Peak Tram

The Peak Tram (山頂纜車, shān dǐng lǎn chē) is a 1.4 km (0.87 miles) historical funicular railway connecting the central business district to Victoria Peak via the Mid-Levels since 1888. It offers excellent views of urban Hong Kong (skyscrapers) and the diverse heritage along the track. The Peak Tram is also a big hit among tourists so you'll have to cope with long queues even on ordinary days (10-30 minutes). Do note that there is a additional seperate queue for purchasing tickets (available at entrance at both termini).

At the tram terminus in Central, while you're in the queue you can also learn about the history of the Peak Tram (gallery). There are numerous antiques stationed there including the tickets, uniforms, way of boarding and the statistics back then. Thus, a complimentary 'museum entry fee' included in the price of the ticket.

Overall, the trip itself takes around 5 minutes up the peak and is the fastest way up and down. Its closest competitor, a minibus route takes around 20 minutes due to the curvy mountain road. The tram's route is operated on a single railway with a passing loops and travels at 22 km/h (14 mph) which is pretty fast for a steep 35-45° climb. Up to 120 people can be on the tram at any time with some standing and serves 12,000 people a day.

In conclusion, though it offers great views, it remains a fairly expensive mode of transport (compared to other Hong Kong transport) going up Victoria Peak with limited frequency at 10-15 minutes per tram.

Fares (Octopus Card accepted, corr. as of writing - check with operator):

The Star Ferry

The Star Ferry (天星小輪, tiān xīng xiǎo lún) is one of Hong Kong's most iconic (in terms of heritage) and important ferry services taking passengers across the Victoria Harbour. It also has won quite a few awards in the past half-century including 1st place in the World’s Top 10 Most Exciting Ferry Rides.

It was founded by an Indian businessman, Dorabjee Naorojee Mithaiwala, way back in 1888 and to this very day it carries 65,000 daily. A fleet of 8 diesel-electric ferries (as of December 2007, one retired) which date way back to 1956 currently serve 4 routes in the heart of the Hong Kong's tourist and business districts; Tsim Sha Tsui/Hung Hom, Central and Wan Chai. To this very day, it remains an quick, popular and economical mode of crossing the harbour.

Each journey takes around 10 minutes from Kowloon to Hong Kong Island and a normal boat has a capacity of 576 passengers. Ferries run every 5-10 minutes varying on demand. From the ferry, the Hong's famous Kong skyline can be seen which is a truely memorable experience (especially during A Symphony of Lights).

Fares (Octopus Card also accepted, corr. as of March 2009):

Seniors (65+) ride free upon production of Hong Kong I.D. Card or Senior Citizen Card.

Hong Kong International Airport

Located just 24 minutes from the city, Hong Kong International Airport (HKG/VHHH) , which opened in 1998, has daily flights to over 150 destinations worldwide. No wonder it has took the title of World's Best Airport between 2001-2005 and 2007-2008. While keeping its famed quality, the airport is still able to handle 47 million passengers a year, and is ranked 14th in the entire world. What an amazing airport!

Also referred to as Chek Lap Kok Airport, its Terminal 1 covers 570,000 m² making it the 3rd largest in the world next to only Dubai and Beijing. Terminal 1 offers plenty of shops and restaurants but is a bit crowded though as it is the main terminal for arrival and departure. Terminal 2 of the airport is a check-in facility of a few airlines but has a great selection of shops and entertainment facilities such as a 4D theatre and an Aviation Discovery Centre.
The key to the tranquil environment is that it's separated from Terminal 1 with a 3-minute walkway. Many passengers think walking there is a waste of time, but they just don't know how quiet it is. It certainly is a pleasure just to pass through the two spacious and airy terminals. Unlike most other international airports, baggage carts are free of charge.

Two dedicated hotels are also within walking distance at the airport together offering 1829 guest rooms and suites. They are namely, Hong Kong SkyCity Marriott Hotel and Regal Airport Hotel. One thing in common is that they both offer quality services, but are rather expensive though. If you're lucky, your airline might just arrange for you to stay there due to cancellations.


Based at the airport are four passenger airlines and one cargo airline. Among them is the legendary Cathay Pacific Airways, operating ★★★★★ services to 46 major destinations worldwide. The best way, in and out of Hong Kong of course, is by Cathay Pacific.

