Dukling: The Last True Hong Kong Junk Sailing Victoria Harbour

*This is not an advertorial. I wrote about Dukling purely out of interest and have not been paid in any way to produce this article.

The Hong Kong skyline is arguably one of the most iconic and recognizable cityscapes in the world. People from all over the world flock to see our urban jungle constructed of glass and concrete, with the view of Victoria Harbour attracting 45 million tourists in 2024 alone. And yet, among all the glimmering lights, titanic skyscrapers, and myriad of boats plying the harbor’s waters, it’s usually a trio of brilliant red sails that immediately catches the eye and sparks the imagination.

These sails belong to Dukling, the last true Hong Kong junk boat still in existence. It remains as a modern relic, openly defying the relentless pace of development as a living piece of functional heritage. This remarkable wooden junk is not only a rare sight but a symbol of Hong Kong’s fishing culture and maritime spirit, preserved against all odds.

Dukling has appeared in several classic movies and TV shows like Around the World in 80 Days, Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story, and the mini-series Tai Pan with Pierce Brosnan. Dukling still continues to make appearances in several documentaries, and countless commercials to this day!

Dukling is a traditional three-sail fishing boat built in 1955 in a Macau shipyard and is the last authentic Chinese junk sailing in Hong Kong. Given that it sank to the bottom of the sea during a typhoon in September 2014, makes it a miracle that Dukling is still seaworthy today!

Unlike modern “junk boats” designed purely for tourism, Dukling retains its original construction and traditional design, including a larger middle sail and a single deck. This sets it apart from other harbor junks, which are modern replicas made mostly of fiberglass and steel.

The name “Duk Ling” means “Clever Duck” in Cantonese, and is inspired by the boat’s duck-like hull shape. Originally used by fishermen for shrimp fishing and as a home, Dukling embodies Hong Kong’s maritime heritage in a way no surviving vessel does.

The word junk originates from the Portuguese word junco, which itself comes from the Malay word jong (or Javanese djong), meaning “ship” or “large vessel.”

Originating as early as the Han Dynasty (around 200 BCE), junks evolved over the following centuries into highly efficient vessels capable of navigating both inland rivers and the open ocean.

Design and Features

• Sails: Junk sails are made of panels supported by horizontal battens, allowing them to be easily reefed and adjusted. This design makes the junk highly maneuverable and capable of sailing effectively against the wind.
• Hull: The hull is flat-bottomed with solid transverse bulkheads, which provide structural strength and compartmentalization to control flooding in case of damage. The hull of Dukling borrows the shape of a duck, which is why the boat has its iconic name.
• Rudder: Junks were among the first ships to use a stern-mounted rudder, a significant innovation that improved steering and was later adopted by Western shipbuilders.

Historical Significance in Asia

Junks have played a vital role in Asian maritime history for over two millennia, serving multiple purposes:

• Exploration: Junks were used extensively throughout Asian history to facilitate global exploration. Notably, Zheng He (1371-1433), a Ming Dynasty admiral, led long-distance voyages between 1405 and 1433. His fleet of hundreds of junks sailed throughout Southeast Asia, South Asia, the Middle East, and East Africa. These voyages established trade routes, diplomatic ties, and showcased Chinese naval power far beyond its borders.
• Transport and Trade: As cargo ships, junks transported goods along rivers and across seas, supporting vibrant trade networks throughout Asia. Zheng He’s treasure ships reportedly had up to nine masts and were about 120–130 meters (400 feet) long. However, modern evidence suggests they were likely smaller, around 70–75 meters (230–246 feet), still among the largest wooden sailing ships in history.
• Fishing: Used for centuries, many fishing junks doubled as floating homes, providing space for nets and catch storage, supporting fishermen’s livelihoods. In more recent history, two junk boats would work at night alongside each other, connected by poles. Lanterns would be hung from the poles to attract fish.
• Piracy: Notably, the infamous pirate queen Ching Shih commanded a vast fleet of pirate junks in the early 19th century. Her junk army was the largest pirate fleet in world history, and was highly organized and effective. Ching Shih and her pirates operated out of Hong Kong’s Lantau Island, dominating the South China Sea and challenging imperial navies.

