The quaint and charming Aberdeen Fishing Village is not far from the hustle and bustle of the heart of Hong Kong, but seems like light-years away from it all, at first look. Here you see rows upon rows of the old-fashioned junks and sampans, some house boats where the fishermen and their families still live, (at least for some 9 months of the year) all going on their daily routines, which now include mobile phones and satellite dishes.

It is a very picturesque scene, with the unexpected touch of modernity right and left. The high-rises framing the harbour and the ultra-modern yacths moored not far away complete this picture of contrasts. Aberdeen Fishing Village and the Aberdeen Harbour are a feast for photographers and very much worth a look, you can get a sense for what things were like long ago and how modern life is catching up to the old traditions, which stubbornly co-exist with contemporary amenities.

Aberdeen Harbour has the distinct honour of being the first place where the British set foot upon arriving in Hong Kong. Back then, Aberdeen was the center of the incense trade, this is how Hong Kong got its name, it literally means "Fragrant Harbour". Aberdeen continues to be a thriving and busy harbour, and is still home to the boat-dwelling Tanka people. You will see the old ladies still dressed in traditional ways, peddling the catch of the day and the sampan rides around the harbour for the tourists, these are two of Aberdeen's main industries at work, fishing and tourism. 

Aberdeen is a very busy fishing port, it accounts for one-third of the total catch in Hong Kong. 

The house boats are inhabited and contain all of modern life ammenities including washers, stoves, satellite dishes -- some people even plant little roof top gardens.

~ Hong Kong Traveller