Kap Shui Mun


Kap Shui Mun or Throat Gates is the channel between Lantau Island and Ma Wan in Hong Kong. It is part of major sea route along the coast of South China, from Victoria Harbour to the Pearl River. It joins north with Urmston Road. Kap Shui Mun Bridge, part of Route 8, spans the channel.

Name

The original Chinese name of Kap Shui Mun is gap shui mun, the gate of fast-moving water. This exactly describes the current of the channel. The name 'fast-moving water' was associated with accidents for ships and boats. To remove this malign influence, it was renamed to a title with similar sound, kap shui mun, meaning 'water-fetching gate'. For Chinese, water represents fortune and wealth.