• 1955: Built as a 50-ton, 18.24-meter-long fishing junk in Macau, Dukling served fishermen for decades.
• 1970s: Still operated by fishermen, maintaining its traditional role.
• 1982: French businessman, Pierric Couderc, saw Dukling and wished to buy it from its owners, who refused. The junk was not in a great state by this point.
• 1986: The owners left Hong Kong, and Couderc purchased Dukling. He hired one of the last junk craftsmen from Aberdeen, who repaired her hull, installed an engine, and replaced the interior. They were careful not to change her original characteristics and remained faithful to Dukling’s classic design. The renovation cost 2 million Hong Kong dollars.
• 1980s-2014: Dukling became a sightseeing boat as part of a chartered contract with the Hong Kong Tourism Association. Only visitors with a valid passport on-hand could board Dukling during this period.
• 1993: Used in an iconic scene in the cult classic film Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story.
• 2001: Hong Kong Tourism Board remodels its official logo on Dukling as it is the last surviving Hong Kong Junk. The junk boat was used as their logo since 1965!
• 2005: Dukling was purchased by two British businessmen, Geoffrey G Dart and Paul E Watt on behalf of China Pub Company plc who placed a commemorative nameplate on Dukling (which can still be seen today)
• September 2014: Dukling sank in Aberdeen Typhoon Shelter during Typhoon Kalmaegi and remained underwater for over three months.
• Jan 2015: Dukling went through painstaking restoration in Zhuhai by master craftsmen, who used the original type of tectona wood for repairs, while preserving 90% of the original materials and features.
• June 13, 2015: Relaunched and resumed sailing in Victoria Harbour, offering tours and cultural experiences.
• 2015-Present: Operated by Dukling Limited, with Mr. Hazen Tang as its owner, Dukling continues to promote Hong Kong’s heritage through sightseeing tours of Victoria Harbour, private events, and educational programs.

If you're interested in learning more about Dukling's restoration process, this news video is a great resource.

Dukling is such an iconic piece of Hong Kong’s rich history that it inspired the logo of the Hong Kong Tourism Association (HKTA) and subsequently, the Hong Kong Tourism Board. As the city’s last authentic wooden junk boat, Dukling, with its iconic red sails and faithful, traditional design, was used by artists to design the logo. When the HKTA considered changing its logo in 2002, it conducted a public survey throughout Hong Kong. The local public showed aversion to changing the logo and strong support for keeping the traditional junk logo, modeled after Dukling.

The HKTA said in an interview with the South China Morning Post in 2001, “The key criterion was how the symbol was perceived by potential visitors - and the feedback from HKTA's worldwide offices, industry contacts and visitors themselves was strongly in favour of retaining it. Docking the red junk, it was felt, would be wasting a priceless asset.”

The Hong Kong Tourism Board’s logo is still modeled after Dukling to this day!

Dukling isn’t the only junk boat in Victoria Harbour, but it is the only original one. Opting for a harbor tour on Dukling lets you experience an authentic Hong Kong junk while also helping to preserve a living piece of Hong Kong’s cultural history.

Here’s how you can tell Dukling apart from replica junk boats according to Mr. Hazen Tang, the current owner of Dukling:

From a Distance

• Larger Middle Sail than Replica Junks

The middle sail on Dukling is proportionally larger than those of replica junks. This is because it retains the original proportions from when it was in use, rather than being purely ornamental.

• Dukling Only has a Single Deck

The fishermen who used Dukling simply wouldn’t have had the need for a second deck. Not only would this make the boat more difficult to maneuver, but it would also have been impractical.

