Exploring Hong Kong
Okay, now we can finally get to the fun part! The most exciting part of studying abroad is the exploring… we won’t tell you where to go (because that’s up to you!) but we will tell you how to make exploring the city easier! It’s always a good idea to know the transportation system before you go exploring. Our guide also includes places of worship for different religions and a list of apps that will make your life in Hong Kong easier!
This section covers:
Transportation
Now that you know some basic Cantonese, now’s time to familiarise yourself with the transportation system! Hong Kong has a lot of public transportation to offer: MTR, buses, ferries, taxis, trams… They cover pretty much all of Hong Kong, which makes travelling to any place in the city easy. Just make sure you have your Octopus card with you, and you’re ready to go!
The most common public transports are the MTR, buses, and taxis. But we recommend going with MTR or buses because they’re way cheaper than taxis. They can get you almost anywhere you need!
Mass Transit Railway (MTR)
With a Student Octopus, the MTR will be your cheapest option thanks to the 50% discount! There are 10 rail lines in the network, covering the developed areas of Hong Kong Island, Kowloon, and the New Territories. Depending on the station, the first train departs around 5.50-6.00 am and the last train leaves around midnight to 1.00 am. The trains usually run every 4-6 minutes, and every 2-4 minutes during peak times, but during the early morning and late-night hours, the train service will be reduced to every 12 minutes.
Make sure that you have the MTR map handy! While navigation apps will help you, it’s always a good idea to know which stations the major spots are. CityU is located at Kowloon Tong, which is an interchange station between the East Rail line and the Kwun Tong line! This makes it easy for us to travel to some of the biggest spots in Hong Kong like Mongkok and Causeway Bay.
Bus
Buses are also very common, and because there are more lines, they can help you get to somewhere more specific. The earliest time of arrival for most buses is 6.00-7.00 am, and they usually stop at around midnight. But don’t sweat it, there are also overnight buses – the “N” Routes. Their routes usually start and terminate at an MTR station. Just tap on with your Octopus! Each bus has a flat rate (it may change depending how many stops are left in the route), so there’s no need to tap off. You can also pay by cash, but make sure you keep some coins with you because you’ll have to pay the exact amount.
Because there are so many lines, it might get pretty confusing. The bus stop next to the dorm serves 4 lines, and there’s even a Bus Terminus at Festival Walk! If you wanna ride the bus, a navigation app will help you a lot. They’ll tell you which bus to get on and at which stop to go down. And when you approach your stop, make sure to press the STOP button! The bus will only stop if someone presses the button. Even if you think lots of other people will go down at your stop, just press it!
Taxi
There are 3 types of taxis in Hong Kong; red taxis operate in most of Hong Kong, blue taxis only operate on Lantau Island, and green taxis only operate in New Territories. The flag down rate of red taxis for the first 2 km is $24, and it goes up by $1.70 every 200 m or every minute of waiting time. As such, it can get pretty expensive, but it’s a good option when you’re drunk and all the MTR stations are closed! Just take note that taxis have to be paid in cash. It’s also recommended for you to have the address you’re going to in Cantonese beforehand. Remember that CityU in Cantonese is seng4 daai6.
Trams and Ferries
Trams only run on Hong Kong Island. The earliest tram departs at 5.30-6.00 am and runs until midnight. Each trip only costs $2.30 no matter how far you travel. You can pay with your Octopus card or cash! While they’re slower than the MTR or the bus, it’s a lot of fun to ride the tram with your friends, especially with the windows down (there’s no AC). If you ever have the time and want to explore Hong Kong Island, try it out!
And ferries, obviously, only run on water. They’re a fun way to get between Hong Kong Island and Kowloon (again, if you have the time) and they’re the only way to go to the Outlying Islands like Lamma Island and Cheung Chau Island. There are a lot of routes, but the most popular ferry route is the one that crosses Victoria Harbour. The earliest starts at 6.30 am and run until 11.00-11.30 pm, costing around $2-3 depending on what day you board it. It takes about 8-10 minutes, so it’s not the most effective, but if you’re feeling touristy and want to sightsee, try taking the ferry!
Places of worship
Being such a diverse city, Hong Kong accommodates for many different faiths. Here’s a list of the different places of worship, according to religion.
Catholic
- Komunitas Katolik Indonesia Hong Kong (KKI HK)
- St. Teresa’s Church
258 Prince Edward Road, Kowloon - Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception
16 Caine Road, Mid-levels, Hong Kong - Rosary Church
125 Chatham Road South, Kowloon
You can find a full list of other Catholic churches in the official website of the Catholic Diocese of Hong Kong. Make sure to check their schedule to find out when English masses are held!
Christian
- Gereja Kristus Yesus Hong Kong (GKY HK)
Instagram: @gky_hongkong - Lifehouse International Church Hong Kong (Hillsong Network)
2/F & 11/F Hub 8, 239 Temple St, Jordan, Hong Kong - Hong Kong International Church
- St. Andrews Anglican Church
138 Nathan Road, Tsim Sha Shui, Hong Kong - Island Evangelical Community Church
633 King’s Road, Quarry Bay, Hong Kong (Quarry Bay MTR Exit C) - Vine Church
29 Burrows St, Wan Chai, Hong Kong - Harvest Mission Community Church (HMCC)
Instagram: @hmcc_hk - International Christian Assembly (ICA)
Check out their Indonesian services! - Solomon’s Porch
135 Des Voeux Road Central, Central
Islam
- Jamia Mosque
30 Shelley St, Mid-Levels, Hong Kong - Kowloon Masjid and Islamic Center
105 Nathan Rd, Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong - Prayer Room at CityU
Rm No. R7226 7/F, Amenities Bldg., City University of Hong Kong
Buddhist
- Dhammamitta (Komunitas Mahasiswa Buddhist Hong Kong)
Instagram: @dhammamittahk - Sik Sik Yuen Wong Tai Sin Temple
2 Chuk Yuen Rd, Chuk Un, Hong Kong - Chi Lin Nunnery
5 Chi Lin Dr, Sheung Yuen Leng, Hong Kong - The Centre for Spiritual Progress to Great Awakening
Flat 401-403, Wing Fat Industrial Building, 4/F, 12 Wang Tai Road, Kowloon Bay - Tin Hau Temple Complex
56-58 Temple Street, Temple St, Yau Ma Tei, Hong Kong - Po Lin Monastery
Known for the Tian Tan Buddha or the Big Buddha Statue - Tsz Shan Monastery
88 Universal Gate Road, Tai Po
Useful apps
Ah, technology. Gotta love it. Our phones give us so much access to so much information thanks to the internet. So what better way to make use of it than make our lives easier? Here’s a list of some useful apps to have for living in Hong Kong:
Hong Kong life
- LeaveHomeSafe (keep track of travel history in case of COVID-19)
- MTR Mobile (get updates on the MTR service)
- Octopus (check Octopus balance and digital wallet)
- MyObservatory (get daily forecast and weather warnings)
- Pokeguide and Moovit (HK-specific navigation app)
Language
- Pleco (Chinese dictionary)
- Cantonese by Nemo (provides Cantonese word packs for everyday conversation)
CityU
- CityU Mobile (access important information about CityU like news, academic calendar, on-campus spots, etc.)
- Canvas (access class files, get notifications for assignments, announcements, grades, and more)
- SRO app (provides info on hall regulations, activities, facilities, and services)
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