The subway system in Hong Kong is called MTR, mass transit railway. Its five lines connect Hong Kong
Island, Kowloon, Lantau and the new territories and connects to the KCR which is the local name for the
Kowloon Canton Railway. MTR stations are marked with the red oval sign with the figure that looks like
a stylized human form in the middle holding his arms up high. The MTR is a fully automated fast and
effective form of transportation. Locals revere it so much that also many eat and litter on the streets
guilt free, they’d never do it on the subway. That’s why stations are really clean despite the fact that
more than 3 million passengers are transported everyday. Trains travel between 6 a.m. and 1:30 a.m.
Tickets are cheap and almost any part of Hong Kong can be reached through the 50 subway stations
making the MTR a great way for tourists to get to know the city.
Signs everywhere are bilingual, Chinese and English and we can study the map of the underground in
the stations and also take it with ourselves as a brochure. As a new initiative, modern works of art are
exhibited in the stations so people who would otherwise never visit a museum or exhibition can also see
the displays. Of course, we can also rent a car but if we only want to visit the city center, it’s best to use
the subway or a taxi. Taxi prices are reasonable but it’s a local curiosity that we have to pay extra for
the transportation of packages going through a tunnel and late night transport.
Setting sail from the central harbor, we get an excellent perspective view of Hong Kong that is rightfully
called a real metropolis of the east. The lower deck of the ferry is second class and the upper deck is
first class but the difference in the ticket price of the two is merely half a Hong Kong dollar. The upper
deck is air-conditioned and offers a better view. A boat trip is one of the most pleasant and cheapest
ways of sightseeing. On clear days, we can take stunning panoramic pictures from the boat. As we sail
further from the shore, the silhouettes of skyscrapers fill the horizon and in the distance, the dark green
hills of the rainforests of Hong Kong Island can be seen. The night lights of the city are spectacular when
seen from here and on weekends the traditional bat winged-- swim around the ferries like small whales
around their mother.
The ships of the Star ferry sail four routes. From the unique clock tower in Tsim Sha Tsui to Central
Plaza, from Tsim Sha Tsui to Wanchai between Central and Hung Hom and between Hung Hom and
Wanchai. Sailing south, we can see Victoria Harbor, the graceful glass building of the convention center
and the 374 meter tall tower of the Central Plaza but be careful, the Central Plaza is located in Wanchai
and shouldn’t be confused with the Central. When the futuristic headquarters of the Hong Kong and
Shanghai Banking Corporation HSBC for short was built, it was the most expensive office building in the
world. Behind it loomed the twin towers of the two IFC tower and behind them is the dark silhouette of
the new territories.
Star Ferry has been transporting people since 1888. In the beginning, four steam boats sailed between
Hong Kong and Kowloon. But now, 12 diesel giants travel on the four lines, each of which was named
after a star. These ships were built in the 1950s and 60s. In later years, the railway under the harbor
and the tunnels were built. So basically, there was no more need for the ferries. Still, locals insisted on
keeping them and they’re an adventure that no tourist should miss. The old boats and the old fashioned
sailors wearing stripped T-shirts are an excellent object for a photo.