Hong Kong Transportation

Getting There


By Air

Hong Kong with its predominant location made Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) a super hub in Asia and the gateway to inland China. Hong Kong International Airport is world class. Sixty airlines fly to 140 locations around the world. HKIA connects to 40 inland destinations and flies shuttles between Taiwan and the mainland. Airlines schedule 4 to 6 flights to Hong Kong daily from major Chinese cities such as Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou. These are treated as international flights, and charge 90 yuan airport fee (free for passengers under 12).

HKIA hosts numerous services. Hong Kong Tourist Board provides city information. Hong Kong Hotel Association provides selective hotel reservation service for free.

Hong Kong International Airport: 2181 8888


Airport transportation

Airport Express: special fast vehicle service connecting airport to the heart of Hong Kong; service time from 05:50 to 01:15 (the express runs every 12 minutes); 23 minutes travel time. Price: HK$ 100 from airport to Central Wan in Hong Kong Island, about 20 minutes and HK$ 90 to Kowloon, about 12 minutes and HK$ 60 to Tsing Yi in the New Territories. In addition, Hong Kong and Kowloon Stations offer free check-in service and buses. Check-in service allows passengers to check in at Hong Kong Station or Kowloon Station of Airport Express located in downtown area at least 90 minutes prior to flight departure. Free buses take passengers to the most famous hotels

Airport Bus: Airport Bus is cheaper than Airport Express. There are totally some 6 lines including Line A (open hours 06:00 to 01:00, 15-20 minutes), Line E (05:30 to 24:00, 12-20 minutes), Line N (24-hour service), Lines S, R and DB. Every line runs buses to downtown Hong Kong or to New Territories, the famous Central Wan, Wan Chai, Causeway Bay, etc. on Hong Kong Island; Mong Kok, Tsim Sha Tsui, etc. in Kowloon. The cost of Airport Bus is no more than HK$ 45 depending on distance.


Taxi: See detailed information on Hong Kong Taxi in our Getting Around section

Ferry: Passengers can also take a ferry to downtown Hong Kong. You can take Bus No. S56 (the bus runs every 20-30 minutes) at Airport Passenger Terminal to Tung Chung Development Ferry Pier; cost about HK$ 3.5. Ferries (the ferry runs about every 20 to 30 minutes) to Tuen Mun (New Territories) cost: about HK$ 15.

It is convenient for tourists to buy an Octopus card which is a recharged card and can be used on trains, buses, trams, 7-Elevens, fast food restaurants and even Starbucks. You can buy it at Ticket offices of the railway from Kowloon to Guangzhou, Hong Kong Metro Customer Center and Airport Express Customer Center. It costs HK$ 150 of which HK$ 50 is the deposit and the additional HK$ 100 is credit to be used where we mentioned above. You can return the card for refund of the unused balance.

Please click Hong Kong International Airport at the bottom of this page for further information on the airport and airport transportation.


By Train

KCRC you can click at the bottom of the page which will let you know more on further introduction.

The Beijing-Kowloon train journey takes 25 hours and about 26 hours from Shanghai. For those who prefer train to air, this journey is a wonderful sightseeing opportunity. The peak train travels are at Spring Festival and summer holiday. Tickets may be booked up to two months in advance at Beijing West Railway Station and Shanghai Railway Station. Some sales offices have 10-day advance bookings available. Ask hotel reception for assistance with train travel. Twelve scheduled trains ply daily each way between Guangzhou East Station and Hong Kong. The journey lasts about 2 hours. Tickets for same-day travel are sold at the railway station and are also available 20 days ahead.


By Bus

Bus travel is popular with visitors from mainland China, the Pearl River Delta, Guangdong Province. Coach service picks up and drops off passengers at hotels in major cities for a trip to Hong Kong. Tourists can take buses from Shenzhen, Shenzhen Bao'an International Airport, Dongguan, Guangzhou, Taishan, Xinhui, Zhongshan, Foshan, Huadu, Yangjiang, Chaoyang, etc. to Hong Kong International Airport:

Trans-Island Limousine Service Limited also offers bus service from Shenzhen Bao'an International Airport to Hong Kong; hours 09:30 to 22:00, the bus starts every 30 minutes. The bus stops at MTR Prince Edward Station and Wan Chai Pier in Hong Kong, price over HK$ 100.


By Sea

Seaports in Guangzhou, Zhuhai, Zhongshan, Shunde, Jiangmen, etc. offer trips to Hong Kong over water. Foreign travelers with heavy luggage may find it a challenge to get to the docks from city centers.

**Once in Hong Kong, many people want to visit Macau. TravelChinaGuide offers an introduction to transportation between Macau and Hong Kong.


By Air

Helicopter Express is the most convenient and fastest connection between Macau and Hong Kong, with about 16 minutes flying time. Tourists can take helicopter at helipads in Shun Tak Center of Hong Kong or Macau Ferry Terminal. From Macau to Hong Kong, service is available from 09:00 to 22:30 and from Hong Kong to Macau, service is available from 09:30 to 22:59 at a price of about HK$ 1,700 on weekdays (Monday to Friday), and about HS$ 1,800 on weekends and around festivals. We suggest visitors arrive at least 30 minutes prior to departure to complete boarding procedures.

Ticket Booking and Information: 853-727288 (Macau) 852-2108 9898 (Hong Kong)


By Sea

Turbo JET: offers 24-hour service; drinks and food are available. A one-way trip takes about one hour with ticket prices ranging from HK$141 to HK$1,650 based on varying speeds and comfort levels. Visitors can take the jet at Hong Kong Shun Tak Center or Macau Ferry Terminal. In addition, Hong Kong International Airport also offers Airport Turbo JET to Macau, a journey of about 45 minutes. If you take the jet at the airport, it is not necessary to be processed as entering or leaving a country. A simple check releases passengers directly to Macau.