Taxis of Hong Kong

Taxis here in Hong Kong are a bit lower compared with most other 'world cities'. The starting charge is either HK$13.5 - US$1.7 (rural) or HK$18 - US$2.3 (urban) while every 200 metres and 1 minute waiting time afterwards is HK$1.2 or $1.5. With well over 18,000 taxis (divided into urban, rural, and Lantau [airport] taxis), it's quite easy to hail a taxi except during rush (or peak as it is known to Hongkongers) hour where everything is at capacity.


The 'airport route' as it is known to drivers, is the most popular as well as most expensive with a fare of around HK$400 (lots of tunnels [and return fee for driver]+Tsing Ma Bridge fee+distance fee). Luckily, most of the drivers on the airport route know english as well as putonghua (mandarin). If you tend to go somewhere, you should keep a map (both chinese and english) and point to your destination just to play it safe.

The taxis here are quite new and one of the most environmentally-friendly and cleanest ones in the world. Built by Toyota, they run on LPG and seat up to 5 (excluding the driver). Unfortunately, future plans of Hong Kong taxis include reducing seats due to vehicle emission standards set by Toyota Japan.

The MTR (Subway and Train)

Here in Hong Kong, the Mass Transit Railway (MTR) is a major mode of transport (with 3.65 million riders/day) due to its affordability and efficiency. It covers almost all of Hong Kong and is one of the best in the world. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to ride the MTR.

Step 1: Locate a nearby MTR station by signs, look for this logo (see picture below) for any MTR station. Every station has this logo at every entrance.

Step 2: Look for the MTR system map (avaliable at every station and train compartment). The system map (click the map image below to enlarge). First, find the station where you are now, the station you are going to, and how many stops and interchanges you need to get there. On some maps, they even show the price. You may notice a big cluster in the middle of the system :P


Step 3: Get a standard ticket (or even First-Class ticket), avaliable at the ticket offices (known as the Customer Service Office). If you are planning to take Hong Kong public transport frequently, consider purchasing the Octopus card at the ticket offices. The Octopus card is a contactless smartcard, the first of its kind in the world which is used for making payments for food, but mainly transportation. With the Octopus Card, you can get small discounts for every MTR trip.


The Ticketing Machines and Add-Value Machines at each station allow commuters to add money to your Octopus Card and to purchase standard tickets for single trips. Before you enter the 'paid area' , you will have to pass through ticket gates in order to enter.


Step 4: Enter station and wait on the platform. The platform is usually located one level down or below the concourse. Follow the directions and use the escalator or elevator to get into the right platform. Real-time information is located every few metres on the platform to provide time of arrival and destination information. Then, wait for the train to arrive.

Step 5: When the train arrives…You should hear "The train for _____ is arriving, please mind the platform gap when boarding". Board on the train and enjoy your ride. Just remember to get off the train at your destination station.

Double-Decker Buses

Introduction:
Double Decker buses are a favourable way to get around Hong Kong and a great way to sightsee. The Double Decker buses are operated by three main bus companies respectively; Kowloon Motor Bus, New World First Bus and Citybus. In the New Territories, it is always common to see Kowloon Motor Buses (for short, KMB) while on Hong Kong Island, New World First Bus (NWFB) and Citybus dominate the roads.

Added-Value Services:
Hong Kong buses are full of added value services and the bus companies invest wisely. For example, all buses are under a replacement scheme to scrap all old buses and replace them with new, state-of-the-art ones to provide better service.

One feature is the 'Electronic Bus-stop Announcement System' on KMB buses. They display the next bus stop electronically [on a dashboard] and with a voice-over in Cantonese, English and Mandarin, extremely useful for tourists.

Another facility worth mentioning are TV programs dubbed Roadshow. They are shown on dedicated Samsung LCD TVs on every air-conditioned bus providing various content but mainly advertising. Several programs on Roadshow include cartoons, bus safety tips and cooking shows. Unfortunately, these programs are only in Cantonese, but there are plans for English shows in the future.

How Do I Pay?
All buses in Hong Kong accept coins, but not dollar notes. When you are boarding, there should be a coin collection box. Above the collection box, an electronic sign tells you how much to pay. An alternative is to pay by Octopus Card, which is faster and easier. Pricing is separated into three parts, Kids (3-11), Adults (12-64), and Elderly (65+). All other ages travel free of charge.