The city of Hong Kong, made up of four distinct regional zones – the Outlying Islands, Kowloon, Hong Kong Island and the New Territories (which have not aged in the last century!) – covers an area of approximately one thousand square kilometres. The Hong Kong region is one of the world’s most easily navigated destinations.
Public transport in Hong Kong is excellent, to say the least. If the Mass Transit Railway (MRT) does not take you where you want to go, rest assured that you will find a bus – mini, single or double decker – to take you to your preferred destination. Taxis, which are plentiful on almost every street in the city, fill in the gaps. The Airport Express service chugs to and from airport arrivals to downtown Hong Kong. To add to the fun of public transport in the city, Hong Kong also has a cable car and the world’s longest covered outdoor escalator. A sad absence from the city’s public transport network are the rickshaws, which were once the mainstay of public transport in Hong Kong, lining the entrances to amusement parks and museums.
Hong Kong’s compact geography also makes it easy to get around. Signs indicating the location of subways, buses and roads are well marked in English. One drawback of the public transport network is that, unlike in other cities, it is not integrated into a single system. Each mode of transport has its own fare structure and tariff system, so you will need a new ticket each time you want to use a different mode of transport.
Let us take a closer look at the different modes of public transport in Hong Kong.
Hong Kong Public Transportation Map
Map of Hong Kong Public Transportation showing different lines. Click on the map to enlarge it or download the Hong Kong Public Transportation map in PDF format.
Hong Kong MTR service
The city’s Mass Transit Railway (MTR) network is user-friendly, fast and state-of-the-art. It is safe to say that the railways are the backbone of Hong Kong’s transport network. The city’s MTR network includes a light rail system operating on twelve different lines and an express line to Hong Kong Airport, as well as nine subway lines. There is also a tourist cable car system, the Ngong Ping 360. By 2016, the MTR network is expected to provide subway services on twelve different lines, with stations close to most residential areas around Hong Kong.
Hong Kong Bus service
Most of the buses that ply the city’s streets are double-decker buses, although you are likely to come across a few that are air-conditioned. These cheap buses serve the areas of Kowloon, Hong Kong, the New Territory and some areas around Lantau. However, if you are a tourist new to the city and are unfamiliar with the streets of Hong Kong, it is advisable to get a map of the city before travelling by bus. A great advantage for bus passengers is the excellent scenery that can be seen out of the window as the bus makes its way through the city streets.
The city also has two types of light bus service. While one of them operates on fixed routes, there is another service that does not follow a specific route. The fixed-route buses are yellow-green in colour and have fixed pick-up and drop-off points around Hong Kong. You have to pay the fare before boarding. The unfixed route is red-yellow and has its fares and destinations written on the board at the front of the vehicle. The pick-up and drop-off points are determined by the passengers, who inform the driver a few minutes before getting off and then pay for their trip.
Escalators and Trams in Hong Kong
It has been more than a century since trams began operating in the Hong Kong Islands alone. Locals refer to this service as “Ding Ding” due to the characteristic sound of the vehicle. They are a cheap way to travel and travel slowly around the downtown areas of Hong Kong Island, allowing visitors to enjoy the beautiful scenery. If you need to travel to Victoria Peak and enjoy a panoramic view of Hong Kong, then you need to take the tram service. This century-old escalator in itself is good enough to provide a unique experience for the tourists.
Taxi service in Hong Kong
If you are standing outside a hotel or at a taxi rank, it is very easy to flag down a taxi. A glance at the mileage indicator or the light box on the top of the vehicle will tell you whether it is carrying passengers or not. If you are in a hurry, you can also call a taxi. Please note that some of the city’s tunnels require you to pay a tunnel toll.
Hong Kong Ferry service
In addition to the Hong Kong Island tram network, the city has a century-old public transport servant in the form of the Star Ferry, which operates between various routes such as Tsim Sha Tsui and Central, and Hung Hom, Tsim Sha Tsui and Wan Chai. Taking the Star Ferry between Tsim Sha Tsui and Central during the New Year or Christmas period and taking in the glamour and glitter of the skyscrapers is a great experience. Hong Kong has many other ferry options, and if you are heading to the outlying islands, these are the best option for commuters.
If you are planning to cycle along the streets of such urbanised areas as Hong Kong Island or Kowloon, it would be a seemingly suicidal plan. However, in the quieter areas of the New Territories and the southern islands of Hong Kong, it would be simply lovely to get around on a bike. Cycling around the city is more of a leisure activity than a form of public transport in Hong Kong, as you will invariably be slowed down by the hilly terrain. Note that most bike hire kiosks and shops run out of bikes early on weekends when the weather forecast is favourable.
For the best tourism and sightseeing experience in the city, it is best to walk around. As Hong Kong is very compact and not too large in terms of land area, you won’t find it too difficult to visit most of the tourist destinations on foot.