 IntroductionHong Kong is a special administrative region of China. The city is situated at the mouth of Pearl River Delta, a region that produces much of what the world uses. The official languages of Hong Kong are Cantonese and English, which makes it one of the most western tourist friendliest destinations in Asia. Mandarin Chinese or Putunghua, the official language of mainland China, is becoming more common with the influx of mainland Chinese tourists due to the opening of the Hong Kong Disneyland. TerritoriesHong Kong is roughly divided into these territories:
TransportationHong Kong has a highly developed public transportation system. One can get around anywhere on just the public transportation system. High cost of car ownership, parking and road congestion discourages private car ownerships. RailTrainsThe new MTR Corporation, formed by the merger of the old MTRC and KCRC, operates all rail services in Hong Kong, SAR. Its services include:
 TramThe Hong Kong Tramways operates tram connecting eastern and western Hong Kong Island. The double-decker trams follows the major thoroughfares in the heart of Hong Kong, offering great views of the city. Because trams run on the surface roads with cars and buses, they are slower than the comparable MTR Island Line. Embark the tram from the rear and pay with Octopus Card or cash when disembarking. The Peak Tram connects Central with the Peak. The Peak is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Hong Kong. Road BusThere are several bus operators in Hong Kong: The airport bus routes are served by Long Win Bus, a subsidiary of KMB, and CityFlyer, a brand of City Bus.  MinibusMinibuses are small passenger vans that hold 16 at a time. There are two types, indicated by their color, green and red. Green minibuses operate on a scheduled route similar to the large buses. Red minibuses operate between two points, but are not regulated with regard to schedule or fare. These buses may be company or privately owned and operated. The minibuses only have Chinese signs, so Chinese/Cantonese skills are recommended. TaxiHong Kong taxis come in three colors: Red, green and blue. Red taxis are licensed for urban area operation. They can go anywhere but are the most expensive. They are the only ones you can find in HK Island and Kowloon. Green taxis are licensed for operating in New Territories excluding Shatin. Blue taxis may only operate on Lantau Island. For example, if you are at the airport and you want to go to Central, then you need to take a red taxi. If your destination is Chinese University of Hong Kong just north of Shatin, then you can take a green taxi. If you want to go to Disneyland in Lantau Island, you can take the blue taxi since both Disneyland and Che Lap Kok Airport are on Lantau Island.  FerryStar Ferry is a Hong Kong icon. It has been providing the Victoria Harbor crossing service between Tsim Sha Tsui and Central or Wanchai for over 100 years. First Ferry offers services between Central, Tsim Sha Tsui and outlying islands. TurboJet operates passenger service between Central and Macau. TipsOctopus CardsThe Octopus Card is an electronic wallet debit card that is accepted in many places. You can use it to pay for transit fares, convenient store purchases, fast food restaurants, etc. They are sold at the MTR service desk at the arrival level of Che Lap Kok Airport. You can recharge them at convenience stores or fare machines in MTR stations. TelecommunicationHong Kong uses the world standard GSM 900/1800 and UMTS 2100 standards. If you have an unlocked phone, all you need to do is to purchase a prepaid SIM card from carriers' storefronts or convenience stores. There are different packages aimed at different customers. On average, each minute of local air time will cost about 10 to 30 Hong Kong cents. Some packages offer free IDD to Americas. |
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