The world-class public transport system that spans the entirety of Hong Kong makes visiting any part of the city easy, fun and affordable. Unlike other world cities, the compact nature of Hong Kong, combined with its easy-to-use transport systems, makes independent sightseeing perfectly feasible for most travellers. All visitors, including families with young children in tow, will find getting from place to place convenient, enjoyable and, perhaps most important of all, safe - day and night. Landmark ferry crossings, double-decker tram rides and historical train trips are all part of the Hong Kong experience, where "getting there" is half the fun.
The affordability of transport in Hong Kong will astound many visitors. Some of the city's most notable attractions, such as the Star Ferry harbour crossing and the historic double-decker street trams, can be ridden for only US 25 cents! Other modes of transport are also extremely reasonable and provide discounted fares of up to 50% for children aged three to 11 or seniors over 65. Children under three ride free, making family trips
exceptionally economical. The public transport system is so efficient and dependable that visitors need not rely on taxis - although these are readily available, reliable and cheap at just HK$15 for the first two kilometres travelled.
Octopus Cards
Along with the ease and plethora of transport choices available to visitors, the city has a unique fare-payment scheme that is open to everyone and accepted citywide on all public transport systems. Hong Kong leads the world in this new and convenient electronic smart-card payment system called Octopus. This credit-card sized tool allows travellers to pay their fares without ever having to purchase individual tickets or carry change. Not only can it be used to pay for every bus, tram, ferry or train ride, it can also be used in fast-food restaurants, coffee shops, retail outlets, grocery stores and more.
Purchasing an Octopus card is just as easy as using one. Available at all major public transport centres, including all Mass Transit Railway and Kowloon-Canton Railway stations, the card stores value electronically and automatically debits fares and other charges. When the balance on the card runs low, value can be added easily. Best of all, the unused portion of the card is fully refundable (apart from a HK$10 handling fee). The total cost of an adult Octopus card is HK$150, which includes a HK$50 refundable deposit. Children and seniors pay a discounted rate of HK$70, including a HK$50 deposit. For more information on Octopus cards phone 2266 2222 or check www.octopuscard.com.
Airport Express Line
When arriving in Hong Kong by air, visitors will find themselves immediately introduced to Hong Kong's quick and convenient transport systems with a ride into town on the Airport Express train. The Mass Transit Railway (MTR) runs this dedicated and speedy train service. Departing every 12 minutes from 5:50am to 1:15am, the train takes only 23 minutes to arrive in the heart of Central on Hong Kong Island. There are two brief stops en route, including a station in Kowloon. The Airport Express provides baggage handlers on board trains and on platforms (tipping is not permitted); an in-town check-in service for passengers of many flights; and free shuttle bus services from Kowloon station and Hong Kong (Central) stations servicing major hotels and other locations in those areas.
The Airport Express offers a variety of fare options. One-way adult fares are HK$100 and round-trip fares, valid for one month from date of purchase, are HK$180. Same-day return tickets are available at the price of a single trip. Also available is an Airport Express Tourist Octopus - 3-Day Hong Kong Transport Pass , providing a round-trip journey on the Airport Express, unlimited usage of the MTR and HK$20 worth of value on other public transport systems. The adult fare for this special pass is HK$300 - and you can, of course, use a regular Octopus Card. For more information phone 2881 8888 or check www.mtr.com.hk.
Mass Transit Railway (MTR)
Hong Kong's underground train system is among the world's most efficient. The Mass Transit Railway or MTR is this great city's version of New York's subway or London's Tube but it's newer, cleaner, less expensive and, best of all, air-conditioned! For visiting the sights along the north shore of Hong Kong Island, the main districts of Kowloon or travelling between Hong Kong Island and Kowloon, this speedy system is a great choice.
