Every day at 12:00 noon, next to the "Causeway Bay Typhoon Shelter" in Causeway Bay, Hong Kong, a deafening cannon sound can be heard, that is, the sound of firing cannon salute. It is said that this tradition of firing cannon salute has a history of more than hundred years, and now, it is introduced by
HongKongFootprint.com.
There are several popular theories about the origin of this tradition, but no matter who is right or wrong, the general theory is that as early as the nineteenth century, in order to guard against pirates, the British Jardine Matheson set up a cannon on the seashore. Whenever the boss of Jardine Matheson arrives or leaves the harbour, a cannon salute will be fired for welcome or goodbye purpose. Since then, for some reason, the firing of the cannon salute has become a tradition, and the cannon salute is fired every day at noon. Until now, the ceremony of firing the cannon salute has continued.
For more than hundred years, the cannon has undergone many changes, and the original cannon was disappeared due to the past wars. Although the cannon has undergone changes, the ritual has remained the same. Every 12:00 noon, a bell will be ring first, and then the cannon salute will be fired, and the whole ceremony of firing cannon salute will also end.
If you want to see the ceremony of firing a cannon salute, remember to come early. After the ceremony, the cannon will be opened for a short period of time for the general public to watch at close range, and then the area of the cannon will be enclosed by iron chains, and no entry is allowed. In fact, in addition to firing cannon salute at 12:00 noon every day, cannon salute will also be fired in the early morning of January 1 every year to celebrate the coming of the new year.
If you want to reach the location of the cannon salute, it is recommended to take the MTR to Causeway Bay Station and leave at Exit D1. Then walk towards the seaside and walk to the World Trade Center. In the basement car park of the World Trade Center, there is an underground tunnel leading to the location of the cannon, and you can reach it by walking along the underground tunnel.
Location: The Jardine Noonday Gun
Address: 282 Gloucester Road, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong
Credit:
Hong Kong Footprint (HongKongFootprint.com)
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The information and images above are for reference only, and are subject to change in accordance with the announcement of relevant organizations or climate change at that day.
