Hong Kong – Hong Kong’s iconic traditional red-sailed Chinese junk aqua luna will launch 30-minute sailings around Stanley over weekends on June 4 – with a spectacular outing also scheduled for the annual Hong Kong Dragon Boat Races on June 6.
Weekend cruises around the popular tourist village embark at 2:00pm and 2:45pm every Saturday and Sunday afternoon, priced at HK$80 for adults and HK$40 for children. Tickets for the new itinerary can be purchased on boarding at Stanley Pier or in advance online at www.aqualuna.com.hk.
The Stanley junk trips are part of aqua luna’s day cruises to Hong Kong’s ‘best-kept secret’ places which also include Monday “Life on the Sea” sailings to Aberdeen Typhoon Shelter, Wednesday trips to outlying Cheung Chau Island and Thursday Joss House Bay sailings to the isolated “Temple on the Sea”.
The famous 28-metre junk is also soaking up the fun and excitement of the International Dragon Boat Races in Stanley on June 6 during the Tuen Ng Festival also known as the Dragon Boat Festival.
This festival commemorates the death of a popular Chinese poet, Qu Yuan, who drowned himself in the Mi Lo River over 2,000 years ago to protest against the corrupt rulers. Legend has it that as townspeople attempted to rescue Qu Yuan, they beat drums to scare fish away and threw dumplings into the sea to keep the fish from eating his body and which eventually lead to emergence of dragon boat racing.
Advance booking is necessary (online or at tel. 2116 8821) for limited seats on the day-long outing which departs from Tsim Sha Tsui Pier 1 at 11am, and Central Pier 9 at 11.15am – returning to Victoria Harbour in the late afternoon after the races.
Guests aboard the aqua luna can expect ringside seats to the world’s most celebrated dragon boat racing and free shuttle boats to the beach for best views at the finishing line. In addition, an exquisite and stylish buffet lunch prepared by the chefs of aqua, which is known as one of Hong Kong’s best dining venues, is included.
The buffet features seafood appetisers of blue swimmer crab and tuna roll, seared salmon with pickled cucumber and fresh mango salsa, and tuna tataki with wasabi relish.
Hot dishes on the menu are farfalle pasta with prawn ragu, char-grilled sirloin steak with pumpkin mash and chicken teriyaki with mixed vegetables – with a side dish of roasted baby potatoes.
Also included are traditional Italian tiramisú and fresh fruit skewers for dessert – with traditional dumplings to celebrate the ancient festival – while an onboard bar is serving cocktails, mocktails, wines, beers, juices and soft drinks to order throughout the day.
