner after the sail). Prices for the higher-end dinner combinations can reach HK$1,168 - 1,568 per adult.
Important note: The Symphony of Lights itself is scheduled to end permanently in the second half of 2026. After more than twenty years of nightly performances, the government has confirmed it will be retired and replaced by a new series of non-daily light festivals staged at different locations and times of the year. Anyone planning a Symphony of Lights sailing on the Aqualuna should check current availability carefully, as the window is closing.
Maximum capacity is generally 80 passengers. Groups larger than about 30 are steered towards private charter. Schedules change with the season and weather; typhoon signal No. 3 or red rainstorm cancels sailings. Drop-off is usually at one of the two main piers depending on the sailing direction.
5. Why the boats are so large and the colour of the sails - The Aqualuna
Traditional working fishing junks varied enormously in size. Many of the smaller family boats that once filled Aberdeen and other typhoon shelters were far more compact. The Aqualuna vessels were deliberately built larger because they are commercial passenger boats that need deck space for loungers, a covered saloon, a bar area and room for 80 people to move about safely. The extra size also gives them presence in a harbour full of modern ferries and container traffic.
The Dukling (see further on in this post) is a genuine fishing junk which is why it is much smaller
On the sails: the bright red you see today is the modern tourist version. Historically the classic junk sail was a muddy reddish-brown. That colour came from “tanbark” - sails treated with tannins extracted from oak bark to protect the fabric or woven material from mildew and rot in the tropical climate. Red was also the colour associated with wealthier boat families. The vivid scarlet of the Aqualuna is a deliberate, photogenic choice that photographs beautifully against the skyline and has become part of the boat’s brand identity. Both colours have historical roots; the brighter red simply wins the Instagram contest.
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© Copyright Acknowledged | All rights reserved | images taken by Jamie
The Aqualuna Fishing Junk | Totally Iconic Harbour Cruises | Hong Kong
6. Pickup points and the seat question on the Aqualuna
There are two regular pickup points: Tsim Sha Tsui Pier 1 in Kowloon and Central Pier 9. on Hong Kong Island - The order of pickup is not fixed - it depends on the specific sailing and is clearly shown on the timetable when you book via their website
For the daytime sailings the current pattern is usually Central first, then Tsim Sha Tsui. For the evening sailings there are two parallel sets: some begin on the Kowloon side (Tsim Sha Tsui Pier 1) and then cross to Central, while others start on the Island side. Over the years the Kowloon-first pattern has been common on many of the popular evening departures, which is why so many people notice the boat filling up on that side before it reaches Central.
The practical point remains the same either way. The boat does not empty completely at the second stop, so the best open-air upper-deck spots can fill on the first pickup. Anyone who particularly wants those seats should aim for the first listed departure point on that sailing or arrive early enough to claim space. Staff are generally helpful, but once the loungers are taken they are taken.
7. The most popular Aqualuna tour
The evening harbour cruise, especially those timed around sunset or the Symphony of Lights (soon to be discontinued), consistently draws the strongest demand. The combination of the red sails against the lighting skyline, the complimentary drink, and the relatively short 45-minute duration makes it the easiest “must-do” for visitors with limited time. Daytime sailings and the food-focused cruises have their loyal following, but the night sailings fill first.
The Aqualuna will still do a normal night time cruise even though the Symphony of Lights is going to be discontinued, to be honest you will hardly know the difference and it will still be absolutely worth the price of admission!
8. Tripadvisor patterns - the recurring praise and the recurring grumbles for the Aqualuna
Five-star comments most often mentioned:
The sheer visual beauty of the boat itself and the skyline views
Comfortable lounge seating and the relaxed atmosphere
Friendly, efficient staff
The complimentary drink and the overall value for a short, memorable experience
The feeling of being on something that still looks like “old Hong Kong”
The more critical comments tend to cluster around:
Crowding on popular evening sailings and the scramble for the best seats
The short duration - some feel 45 minutes is over too quickly
Occasional mechanical or weather cancellations with limited flexibility on refunds or rescheduling
The sails being purely decorative (a disappointment for those expecting actual sailing)
Perception that it is “touristy” or it is a lot more expensive than a simple Star Ferry crossing for similar views, which is odd, they are 2 completely different experiences and the Star Ferry is less than a 10 minute ride these days, the public transport Star Ferries!
