Getting Around
With one of the best and most varied public
transport systems in the world and a compact city centre, getting
around Hong Kong is extremely cheap, fast and efficient and is easy
enough for even inexperienced travellers. It includes buses,
minibuses, ferries, trams, light railways and an underground
subway. The underground Mass Transit Railway (MTR) is fast, clean,
efficient and inexpensive. Single-journey tickets or travel passes
like the electronic Octopus card can be used on the MTR to easily
access attractions, shopping and dining locations. Bus routes
serviced with double-decker or single-decker buses cover all of
Hong Kong Island, Kowloon and the New Territories with final
destinations displayed in both English and Chinese on the front.
Bus fares are low and distance-based; exact change is required, or
you can use the ubiquitous Octopus card, which covers all public
transport options. Small mini-buses are more expensive but also
more flexible, stopping for passengers to board or disembark on
request. Hong Kong's old-fashioned trams still follow the same
tracks as they have since 1904 and provide visitors with wonderful
views of the city from their upper decks. They are also a cheap and
convenient way of getting around. On the water, fleets of ferries
connect Hong Kong Island, Kowloon, the Outlying Islands, Macau and
Mainland China. Last but not least there is an abundant supply of
taxis, colour-coded according to their area of operation. Taxi
fares are low, but many drivers don't speak English and visitors
are advised to have their destination written down in Chinese
characters.