The MTR has five lines covering more than 80 kilometres, with a total of 49 stations. Trains serve Hong Kong's busiest areas quickly and efficiently seven days a week, 19 hours a day from 6:00 am to 1:00 am. Waiting time between trains is usually minimal at two to three minutes, but rarely more than five minutes. Not only is the MTR quick and easy, but it's also inexpensive, as single-journey adult fares range from just HK$4 to HK$26. Tickets can be purchased at the multiple banks of automated ticketing machines at each station or fares can be paid with an Octopus card. All stations have customer service counters to help visitors. For more information phone 2881 8888 or check www.mtr.com.hk.
Hong Kong Tramways
Another wonderful way to explore the bustling north corridor of Hong Kong Island is to hop aboard one of the city's historic trams. These double-decker streetcars have been travelling through Hong Kong's busiest thoroughfares since 1904 and continue to be a great way to get around while at the same time enjoying a fascinating top-down view of the heart of the city. Visitors should be sure to sit next to the window on the upper deck to get the most out of their journey.
The tram lines covers approximately 18 kilometres, stretching along the northern side of Hong Kong Island from Kennedy Town, an area west of Central to Shau Kei Wan on the eastern side of the Island. Neighbourhoods along the way include some of Hong Kong's most colourful: Western district, Wan Chai, Causeway Bay and North Point. The tram also provides a loop to Happy Valley, where one of Hong Kong's two racecourses is located. All rides are a true Hong Kong bargain at HK$2 for adults and $1 for seniors and children. The service runs at very frequent intervals from 6:00 am to 1:00 am daily and well-marked tram stops can be found every few blocks. Enter the tram at its back door and exit at the front, paying the fare when alighting. Fares can be paid with exact change or with an Octopus card. For more information phone 2548 7102 or check www.hktramways.com.
The Peak Tram
The Peak Tram is not only a great way to reach the scenic Victoria Peak, Hong Kong's number one tourist attraction; it is also a "must do" sightseeing experience in itself. This historic service began operation in 1888 and is the steepest inclined railway in the world. This very efficient mode of transport takes only eight minutes from start to finish, but every moment is a thrill as passengers are awed by the stunning views of Hong Kong Island, Kowloon and Victoria Harbour.
Taking a ride on the Peak Tram could not be easier as it runs from the heart of Central on Garden Road to the centre of the action at Victoria Peak. Journeys run every 15 minutes from 7:00am to midnight and are just as thrilling in the darkness as they are in the light of day. One-way fares are HK$20 for adults, HK$7 for seniors, HK$6 for children aged 3-12. Round-trip fares are HK$30 for adults, HK$14 for seniors and HK$9 for children. Fares can be paid with exact change or an Octopus card. For added convenience and excitement, there is a open-topped double-decker shuttle bus service (route 15C) linking the Star Ferry pier on Hong Kong Island with the lower Peak Tram terminus. For more information on the Peak Tram phone 2849 7654 or check www.thepeak.com.hk.
Public Buses
To truly see and experience this dynamic city, there are few better ways to travel than on the far-reaching, clean and efficient public bus system which covers the majority of the territory including Hong Kong Island, Kowloon, the New Territories and Lantau Island. The view from the window of a double-decker bus should be part of any visitor's itinerary, as it can include everything from the most modern state-of-the-art architectural marvels to breathtaking views of the South China Sea or vibrant local wet markets.
The bus system, provided by five companies, each with an extensive modern fleet of both single and double-decker buses (most are air-conditioned), is simple to use. The front of every bus is plainly marked with its route number and final destination in both English and Chinese. The majority of buses run from 6:00 am to midnight, though some, like those servicing the airport, run throughout the night. There are bus stops located every few blocks citywide, carrying timetables and route maps for each service calling there, and bus fares reduce as the final destination approaches. For most city routes, the maximum fare is under HK$10 although some longer journeys into the New Territories can go as high as HK$45. Fares can be paid with exact change or an Octopus card.