Inquiring: 853-7907039 (Macau) 852-2859 3333 (Hong Kong)

Catamarans: Hong Kong First Ferry operates catamarans between China Ferry Terminal in Tsim Sha Tsui and Macau Ferry Terminal. It takes about 70 minutes for one way and such catamarans starts about every 30 minutes. Ticket price ranges from HK$140 to HK$275.

Inquiring: 853-726 301 (Macau) 852-2516 9581 (Hong Kong)




Getting Around In Hong Kong     


Airport Transport

After you have reclaimed your baggage and passed through Customs, you will find yourself in the Buffer Hall of Hong Kong International Airport where the Hong Kong Tourist Association Information Centres are located . There you can obtain free visitor publications and any other assistance you may need.

Hong Kong International Airport is approximately 40 minutes' drive by car from all major hotels in Kowloon and about 50 minutes' drive via the Cross-Harbour Tunnel from all major hotels on Hong Kong Island (under normal traffic conditions). If you are making your own way to your hotel, follow the signs directing you to the Transport Terminus for taxis or use the airport coach service. If you have no local currency on arrival, change only enough at the airport to get you to your hotel.


Hotel Transport

Hotel bookings do not normally include transportation from the airport. However, if you have a prearranged hotel booking that includes an airport transfer, you should leave the Buffer Hall via the exit marked Hotel Transport and look for the hotel representative waiting to meet you.


Taxis

Taxis are numerous and readily available, and fares are low compared with those in most cities. Red taxis serve Hong Kong Island and Kowloon; green ones in the New Territories and blue taxis on Lantau Island operate at even lower rates. Many drivers speak some English but it is wise to have your destination written in Chinese characters.

Rates for red taxis start at HK$16.5 on the flag fall plus HK$1.60 for every 200 metres after the first two kilometres. Waiting time is HK$1.10 per minute. Pay, in Hong Kong dollars only, the fare shown on the meter, plus any additional charge where applicable. A HK$20 surcharge applies to cross-harbour tunnel trips (includes the driver's HK$10 return toll). There is also a surcharge for rides through the Lion Rock (HK$6), Junk Bay (HK$3) and Aberdeen (HK$5) tunnels, and a HK$5 charge for each piece of luggage.

Taxi drivers expect a tip, but just round up the fare to the nearest dollar. Drivers cannot pick up or drop off passengers on restricted streets, which are marked with yellow lines. New Territories taxis will pick up and drop off only in the New Territories. If you have any queries or complaints, note the taxi's number and call the 24-hour Police Hotline on 2527 7177.


Buses

Double-decker buses, which run from 6 AM till 3 midnight, cover most parts of the territory.
Fares range from HK$1 to HK$30.60. Exact change is required. You'll find that, in general the drivers do not speak much English.


Minibuses

Minibuses are small passenger vans which are yellow with a red stripe. They can pick up passengers and let them off anywhere except regular bus stops and the usual restricted areas. Fares range from HK$2 to HK$7.


Maxicabs

Maxicabs are yellow with a green stripe. They run along specific routes and have fixed prices ranging from HK$1 to HK$8. A sign on the front indicates the destination. Pay as you get on.


Trains

The Kowloon-Canton Railway (KCR) is 34 kilometres long and runs from Hung Hom in Kowloon up to the border with China. Trains run every tour to 10 minutes in each direction, and vary according to the ordinary single trip to Sheung Shui, the farthest you can go without a China visa). It's a go way to visit some of the New Territories' towns and villages.

The Mass Transit Railway (MTR), Hong Kong's fast, efficient and air-conditioned underground system, runs not only along the north side of Hong Kong Island, but also from Central across the harbour to divide into east and west branches in Kowloon. Stations are located by a X symbol. Fares range from HK$4 to HK$11. MTR and KCR stored-value tickets (HK$70-200) are also available.

The Light Rail Transit (LRT) is a high-speed surface system linking the New Territories towns of Tuen Mun Yuen Long. The LRT runs from 5.30am to 12.30am daily. Fares range from HK$3.20 to $4.70.


Ferries
The Star Ferry, which has connected Hong Kong and Kowloon since 1898, runs regularly between 6.30am to 11.30pm. At HK$ 2.20 (upper deck), it must be one of the cheapest and most scenic ferry rides in the world. The crossing takes approximately eight minutes.

The Hong Kong Ferry (Holdings) Company provides other regular and inexpensive services which connect Hong Kong Island to other parts of the Kowloon Peninsula and to the outlying islands.

Trams ( click for postcard )
Since 1904, the tram system has run east to west along the north side of Hong Kong Island, and still provides a leisurely, grandstand view. The flat fare is HK$1.20 (exact change required) and the service operates between 6 AM and 1 AM.

The Peak Tram is one of the most advanced tram systems in the world, taking just eight minutes to climb Victoria Peak. The service operates from 7am to midnight and the single fare is HK$12 (HK$19 return). The funicular railway has run since 1888 and is still the quickest way to reach the Peak.


Car Hire
Self-drive rental cars are not often used in Hong Kong, but chauffeur-driven cars are widely available. Hotels have their own limousines for hire.


Rickshaws
The only means of travel in the old days, rickshaws today are used mainly for fun rides and photo sessions. Rickshaw drivers congregate at the Star Ferry on Hong Kong Island and charge for a trip round the block or for a photo session. Negotiate the price first.