Last month, I spent most of a short work-related trip to Hong Kong in bed, sick with what might have been swine flu. But happily, I recovered in time for a final “mystery activity,” which turned out to be a private tram tour of Hong Kong. Trams have been ferrying passengers around the city since 1904, and remain popular today despite the advent of the ultra-modern MTR. Perhaps in-a-hurry Hong Kongers have a secret wish to go back to a quieter time, or perhaps they just prefer the tram’s lower fare. Either way, the trams offer a fantastic view of the city. They clatter through the shadows of skyscrapers, stopping often to allow hordes of pedestrians to pass. From the second floor of the tram, you are high enough off the ground to get a bird’s eye view, but close enough to see every detail. After a two hour tour that took us from the tram terminal through Causeway Bay, we got off just in time to catch the nightly “Symphony of Lights” from underneath the lit-up skyscrapers — perhaps not as good a view as you would get from across the harbor in Tsim Sha Tsui, but still impressive.
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If you’re passing through Hong Kong with 20 friends, renting an open-topped antique tram a costs a mere 1,100 Hong Kong dollars per hour (roughly 142 USD), with a two hour minimum. A standard passenger tram is a positively economical 750 HKD per hour. You can find more information on the Hong Kong Tramways site.
As best I can tell, there are no commercial tram tours of the city. Independent travelers will have to console themselves with a ride on a regular tram. It’s just as good a way to see the city (though walls and windows may make photography more difficult), and it will set you back a mere 2 HKD.
This is the latest in a series of weekly slideshows spotlighting places I’ve been on my travels, in China and beyond. You can view more of my photos at To China and Beyond’s Picasa page and Flickr page. For photos from other travelers, check out DeliciousBaby’s Photo Friday.
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{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
Beautiful slideshow…I love the nighttime pictures with the neon lights!
my friend lives in Hong Kong and she never sends pictures, I’m so happy to see these!