History & Background
Background -
Although the hustle and bustle of numerous Chinese junk boats across the harbour can no longer be witnessed, the Victoria Harbour is still one of the world's busiest harbours. Dukling (an original Chinese fishing boat), the Star Ferry, modern Chinese junk boats modelled after original ones (such as Aqua Luna I and Aqua Luna II), floating restaurants such as the Bauhinia, water taxis, the Oriental Pearl Harbour Cruise and cruise ships from all over the world still criss-cross Victoria Harbour day and night. Together with the Symphony of Lights at night and the dazzling skyline of Hong Kong, these sustain the glory of the Victoria Harbour despite changes in Hong Kong's development.
"Dukling" is the only remaining antique Chinese sailing junk still operating in Hong Kong. It is a tool used by former fishermen to go fishing & their it's their home. Whenever you step on this antique boat, it's like going through time tunnels and back to Victoria Harbor in the 1960s and 1970s.
The "Dukling" was built in 1955 and is now 67 years old. Because the shape of the hull looks like a duck, the owner of the boat named the ship - mean Holy Duck. "Dukling" weighs 50 tons and has a length of 18 meters. It is a traditional three-mask Chinese wooden sailing boat.
Dukclin is not only an lcon of Hong Kong, but also a collective memory of Hong Kong people. Since its opening, the Dukling has witnessed the growth of Hong Kong: From its former small fishing port, it has slowly become an international metropolis today. Sitting on Dukling is like going through time tunnels. Everyone can imagine that we are sitting in old Hong Kong junk and watching the most updates Hong Kong. Currently, Dukling has 7 scheduled tours every day. It can also provide parties, charter, shooting, advertising, cultural experience tours, etc. We hope that everyone can enjoy the scenery on both sides of the Victoria Harbour, and they can also savor the taste of Hong Kong - Everylasting Passion.
History -
Junks were originally developed during the Han Dynasty (220 BC-200 AD).
They incorporated numerous technical advances in sail plan and hull designs that were later adopted in Western shipbuilding.
The historian H. Warington Smith considered the junk as one of the most efficient of ship designs:
"As an engine for carrying man and his commerce upon the high and stormy seas as well as on the vast inland waterways, it is doubtful if any class of vessel is more suited or better adapted to its purpose than theChinese junk, and it is certain that for flatness of sail and handiness, the Chinese rig is unsurpassed."
The structure and flexibility of the sails make the junk easy to sail, and fast since the sails are not square rigged, i.e. they can be angled when sailing upwind.
The sails are cut elliptically and slightly curved with bamboo inserts (battens), giving them the shape of an airfoil, and permitting them to sail well on any point of sail. The sails can also be easily reefed and adjusted for fullness, to accommodate various wind strengths. The battens also give the sails added strength, and make them more resistant than traditional sails to holing or rot. Junk sails have much in common with the most aerodynamically efficient sails used today in windsurfers or catamarans, although their design can be traced back as early the 3rd century AD.
The largest junks ever built were probably those of Admiral Zheng He, for his expeditions in the Indian Ocean. According to Chinese sources, the fleet comprised 30,000 men and over 300 ships at its height.
Chinese junks were used extensively in Asian trade during the 16th and 17th century, especially to Japan, where they competed with Japanese Red Seal Ships, Portuguese carracks and Dutch galleons.
Junks remained considerable in size and played a key role in Asian trade until the 19th century. One of these junks, Keying, sailed from China around the Cape of Good Hope to the United States and Britain between 1846 and 1848. She testifies to the power of Chinese shipping and shipbuilding at the time of the beginning of industrialization in the West.