10 Must-Know Travelers Tips to Hong Kong

Hong Kong is an international city and it has vastTerritories.
number of tourists come from all over the world in all1. Tsuen Wan Route: Tsuen Wan to Central
year round. According to the Hong Kong Government2. Kwun Tong Route: Yau Mat Tei to Tiu Keng Leng
statistics, the number of international tourists visited3. Tseung Kwan O Route: North Point to Po Lam
Hong Kong in 2005 reaches 10.8 million which4. Main Route: Sheung Wan to Chai Wan
represents a 13.1% increase when compared to 2004.5. Tung Chung Route: Tung Chung to Hong Kong
Countries such as Australia, Canada, French, China,6. Airport Route: Airport to Hong KongDue to the
India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Korean, Thailand,convenience of MTR and the compact area of Hong
British and United States all contributes significantKong, most tourists find it is not necessary to rent
tourist growth for Hong Kong. This article presentscar during their stay. Besides, due to the very heavy
some critical traveler tips for tourists so that youtraffic and the complexity of the city roads, it is not
could enjoy more and have a wonderful trip to Hongrecommended for tourists to drive. In case you really
Kong.1. Personal Identity and Safetyneed car rental, you may consult your hotel, and be
Tourists must carry valid personal identityready with your passport and driving license.7.
documentation such as passport during their stay inKowloon Canton Railway (KCR)
Hong Kong. Hong Kong is a very safe city accordingThe KCR is the major railway which links up the
to the low crime rate. However, due to the denselyNew Territories and the city of Kowloon. It runs
population, it is not suggested to take a large amountthrough Tsim Sha Tsui East to Lo Wu which takes
of cash when going out since most of the shops inabout 40 minutes for the whole route. Lo Wo is the
Hong Kong accepts credit cards. Expensive belongsfinal station which you could pass through to enter
should be locked in the safe in hotel. You could easilyChina with valid visa. The train will depart for every 3
find policemen on the streets whenever you haveto 10 minutes, and the earliest one will be started at
encountered any problems.2. Service Charges5:35 a.m. while the last one will be departed at 12:20
Most of the restaurants except fast food shops willp.m. The ordinary fair and the first class fair are
add 10% service charges to the bill. Therefore, youHK$18 and HK$36 respectively from Hung Hom to
may choose to give out the odd dollars from theSheung Shui.8. Tram
changes as the service tips. For taxi driver or bellboyThe tram service has been started in 1904 and it is
in the hotel, there is no pre set norm for the servicethe oldest transportation system in Hong Kong. It
tips, you may choose to give out whenever youonly services the Hong Kong Island running from
think the service is deserved for.3. Telephone ServiceKennedy Town to Shau Kei Wan plus another route
All local telephone call is free except for the publicto Happy Valley. The earliest tram starts at 6: 00 a.m.
telephone which charges HK$1 for every 5 minutes.and run until 1:00 p.m. and the fair is HK$ 2 for adult
Emergency call is 999 and it is free to call even inand HK$ 1 for children under age12. It is the cheapest
public telephone. You could either use IDD telephonetransportation in Hong Kong, and you are highly
call card or credit card for long distance call, or simplyrecommended to take a ride at the upper stairs so
through operator for collect call in all public telephonethat you could enjoy all the street scenery of Hong
counter.4. Drinking WaterKong.9. Star Ferry
The drinking water in Hong Kong reaches WorldThe scenery of Hong Kong harbor is famous in the
Health Organization standard. However, you may alsoworld, especially the night scenery. Besides, there is
choose to buy the bottle water in the supermarketsspectacular light show by the commercial buildings in
if you think it is necessary.5. Taxithe Hong Kong island at 8:00 p.m. every night which
All taxi only accept cash and they have invoice printyou must not miss. The Star Ferry has been serving
out whenever you request. It is easier to catch theon the harbor for more than 100 years, and the fair
taxi in the taxi stop or outside the hotel. Many of theis less than HK$3 per rides. You could take the Star
taxi drivers could understand simple English. It isFerry from Cental to Tsim Sha Tsui at around 8:00
suggest writing down your destination (in English) onp.m. You could enjoy the harbor scenery on the ferry
paper to minimize misunderstandings. The taxiand continue with the light show at the Starlight
charges is based on the meter which is HK$15 forRoad of Tsim Sha Tsui.10. Hong Kong International
the first 2 Km and HK$1.4 for the subsequent 0.2 Km.Airport
Besides, there are tunnel charges ranging fromThe most convenient route to the Hong Kong
HK$3-45 depends on which tunnel you have to take.International Airport is through the MTR which takes
The charging table is clearly shown on the inner sideabout 23 minutes from Central. It passes through
of the doors so you could check it before you pay.stations of Kowloon, Olympic, Tsing Yi, and the train
In case of any complaints or lost case, you maywill be departed for every ten minutes. With the
record down the name of the taxi driver and hisMTR, you would never miss the airplane due to the
license plate number which is clearly shown on thetraditional traffic jam.Other than the MTR, you could
front seat stand, and reports to the police hotline:take the Airport Bus which starts from 6:00 a.m. at
2527 7177 whenever necessary.6. Mass Transitthe morning until 11:00 p.m. at night. It covers most
Railway (MTR)part of Hong Kong Island and Kowloon with major
Hong Kong has 6 MTR routes, which covers mosthotels.
parts of Hong Kong Island, Kowloon and New