Why Take the Tramways in Hong Kong

photo by theculturetrip.com

Have you ridden the famous "1920's style Tram (Ding-Ding) of Hong Kong?  This is a 3 ft 6 inches (1,067 mm) narrow-gauge heritage tram.  It runs on Hong Kong Island between Kennedy Town and Shau Kei Wan, with a branch circulating through Happy Valley.  It is owned and operated by RATP Dev Transdev Asia.  Known as the earliest forms of public transport in metropolis, opened in 1904 under the British rule.

It owns the world's largest operational double-decker tram fleet.  It is only known to be environmental friendly.  Last 2004, it celebrated its 110 years of service. On 2017, it rebranded with a new logo, new livery and new map.  Since the opening of MTR in 2015, the daily tramway ridership dropped to 10%. 

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It operates 5:30 am to 12:30 am.  Minimum fare was HK$2.60 for adults; HK$1.20 senior citizens; HK$1.30 children. Passengers pay alighting by either depositing the exact fare in the fare box or by octopus card.  Total length - 13 kilometers (8.1 mi).  Maximum capacity is 115 people.  The speed is 40 km per hour.  

Currently Hongkong Tram has 120 stops including seven termini. From west to east is the Kennedy Town, Shek Tong Tsui, Western Market, Happy Valley, Causeway Bay, North Point and Shay Kei Wan. - wikipedia

Andrei and I at the tram to Central to buy dinner at Jollibee

My brother, Andrei and I had our firsthand experience when we opted to buy food for us after we checked-in Best Western Hotel Plus. Our respective flights were tiring and exhausting.  Mom and Chesca stayed at the hotel while the two of us decided to go out.  

Hong Kong transportation is something I am proud of to experience.  There are a lot of people but it never gets traffic because the system is synchronized.  One of Hong Kong's pride is the TRAM.

photo by en.wikipedia

HOW TO TAKE THE TRAMWAYS

From Best Western Hotel Plus Hotel, De Voeux Rd (Vice-Versa)

1. Walk towards the middle land called Hong Kong Tramways Termini.  You won't miss it because people stand in line there. This was just in front of the hotel.
"We met Mar, a Filipino guy, who was kind enough to walk with us through the tram Central termini. We kinda chatted with him a little.  He’s been working there for 4 years already. He told us what to ride back (Kennedy)"

2. Tram arrives on time so be early.  
3. Ready your exact coins or octopus card.
4. Alight the tram thru the entrance door.
5. Exit the tram thru the exit door.

"We finally bought meals from Jollibee, Worldwide Central. The crew was speaking in Filipino. So weird yet made us happy. Drop off at Central (Causeway Bay).
We got lost finding our way back to the hotel.  Instead of walking down to Des Vouex Rd., we walked up even reached Mo Tsam temple which I forgot to take picture of. We sought direction from a stranger and asked first "kabayan"  If that person looks back at us, that means he/she is a Filipino too.    

We were sweating hard but still found our way back to the hotel.  

It was a good sibling travel experience.  We worked as a team.  When we came to the hotel, mom and Chesca were not around.  Mom got worried of us coming back really late. She called Andrei via messenger.  They went downstairs at the front desk to seek assistance. One thing’s that’s good in HK is their wifi.  It’s almost everywhere. Fantastic! 

Too bad, we arrived the hotel late, Jucy, who's working in HK, my friend who came to fetch her green mangoes and her friend decided to leave."  

WHAT WE CAN SAY ABOUT TRAM

1.  Although the built looks good, its study, clean and open.
2.  It runs in the middle of the city, so you can enjoy sight-seeing right and left.
3.  It does not emit black smoke.
4.  The driver is well-dressed. Although not in speaking term.
5.  Arrives and leaves on time. Very professional.

There you go mommies!  Hope this helps when you choose to do sight-seeing tour in Hong Kong via Tram.  You can book this via Klook.