The Story of the 'Ning Po' - The Legendary Chinese Pirate Junk

In 1912, when the RMS Titanic was the newest ship in the world, the Ning Po ("Peaceful Waters") was the oldest still-functioning ship on the seas. Built in 1753 and originally called the Kin Tai Foong ("Golden Typhoon"), this Chinese merchant Junk quickly turned pirate and smuggler, become one of the most notorious pirate ships of Asia. She was the bane of both Imperial China and the British Empire, eluding all who wished to tame her. By the early 1900's, finally being matched by the iron steam ships of the time, she was retired as a tourist attraction, touring the Los Angeles area for a few years before becoming a restaurant in Avalon on Catalina Island. She then served as a museum ship in Cat Harbor at the Isthmus on Catalina, where she eventually wrecked in a storm in the 1930's.

Much of her early history is based on legend rather than hard evidence, and much of her later history is convoluted with other ships she sat alongside, but let's dive into her what we do know and uncover what's left of her off Catalina Island. While this video does talk a bit about what's left, stay tuned for another video in the future about surveying the various wrecks across Catalina Island, including the Ning Po.

Special thanks to the Catalina Island Museum for the help with research and allowing me to use some of their photographs.

Another huge thanks to CA Wreck Divers and Steve Lawson for some of the photos

[normtrooper]

I laughed out loud when you said the highest bidders were pirates. What a lovely video and about history I had no idea about

[meadmaker]

Such a sad ending to a beautiful, powerful piece of maritime history. She deserved better. I wish they'd hauled her out, put her on a stand and built a small museum around her. I would have loved to have seen her in person.

[geigertec]

I think the best part was when the modern owners found the treasure in the secret chamber behind the eye. Who wants to bet that plate is somewhere in someone's house and they have no idea they own an 18th century pirate ship treasure.

This whole story reminds me of when I was a kid. My grandpa had a boat and we would go out of a harbor in NY. One day a 100-year-old three masted wooden ship with full rigging sailed into our harbor. It was sinking and needed urgent repairs. The owners tied it up close to the land and began pumping water out of it hull but it wasn't enough and she settled on the bottom. Many attempts were made to re-float her but she always sank back down in this same spot until one day they stopped trying and she was abandoned.

Every day me and my grandpa would have to sail past this magnificent wreck. At low tide the water would be low enough that the top half of the deck would be exposed. I would watch as small waves would open and close the door to the center structure and hear the creaking of the wooden timbers as the masts swayed.

I was still in the single digits in age during all this so no matter how much I begged grandpa to let me explore the sunken ship he never let me (and a good thing too because I would have drowned). Had I been my current age that I am now back then I would have salvaged so many treasures from that wreck, but now 30 years later it's all long gone now.

[beckiejbrown]

This blew my mind... It just kept going and going. I didn't realise a ship could go that many years!

[MDBandit]

Damn, some of your stuff is criminally underviewed. This is some of the best of this type of content that YouTube has to offer. Putting the History Channel, Discovery, etc to absolute shame. If I ever stumble upon a winning lottery ticket I am gonna become Indiana Jones and hunt down that lost silver plate from behind the eye.

[carolecotter]

I really enjoyed watching this video. I remember being in Cat Harbor in late 50's and seeing an old mast sticking out of the water. After watching this video, I believe now that it was the Palmyra, not Ning Po.

[owellafehr]

Fascinating story. Looking at the thumbnail I thought this was going to be something from around the 1300s-1500s; I'm amazed that it's so comparatively modern. I'm also stunned by just how long this ship was usable; I had no idea that a 150+ year old wooden ship could still sail. What a tragic history with all the slaves and captives on board.

[tomriley]

Shame she didn't make it to the museum she would have been an amazing exhibit - literally a legend from another time! It's almost unbelievable that she was still afloat after all that time. Can't believe they let the scouts hack up a mast. Such a sad end for her. Amazing she lasted so long only to end like that...

[ATippePodcast]

Yeah. I love listening to these. I drive truck cross country. These are absolutely fantastic. All of them. Thank you for your time putting these together

[ButterBallTheOpossum]

I remember when the history Channel had awesome documentaries like these on the their channel. This was so damn good.

[thecunarder]

This ship had quite a fascinating history, thanks for sharing this and keep up the good work!

[kaiapparent]

what an amazing legacy. thanks for telling her story, i wish i could have seen her and walked her decks.

[Patrick-pmsn]

I still hope for the promised vids about the Catalina Island ships. Really, really looking forward for the next episode(s). Keep up the great work Tom and Emma! Best wishes and cheers all the way from Bavaria Germany.

[EasyThereBigFella]

You're the perfect mix of thorough researcher and enthusiastic story teller. Wishing you continued success pursuing your passions.

[Puzzoozoo]

She was a testament to Chinese maritime engineers and the craftsmen who built her.

[fritzpollard]

Something this interesting and unique is not something you find on YouTube everyday.

[supremeoverlorde]

What an interesting story! I just found your channel recently and have loved catching up on your videos. You are such a gifted story-teller and bring history to life in a fascinating way.

[Charlie-denv]

Her Stern Decor Was Lovely, Such a long and amazing story too.

[thomasandrewsjr]

Such interesting and often unknown story to the public. Outstanding work Tom.

[SamwiseOutdoors]

Gosh, I remember hearing vague bits of this story from camp counselors when I was on the Island with my Scout Troop as a kid.
It's really cool to hear the whole story fleshed out, I never knew that it had such a long life.
Thank you for delving into this.