Public transport in Hong Kong is really good, so I'd like to talk about it!
The primary way of getting around is
the MTR, which is our metro/subway system. Stations are dotted around the city and that makes getting around really fast (assuming where you want is near a station). The MTR Corporation owns a lot of the land around their stations, which means they make money from renting out places and that keeps the cost of tickets down.
It doesn't serve the entire city, but if you're on the north part of
Hong Kong island, most of
Kowloon, and certain areas of the
New Territories, there should be a station not too far away. Most trips will be <$15 (about $1.90 in US dollars), if that.
Busses are a good alternative if your departure/destination isn't served by the MTR, and sometimes they can be more convenient for some trips. They're double-deckers and air conditioned, and usually arrive every 5 or 10 minutes. In rush hour, if they're full they will just skip your stop... Busses have a flat fee, depending on the route. I think I pay around $8 or $12 usually.
There are also the
green minibuses, which serve even more niche areas. The drivers go really fast and play fast and loose with the stops. You need to yell in Cantonese for them to stop.
I'm too afraid to use them.The northern part of Hong Kong Island is served by the
Hong Kong Tramway, which is an old-timey double-decker tram. It's pretty slow but it's only $3 ($2 if you pay with a Visa card). Great if you're not in a hurry and it serves some destinations better. It's also fun to ride and take in the views.
There are also some
ferry services, which serve the outlying islands and let you cross Victoria Harbour. The Star Ferry is the most famous
You can pay for everything using an
Octopus Card, which is a contactless smart card that you use to pay for basically everything here.
I used to live in a small city in England served by a really crappy, expensive bus network so experiencing the polar opposite after moving has been
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