Archaeological Monument Noonday Gun, Noonday Gun is a former naval gun mounted on a small enclosed site near the Causeway Bay Typhoon Shelter on Hong Kong Island, Hong Kong. A gun has been mounted in this area since the 1860s.

Noonday Gun

Noonday Gun -
Noonday Gun is located in Hong Kong Island.
Noonday Gun monument was established on 1860.

Primary threats to Noonday Gun :

Noonday Gun is a former naval gun mounted on a small enclosed site near the Causeway Bay Typhoon Shelter on Hong Kong Island, Hong Kong. A gun has been mounted in this area since the 1860s.

Historical facts of Noonday Gun :

The Noonday Gun is a historical landmark located in Causeway Bay, Hong Kong. It is a cannon that has been firing every day at noon for over a century, becoming a popular tourist attraction and a symbol of Hong Kong's colonial past.
The tradition of the Noonday Gun dates back to the late 19th century when Hong Kong was under British rule. In 1868, a naval tradition was established where a cannon would be fired daily at noon to allow ships in the harbor to calibrate their chronometers. Chronometers were crucial for maritime navigation, as they were used to calculate longitude accurately.
The Noonday Gun itself is a 3.75-inch naval gun, originally manufactured in 1860. It was donated to the Hong Kong Observatory in 1941 by a merchant named Mr. Jardine, who acquired it from a warship named HMS Thunderer. The gun was mounted on the top of Causeway Bay's Signal Hill and has been in operation ever since.
During World War II, the Noonday Gun was silenced when Hong Kong fell to the Japanese in 1941. However, after the war ended and Hong Kong returned to British control in 1945, the tradition of firing the Noonday Gun was revived. It has continued uninterrupted to this day, making it one of the longest-running daily ceremonial firings in the world.
The firing of the Noonday Gun has become a popular event for both locals and tourists. Every day at precisely 12 noon, a team of uniformed Hong Kong Jockey Club staff members, responsible for maintaining the cannon, perform the firing ceremony. The gun is loaded with black powder, and when fired, it produces a loud bang that echoes through the surrounding area.
Over the years, the Noonday Gun has become an iconic symbol of Hong Kong's colonial heritage. It serves as a reminder of the city's maritime past and its role as an international trading hub. Many visitors gather around the area to witness the firing and capture the experience on camera.
The Noonday Gun has also undergone several changes and improvements to enhance its safety and reliability. In 1995, a replica cannon was introduced to reduce stress on the original gun. The replica fires blanks, but the sound is synchronized with the original gun's firing to maintain the tradition and preserve the historical significance of the event.
In addition to its historical and cultural significance, the Noonday Gun has a practical function in modern times. The loud bang of the cannon firing serves as a time signal, allowing nearby office workers to synchronize their watches and clocks.
In conclusion, the Noonday Gun in Hong Kong is a historical landmark and a living reminder of the city's colonial past. The daily firing ceremony at noon dates back to the 19th century when it was used for maritime navigation. Today, it continues to attract visitors who gather to witness the tradition and experience a piece of Hong Kong's rich history.