Hong Kong & Macau - The Rough Guide to Southeast Asia on a Budget - page 141

China Ferry Terminal Located just a 10min walk west from
Nathan Rd in Kowloon. Destinations include Macau (every
30min; 7am-10.30pm; HK$151 weekdays, HK$166 week-
ends) and several stops in the Pearl River Delta (also served
by the Hong Kong-Macau Ferry Terminal), including Shekou
(6 daily; 50min; HK$110) and Zhuhai (7 daily; 1hr 10min;
HK$190), though not central Guangzhou or Shenzhen.
Hong Kong-Macau Ferry Terminal Turbojets and
catamarans to Macau leave from the Hong Kong-Macau
Ferry Terminal in Sheung Wan on Hong Kong Island (every
15min from 7am-midnight, hourly from midnight-7am;
HK$151 Mon-Fri, HK$163 Sat & Sun) and take an hour.
There's also a Cotai Jet service running from Shun Tak directly
to Taipa, for the Cotai Strip casinos (every 30min; 7am-
midnight; HK$151 Mon-Fri, HK$163 Sat & Sun; 1hr).
Hong Kong International Airport Skypier ferry
services operate from the airport to several Chinese
destinations (as well as Macau): Zhuhai, Zhongshan,
Dongguan, Shekou, Fuyong, Nansha and Shenzhen (see
W hongkongairport.com for timetables and tariffs). Using
this service, it's possible to transfer direct to China without
passing through Hong Kong immigration (although you'll
need the correct Chinese visa for all destinations bar
Macau). Buy your ticket from the desks in the transfer area
on Arrivals level 5, near the immigration counters.

Lo Wu/Lok Ma Chau MTR Stations The furthest MTR
stations along the East Rail Line are easy gateways to
Shenzhen. The border crossing at Lok Ma Chau is open
24 hours, while the Lo Wu crossing operates between
6.30am and midnight.

BY BUS
There are regular daily bus services to Guangzhou and
Shenzhen operated by China Travel Service (CTS; W ctshk
.com); these take about one hour longer than the direct
train and drop you off at Hung Hom, Sheung Wan, Wan
Chai and Causeway Bay (frequent from 5.15am-10.15pm;
2-3hr; HK$100).

GETTING AROUND
By MTR The MTR (Mass Transit Railway; W mtr.com.hk) is
Hong Kong's underground and overground train system,
which operates from roughly 6am-1am and consists of
nine coloured lines and a Light Rail network that covers
the northwest Northern Territories. You can buy single-
journey tickets (HK$4-25) from machines in the stations,
or use the slightly better value and more convenient
Octopus Card (see box below).
By tram The narrow, double-decker trams ( W hktramways
.com) are a great way to travel along the north shore of
Hong Kong Island. They are quite slow, but give you a great
view of the neighbourhoods you are passing through.
Trams run between 6am and midnight and the longest
run is from Kennedy Town in the west to Shau Kei Wan
in the east (change at Western Market). Destinations are
displayed at the front, and all trams, bar those to Happy
Valley, run east-west. Board at the back, and pay the driver
(HK$2.30; no change given) when you get off.
By bus The single- and double-decker a/c buses take you
pretty much anywhere in the territory. Pay the exact
amount as you board. The main bus terminal in Central is
at Exchange Square, a few minutes' walk west of the Star
Ferry Pier, though some buses also start from the ferry
pier's concourse. In Tsim Sha Tsui, the main bus terminal is

3

BY TRAIN
The simplest way to reach mainland China is by direct train
from Hung Hom or simply by crossing the border at Lo Wu/
Lok Ma Chau. Tickets are obtainable in advance from CTS
o ces or on the same day from the Hung Hom MTR
Station. For more information, check W it3.mtr.com.hk.
Hung Hom MTR Station Located to the east of Tsim Sha
Tsui. You can transfer to the MTR East Rail line for one stop
to East Tsim Sha Tsui Station, a short walk from Nathan Rd.
Destinations Beijing (on alternate days; 3.15pm; 24hr;

from HK$574); Guangzhou East (hourly; 7.25am-7.24pm;
1hr 45min; from HK$190; Shanghai (on alternate days;
3.15pm; 19hr; from HK$508).

THE OCTOPUS CARD
The rechargeable Octopus Card ( W octopus.com.hk) “smart card” can be used for travel on the
MTR, Light Rail, the Airport Express, trams, ferries, buses and green minibuses. You can buy an
Octopus Card from the airport terminal and from any MTR station; it costs HK$150, with a
refundable deposit of HK$50 and HK$100 worth of credit. You can add value to it via machines
in MTR stations. Octopus fares are around five percent cheaper than regular fares on the MTR,
and since buses, trams and minibuses don't give change, using an Octopus Card prevents you
from overpaying. The card is also available as an Airport Express Travel Pass (HK$220/300,
including one/two trips on the Airport Express and three consecutive days of unlimited travel
on the MTR), an MTR Tourist Day Pass (HK$55 for 24 hours of unlimited travel on the MTR)
and a Tourist Cross-boundary Travel Pass (HK$85/120 for one/two days of consecutive
travel plus two single journeys to/from Lo Wu/Lok Ma Chau stations). When you leave Hong
Kong, just hand the card back at the airport or an MTR terminal to get your HK$50 deposit.