Here at the Yau Ma Tei Typhoon Shelter Landing Number 3 we are standing at a place with a long history. This is a place where the sea meets the city. It is a vibrant place with an interesting past.
Yau Ma Tei Typhoon Shelter Landing Number 3 is part of Yau Ma Tei. It is a coastal district that once served as a typhoon shelter. Fishing boats of the Tanka people docked here. The name “Yau Ma Tei” itself reflects the area’s maritime past. It refers to industries like tung oil and hemp rope production. These were essential for the many boats nearby.
The Yau Ma Tei Typhoon Shelter Landing Number 3 area provided more than just maritime products. Daily commodities were sold here. They met the needs of the growing population. People lived both on land and on boats. You could find steelyards or manual scales for trade here. Handmade bronzes and wood carvings were also available.
The typhoon shelter itself was a haven. It was a place for fishermen to seek refuge during storms. In 1915, a large typhoon shelter opened here after storms killed many fishermen. The Yau Ma Tei Typhoon Shelter became an exotic water area. Restaurants on boats offered dishes of indigenous seafood. These “typhoon shelter dishes” are still famous today. They are even offered on land.
The typhoon shelter hosted fishermen. It also served as a port in Hong Kong. Numerous piers were built along its shore.
Over time, land reclamation changed the area. The original typhoon shelter was fully reclaimed in the early 1990s. This was part of airport-related core projects. A replacement typhoon shelter was constructed further out in the harbor. It lies to the west of the reclamation.
Housing estates now stand on the reclaimed land of the initial typhoon shelter. These include Park Avenue, Charming Garden, and Hoi Fu Court.
Today, Yau Ma Tei is one of the last districts. Skilled craftsmanship can still be found here. Walk the streets and absorb the energy of this place. Feel the sentiment of old Hong Kong. Yau Ma Tei is a wonderful place to experience the old lifestyle and history of Hong Kong. The landing number 3 we are standing at is still a witness of these times.
Remember the Tanka fishermen. Remember the bustling trade and the floating restaurants. Think of the storms and the shelter they sought. The Yau Ma Tei Typhoon Shelter Landing Number 3 stands as a reminder. It connects us to the past.