Transport in Hong Kong

1. What public transportation might I use to get around the city?
2. Can I use public transportation to get out of the city-to surrounding towns, recreation areas or suburbs?
3. Where do I buy tickets/tokens/etc. for the major public transportation?

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1. What public transportation I might use to get around the city?

• Taxis - these are popular and can be found everywhere! The flagdown fee starts at HK$15 for the first 2km and increases at the rate of HK$1.4 per 0.2km and/or HK$1.4 per minute of waiting time. Fees for baggage, pets, pre-booking, tunnels and tolls will be added if necessary.
• MTR - this train service is easy to get around with. It serves the important areas of the northern part of HK Island and the Kowloon peninsula pretty well. www.mtr.com.hk
• Buses - routes are numbered and fares decrease as buses near the end of their routes.
• Mini-buses (red and green) - unless you read Chinese, stick with the green ones. They take a maximum of 16 people - seated. Like regular buses, they go on a set route and have set fares that decrease. But they differ from buses in that they can be flagged down at any point of the route. Similarly, should you want off, just tell the driver! For example - if you're live at 77 Robinson Road, a few blocks before, just raise your voice and say 'Chat-sap-chat' (77 in Cantonese) and the driver will stop directly in front of your block!
• Trams - run on electricity and are easy to master, as tracks are seen on the roads. At HK$2 per journey regardless of length, it's also a very cheap way to go. The tram line runs in an east-west direction along the north of the island. Drawbacks include no air conditioning, noise and slow speed. Also note that there is a separate tram specially for the Peak, which is definitely a tourist attraction. The one-way fare of HK$20 reflects this.
• Ferries - the famous Star ferries ply between Central/Wanchai and Tsim Sha Tsui/Hung Hom on the Kowloon peninsula. Tickets range from HK$1.7 to HK$5.3 per trip. www.starferry.com.hk/new/en/index.asp

2. Can I use public transportation to get out of the city-to surrounding towns, recreation areas or suburbs?

• KCR - this train service takes you into the New Territories and mainland China.
• Ferries - will take you to several outlying islands for recreation. Some expats even use the ferries to go home.
• Buses/mini-buses - take you to scenic parts of the NT where walks and treks start/end.
  Kowloon Motorbus: www.kmb.hk/english.php?page=search;
  Citybus & Neworld First Bus: www.citybus.com.hk/eng/RouSer/RouteSearch/routesearch_main.asp
• The Airport Express Stations on Hong Kong Island and Kowloon have a network of airport buses that drop you off at all the major hotels.

3. Where do I buy tickets/tokens/etc. for the major public transportation?
Octopus cards can be bought at MTR stations and topped up at MTR stations and 7-Eleven convenience stores. See the Money section for more information. www.octopuscards.com