The name 香港 (Xiānggǎng), meaning "Hong Kong", is formed from two characters that together describe the area's historical identity. The first character, 香 (xiāng), means "fragrant", and the second, 港 (gǎng), means "harbor" or "port". The name is traditionally said to originate from the area's past as a hub for the trade and production of fragrant incense and spices, which were shipped from this harbor, thus creating the literal concept of the "Fragrant Harbor".