怡和午炮

Partybus 5 months ago

One of Hong Kong's great, but little-known traditions. It's still actively used for ceremonial purposes. Individuals can 'hire' the act of firing. The plaque explaining the gun reads "JARDINE, MATHESON THE NOON DAY GUN THE STORY OF JARDINES GUN COES BACK TO THE VERY EARLY DAYS OF HONG KONG WHEN JARDINES MOVED THER HEADQUARTERS FROM CANTON AND MACAU TO EAST POINT. THE EAST POINT PROPERTY ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ROAD AMFROM WHERE YOU ARE STANDING IS OF HISTORIC INTEREST IN THAT IT WAS THE FIRST HONG KONG SITE TO BE SOLD AT THE FIRST AUCTION HELD IN MACAU IN 1842 AND IS GTILL REGISTERED AS LOT NO.1. IN THOSE DAYS THE TEA CLIPPERS, WHICH WERE HEAVILY ARMED AGAINST PIRATES, WERE MOORED OFF EAST POINT AND STORED AND ARMED FROM THE PREMISES THERE WAS A. CONSIDERABLE ARMOURY AND JARDINES MAINTAINED THEIR OWN SHORE BATTERY AND DETACHMENT OF GUARDS IT BECAME CUSTOMARY WHENEVER THE TAIPAN OF JARDINES ARRIVED OR LEFT HONG KONG TO FIRE A SALUTE FROM. THE GUNS AT EAST POINT. THE STORY BRES THAT ON ONE OCCASION THE TAIPAN'S FAST SCHOONER PASSED ONE OF H. M. SHIPS. WEARING THE PENNANT OF THE SENIOR NAVAL OFFICER OF THE STATION, ALMOST BECALMED AS THE JARDINE SCHOONER APPROACHED EAST IN LYEMU

King Wai Tye 8 months ago

It was extremely loud and punctual. Try to be there 10 minutes before noon. The directions given by Google Maps today was misleading, the underground passage is actually an unlabelled door at the side of the building across the main road from the gun. You can take the overhead bridge further down as I only found the passage when I trace back from the gun.

Dan Beddow a year ago

A quirky little stop if you're in the area. Fired daily at midday, and then the gates open for you to walk around and take pictures. Easiest way to access is via the underpass. No tickets or payment required.

kam-ling CHIU Edited a year ago

Next to the Causeway Bay fire station is this harbour promenade. Along here ,is a great view of "the old habour in Business" boats preforming the functions of entertaining theatres and eateries, in the late 50's . The Jardine Noon gun is here also. It can be accessible by a secret route from the car park under the World Trade Centre. Beautiful views at any time. The above was written and relating to the state and views at that time. Jardine Noonday Gun It is located on the harbour promenade at the Causeway Bay Typhoon Shelter just across the World Trade Centre. It is owned by the Jardine Matheson Corp . Every noon the gun will be fired to signify the Time. The tradition started at 1830. So this is favourable spot for HK visitors. From here fantastic views of Typhoon shelter, The Royal HK Yacht Club (HKRYC) can be enjoyed. Across the Victoria Harbour, at the Kowloon Peninsula City Water Front from Tsim Sha Tsui East to Kowloon Bay the views are great. This place was revisited again in March 27,2025. Written on April 21st, 2025.

Rik Edited 3 years ago

The famous noon day gun. Made famous by Noël Coward's song "Mad Dogs and Englishmen" in which it's claimed "in Hong Kong, they strike a gong, and fire off a noonday gun; To reprimand each inmate who's in late". And it's still kind of true as the gun is fired daily at noon. The gun itself is in the historic and easily accessible east point now causeway bay that was sold by public auction in 1841 to Jardine. Over the years the tradition of firing the gun to greet the arrival of jardines ships built up. However this practiced annoyed a newly arrived naval officer who believed such a practise should be reserved for government officials only. The penalty handed down to Jardine was to fire the gun daily at noon in perpetuity, which save during WW2 was exactly what was done. The original gun was lost during the Japanese occupation but a new gun was installed in 1947 and the current gun in 1961.