Exploring Hong Kong

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!

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)

Dining

• Eatigo (get discounts for restaurants)
• OpenRice (finding restaurants)
• Foodpanda, UberEats, and Deliveroo (food delivery)

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)