The famous Jumbo Kingdom encountered a watery end over the weekend.

For decades, the Jumbo Kingdom restaurant has been a beloved landmark in Hong Kong since its establishment in 1976. This massive three-story floating restaurant in Aberdeen Harbor has welcomed a host of celebrities including Tom Cruise, Bruce Lee, and Queen Elizabeth II. Unfortunately, this iconic establishment met a tragic fate over the weekend.

Recently, the Jumbo Kingdom was moved from the harbor to the open sea as it was facing financial difficulties due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The plan was to take it to a shipyard while waiting for its restaurant license to expire. However, during transit, adverse weather conditions caused the restaurant to capsize and sink into the South China Sea. Fortunately, no casualties were reported in this incident.

According to Aberdeen Restaurant Enterprises Limited, the owners of Jumbo Kingdom, the restaurant now rests roughly 1,000 meters below the sea surface, posing challenges to any salvage operations. An investigation is underway to determine the circumstances surrounding the transportation of the restaurant.

The sinking of the Jumbo Kingdom has sparked an outpouring of grief online, with many Hong Kong residents expressing sorrow over the loss of this iconic establishment. The Tai Pak, a smaller vessel affiliated with Jumbo Kingdom, remains docked at Aberdeen Harbor.