Both sets of comments are fair reflections of what the experience actually is: a comfortable, photogenic, short harbour circuit on a very good-looking boat rather than an authentic working-junk voyage.
9. Aqualuna versus the Dukling - which is better
The Dukling is the last authentic working junk still offering public sailings. Built in 1955 as a real fishing boat, later restored after sinking in 2014 (and that is a whole different story), it carries far fewer passengers (around 36 - 40) and has a more spartan, historical feel. The Aqualuna boats are purpose-built replicas with more comfortable seating, better weather protection, a full drinks service and higher capacity.
Neither is “better” in absolute terms. The Dukling wins on authenticity and atmosphere for those who care about the real article. The Aqualuna wins on comfort, consistency of schedule, and the polished experience that most visitors are looking for. Many people who have done both simply say they are different animals and both are worth doing if time allows.
10. The Aqua Group connection and Hutong’s address
The Aqualuna is owned and operated by the Aqua Restaurant Group, the same company behind Aqua and Hutong restaurants. The boats and the restaurants are frequently packaged together - sail then dine, or dine then sail.
I am a huge fan of Hu Tong, glorious food and killer views, 5 times now!
Hutong’s current address is: 18/F, H Zentre, 15 Middle Road, Tsim Sha Tsui in Kowloon
It sits above the MTR exits in the heart of Tsim Sha Tsui in Kowloon. The building itself is relatively new - H Zentre used to be a public car park and bowling alley before it was torn down and redeveloped. Hutong is literally over the road from the new Kimpton Hotel.
It is not, however, a short stroll from the Aqualuna’s Tsim Sha Tsui Pier 1 pickup point. On foot it is a good 10 - 15 minutes or more, and involves crossing both Salisbury Road and Nathan Road. Anyone trying the underground tunnels around Victoria Dockside can easily get lost. The restaurant offers northern Chinese cooking with harbour views and remains one of the more theatrical dining rooms in Hong Kong.
Additional notes and out of left-field observations
A few extra observations that sit outside the numbered list.
There is no ceremonial gun or starting cannon on the Aqualuna sailings - that detail belongs to other maritime traditions elsewhere. The boats simply cast off when the passengers are aboard and the schedule allows. The real drama is visual rather than auditory: the moment the big red sails are fully set against the evening skyline remains one of the more reliable “only in Hong Kong” sights still available on any ordinary day of the week. And while the boats are motorised replicas, the craftsmanship that went into them - especially the second boat built without nails - is genuine and increasingly rare. In a harbour that has lost almost all of its traditional wooden fleet, two carefully made junks still moving under those distinctive sails is no small achievement.
Would I recommend it, absolutely!
So there you go
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I do not do Food Tours in Hong Kong but I know people that do!
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The information above can be shown to restaurant managers in Hong Kong if you are intolerant to gluten and nuts,
I do not do food tours as mentioned above, I have very specific reasons and part of it is that I do not speak Cantonese or write Chinese, I am from Yorkshire in England and I lack the language gene and it is not through lack of trying and yes a lot of restaurants do not have English menu’s or staff who speak conversational English.
.. and yet I have eaten at close to 1,400 restaurants in Hong Kong since January 2nd 1972, my wife was born in Hong Kong and we have been together over 40 years and her first language is Cantonese and a lot of her family are Chinese or half Chinese so I have never had much of an issue!
This does not translate to doing food tours though, yes, I could do them, no problem there but they would never ever be as good as the food tours done by my friends (see the 3 links above) most of their awesome guides are locally born Hong Kong Chinese and obviously food culture is part of their DNA, it is impossible for me to compete with that!
So please feel free to contact them for food tours
I do not do Hiking Tours in Hong Kong but I know someone that does!
I do not do Hiking Tours, never have and never will even though I used to go Hiking a lot when I was a lot younger, The Hong Kong Government is promoting hiking tours so I urge you to contact my friend Sabrina at Hong Kong Trails and Tours, she is a long time Hong Kong resident and and a very experienced hiker with close to 700 Hikes in 15+ years under her belt, please click on the link below
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