• Dukling is Smaller than Replica Junks

If you see Dukling in Victoria Harbour, it will be quite a small boat in comparison to other behemoth tourist and shipping boats. This ties back to its fishing heritage, where Dukling was used as a smaller family fishing boat.

• The White Dukling Name Banner

This is the most obvious sign that you’re looking at Dukling, and not a replica.

When On Board

• Historical Artifacts

Dukling showcases several historical artifacts onboard, such as:

• its 2005 historic nameplate, which was installed to commemorate the year Dukling was first built.
• The alarm bell that was part of the boat when it sank during Typhoon Kalmaegi in 2014.
• Original wood from when Dukling was at the bottom of the sea.
• The original helm further distinguishes Dukling as a genuine relic of Hong Kong’s maritime past.

Onboard, visitors can see cultural relics preserved from when the Dukling was underwater. In addition, historical photographs and traditional tools and items used by Hong Kong fishermen in the 1950s can be found.

In this way, Dukling serves as a floating classroom, educating younger generations about Hong Kong’s maritime past and fishing traditions.

Thanks to its smaller stature, visitors are closer to the sea and have a more intimate feeling of what it was like to be on a fishing junk from the 1950s. The deckhands also use traditional tools to berth the junk.

The views from Dukling are also stellar with two outdoor areas at the bow and stern. Meanwhile, there is also a sheltered section in the center of the boat where the cultural relics and traditional seating can be found.

Mr Hazen Tang, a local Hong Kong resident who runs a travel agent business, acquired Dukling after it was saved and restored in 2015 with a clear mission: continue to keep Hong Kong’s maritime heritage alive. Mr. Tang shares his passion and motivation:

“This junk is an iconic representation of Hong Kong. At that time [2015], I wanted to own it to help my travel agent business. On the other hand, I want to keep it as it represents Hong Kong.”

He sees maintaining Dukling as a personal and social responsibility:

“Our mission is not merely to serve as a tourist boat, but to preserve Hong Kong’s fishing heritage and the city’s history.”

Mr. Tang also emphasizes the importance of public awareness:

“Once I bought it, I felt I just had to introduce Dukling to overseas tourists, locals, and mainland Chinese visitors.”

Mr. Tang revealed that running, owning and maintaining Dukling with his small team is rewarding, but this venture is not without its challenges.

“I wanted to give this beautiful junk [Dukling] another life. Once people are aware this historic junk still exists here, they can get on board, and every visit helps it to survive.”

“It's not easy being a small business and to maintain this junk.”

“Maintaining the authentic Dukling requires significant resources, and sometimes adjustments are necessary for its preservation, thus, aside from the regular sailing, we need to take commercial advertisements on sails, which occasionally might affect the appearance of the iconic red sails.”

Despite the challenges of running a small business and maintaining a 70-year-old wooden vessel, Hazen remains committed:

“I love to do charity and sponsor charity. To be a Hong Kongese, it's one of my responsibilities.”

Thanks to Mr. Tang’s dedication, Dukling continues to sail in Victoria Harbour, preserving a priceless cultural legacy for future generations.

Riding Dukling not only offers a unique cultural journey but also supports its ongoing maintenance and preservation. As Hong Kong continues its incessant march toward clinical modernity, Dukling stands as a truly marvelous survivor and reminder of the city’s colored history.

It is also smaller than replica tourist junks, meaning that the ride is far more intimate and authentic of an experience.

Dukling offers sightseeing tours in Victoria Harbour, running hourly from 4:30 PM to 7:30 PM, except Wednesdays. Tickets can be booked through Dukling Limited’s official channels, providing an opportunity to experience Hong Kong’s last authentic junk boat firsthand.
Website: https://www.dukling.com.hk/en/home/
Reservation link: https://www.dukling.com.hk/en/order/

If you've booked a ride on Dukling, or just want to snap a photo of this iconic junk, the boarding point is just near the Starbucks in Tsim Sha Tsui's Avenue of Stars. A Google Map pin can be found below for the exact boarding location.