Hong Kong Tramways (Ding Ding)
Iconic Tram Experience
Probably the best way to see the bustling city of Hong Kong on the cheap. The flat fares per ride are: adult $HKD2.30, children (3 to 12 years) $HKD1.20 and Seniors (65 years and over) $1.10.
Boarding of trams is always done at the rear, leaving and paying done at the front. If paying by cash leave the correct fare in the coin box. The driver does not carry change. Otherwise scan an Octopus Card (reloadable transport card).
Two staircases, one behind the driver and the other at the back get you to the enclosed top level. Seats are in wood with no cushioning. They can be hard on the bottom if you do the whole trip from one end to the other.
The tramway runs only on Hong Kong Island, between Kennedy Town in the west and Shau Kei Wan in the east. In between there is a loop to Happy Valley, famous for its racecourse.
Locals use it for its cheap fares and it can get crowded at times, but there always seems to be enough trams to go by, running one after the other. Just make sure you catch the one that goes as far as you want to go. Some may stop their run at a depot (Whitty Street), others at intermediate stops, like Causeway Bay, Happy Valley, North Point, Shek Tong Sui and Western Market, others to the end terminus at Kennedy Town and Shau Kei Wan.
Stops are every 100 metres or so and close to most destinations of note. So if you haven’t ridden one before, don’t miss out on the experience. Old fashioned trams like these are rare.
For more information, routes, schedule and current fares visit the Hong Kong Tramways website.
All Photos © Carlo Irlitti
