Hong Kong’s iconic Jumbo Floating Restaurant has sunk at sea

A legendary floating restaurant in Hong Kong has tragically gone down after being towed out to sea, just days before reaching its unknown destination.

The three-story Jumbo Kingdom, designed to resemble a Chinese imperial palace, was towed by tugboats last Tuesday after almost 50 years anchored in Hong Kong’s southwest waters.

On Saturday, the restaurant's main vessel capsized en route to an undisclosed shipyard, after encountering 'adverse conditions' near the Paracel Islands, according to a statement from Aberdeen Restaurant Enterprises Limited.

The vessel sank to a depth of over 1,000 meters (3,280 feet), complicating recovery efforts, according to the statement.

The statement also expressed the sorrow of Aberdeen Restaurant Enterprises over the incident, noting that they were working to gather more information from the towing company. Fortunately, no crew members were injured.

On Tuesday, the Hong Kong government requested a detailed report from the owners on the circumstances that led to the vessel’s capsizing, according to public broadcaster RTHK. There are calls for a more in-depth investigation into the sinking.

The news of the restaurant’s sinking sparked dismay online, with many Hong Kong social media users lamenting the unfortunate end of one of the city’s most beloved historic landmarks.

Some shared artistic depictions of the restaurant submerged underwater, while others posted heartfelt farewells or nostalgic memories from their past visits.

The political party Third Side in Hong Kong called the incident perplexing, accusing both the government and those responsible for the restaurant's management of indirectly contributing to the capsizing of 'Hong Kong people's collective memory,' according to RTHK.

Some saw the sinking as a darkly ironic symbol of Hong Kong's current plight, as the city – still largely isolated from the world – holds on to pandemic restrictions after years of political unrest.

The main vessel of Jumbo Kingdom, measuring 260 feet (about 80 meters) in length, was a floating restaurant that could accommodate over 2,000 people. It also featured a smaller sister boat, a barge for seafood tanks, a kitchen boat, and eight small ferries to transport visitors from nearby piers.

Once the world's largest floating restaurant, Jumbo Kingdom appeared in numerous films, including classics like 'Enter the Dragon' starring Bruce Lee, and 'James Bond: The Man with the Golden Gun.'

The restaurant also welcomed notable guests, including Queen Elizabeth II, Jimmy Carter, and Tom Cruise.

Accessible only by small Jumbo-branded ferries, the restaurant became famous for its grand Imperial-style exterior, bright neon lights, vast custom-made paintings in the stairwells, and its vibrant Chinese-inspired décor – including a golden throne in the dining room.

Charles Lai, an architect and founder of Hong Kong Architectural History, described the restaurant as 'one of a kind,' noting its unique floating structure during an interview with Dinogo earlier this month.

Lai also pointed out that when the restaurant was built, the imperial Chinese aesthetic wasn't even promoted in mainland China due to the Cultural Revolution's push to remove 'Old Things.' He explained that Jumbo Kingdom reflected the deep desire of Hong Kong's Chinese community to preserve and embrace these traditional values.

He added, 'It also symbolizes the close connection Hong Kong has with the sea.'

As the fishing community in the island’s southern harbor dwindled, the restaurant's popularity waned, and it had been operating at a loss since 2013.

Several plans were proposed to preserve the iconic restaurant, but its steep maintenance costs deterred potential investors. Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam also dismissed the idea of a government bailout to save the landmark.

With no 'white knight' investor to rescue it, the owners decided to move the Jumbo Floating Restaurant's main boat to an undisclosed shipyard before its operating license expired at the end of June.

Tai Pak, the older and smaller boat from 1952, along with the recently capsized kitchen boat, remain docked in the harbor.