For more information on bus routes for Hong Kong Island, Kowloon or the New Territories phone or check Citybus (2873 0818, www.citybus.com.hk); Kowloon Motor Bus (2745 4466, www.kmb.hk) or New World First Bus (2136 8888, www.nwfb.com.hk). For more information on routes in Lantau (including Hong Kong International Airport) contact New Lantao Bus Company (2984 9848, www.newlantaobus.com) or Long Win Bus Company (2261-2791, www.kmb.hk)
Minibuses
The city also has a secondary mode of bus transport commonly called the minibus or maxicab. These 16-seater minivans are an inexpensive option for travelling short distances as they are very speedy due to their compact nature and limited number of passengers, and can pick up or drop off anywhere along their routes (except in certain busy areas), like a taxi. They are easy to spot as they are uniformly cream coloured with a green striped top. (There are also red-topped minibuses on the roads but these are not recommended for visitors as they are more difficult to use.) The final route destinations are clearly marked on the front of the vehicles in both English and Chinese. To catch a minibus hail it like a taxi and hop aboard, then shout to the driver when you want to stop. Fares are paid when entering the minibus with exact change or an Octopus card. All passengers occupying a seat, regardless of age, pay the fixed fare posted on the farebox. For more information on minibuses check the Hong Kong Transport Department web site http://www.info.gov.hk/td/.
Star Ferry
The pleasure of viewing Hong Kong by land is rivalled only by the view from the water. No visit would be complete without a journey across Victoria Harbour aboard the Star Ferry. These ships have been in operation since 1888 and offer four different routes between Hong Kong Island and the Kowloon Peninsula, of which the most famous and frequently travelled is the breathtaking seven-minute ride between Central Hong Kong and Tsim Sha Tsui in Kowloon for a true Hong Kong bargain of HK$1.70 for adults and HK$1.20 for children on the lower deck, or HK$2.20 and HK$1.30 respectively upstairs.
Ferries run at frequent intervals between 6:30 am and 11:30 pm and fares can be paid with cash or an Octopus card. Also offered by the same company is the Star Ferry Harbour Tour, a special "hop-on, hop-off" ferry service around the harbour aboard a recreated 1920s-vintage ship, which takes visitors to various dining, shopping and tourist hot spots. This special service, which takes about an hour round trip, is offered from 11:00 am to 9:00 pm and is a great way to view the spectacular lights of the city by night. For more information on Star Ferry fares, routes and schedules phone 2367 7065 or check www.starferry.com.hk.
Outlying Island Ferries
The diverse nature of Hong Kong includes a variety of outlying islands, each a worthy destination in itself. These include Lantau, where visitors can visit the Giant Buddha or Tai O (the village on stilts); Lamma, famous for its seafood restaurants and country park walks; and Cheung Chau, a small island known for its traditional fishing village and the annual Bun Festival. The Outlying Islands Ferry Pier, located in Central, is easy to access and a user-friendly network of ferries provides frequent daily services to all islands. Fares vary depending on distance and style of service and can be paid with cash or an Octopus card. For more information on ferry services phone or check New World First Ferry (2131 8181 or www.nwff.com.hk, for services to Lantau, Cheung Chau and Peng Chau); or Hong Kong Kowloon Ferry Limited (2815 6063 or www.hkkf.com.hk, for service to Lamma)
Kowloon-Canton Railway (KCR)
A visit to the New Territories is a great way to round off any visit to Hong Kong. Mountains, country parks, fishing and farming villages as well as some of Hong Kong's newest towns can all be found here, just minutes away by train from the urban centre. The Kowloon-Canton Railway or KCR has been operating its historic train service since 1910 from the heart of Kowloon into the New Territories. There are several MTR/KCR interchanges, making the KCR easy to access. Though the company offers four different lines, most visitors will use the East Rail, which runs 35 kilometres from Tsim Sha Tsui in Kowloon to Lo Wu on the border with Mainland China, serving 11 stations in between. Trains run at frequent intervals from 5:30 am to 1:00 am and fares, payable by cash or Octopus card, range from HK$3.5 to HK$12.5, although there is an additional premium of up to HK$24 to travel to Lo Wu. First class tickets are double the fare. For more information phone 2929 3399 or check www.kcr.com.hk.
With all the wonderful and easy options for travelling in and around Hong Kong, visitors will find getting from place to place part of the joy of their stay in this special city. Bon voyage!
Updated 29 November 2006 Copyright
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