Hong Kong 香港 - Part 7 - Street Tram Buses 踏上香港电车之旅

Here goes the Part 7 (my last third blog post) of my recent fruitful trip to Hong Kong - Street Tram Buses 香港电车.

Hong Kong’s trams 香港电车 or also known as "Ding Ding" as locals call their trams which are an integral daily part of the bustling city for the past century and are the only fully double-decker fleet in the world. Currently, the fleet consists more than 160 different trams and provides transportation services on 6 routes. 

Some of the iconic trams are used to offer an eye-catching advertising and sometimes you have a chance to catch one of the two antique trams. In Year 2000, the Hong Kong Tram Company introduced 3 new and redesigned metal trams - the so-called "millennium trams". These are more comfortable to ride and are equipped with air-conditioned system. Nonetheless, i highly recommend you to take the old fashion trams. During your stay in Hong Kong, there is no better way to experience the city's fascinating local attractions, tantalising and unique heritage than by hopping on a tram. There is no better way to experience the flair of Hong Kong Island with its crowded streets, skyscrapers and big Chinese road signs than that. Believe me, you won't regret it. Taking these trams will make you a real Hong Konger.

来到香港, 最常使用交通工具就是地铁了, 很多景点搭地铁就可以抵达, 所以香港行, 几乎天天都离不开地铁. 不过除了地铁之外, 港岛的 "电车" 算是另一个很有 "港味" 的交通工具. 香港电车不仅是港岛区居民的重要交通工具, 也成为外地旅客观光的著名景点.所以来到香港, 当然要来体验一下!

Established in the early 1900s along what used to be the waterfront in Hong Kong Island, these are narrow, double-decker affairs that clank their way in a straight line slowly along the northern edge of the island with one branch making a detour to other routes. They can't be beaten for atmosphere and are easy to ride since most of them travel only on one line. In the zeal to modernize Central, it's a wonder that these trams have survived at all. Ever since the advent of the train subway, there has been talk of getting rid of them, but this has raised a storm of protest. Comprising the largest fleet of double-decker trams in the world, they are easily one of the most nostalgic forms of transportation in Hong Kong.

早在1900年起, 香港电车已穿梭香港岛东西行走. 逾百年来, 电车公司见證了香港这个魅力都会的兴旺发展. 时至今日, 电车在香港仍是具效率而又最经济实惠的公共交通工具. 现时, 电车公司拥有并营运163辆载客电车, 包括两辆特色的古董观光电车, 每日平均载客量达23万人次, 是全球现存最大的双层电车车队.

到了今时今日, 绝大部分电车站都是有上盖及安全岛的电车等候处, 惟仍有个别电车站只是像巴士一样只竖立电车站牌. 由於电车路轨是位於路中心, 乘客需要在马路上下车.

When you walk in Central Hong Kong area seeing the railway on the street or hearing the "ding ding" sound, you are very close to the tram station. Bascially, the intermediate stops are located in approximate 250 metres intervals.

The trams generally travel at a slower pace than the train subway and buses and operate daily from about 6 am to 12 midnight. One-way fare cost HK$2 regardless of distance traveled.

香港人叫电车作 '叮叮', 因为它的警示声是叮叮声. 而且香港电车的收费相对於其他交通工具来说是相当低廉, 更是香港岛上收费最便宜的陆上交通工具, 不管搭到哪都是港币2元, 够划算吧! 而且香港的电车是现今世界上唯一仍运作的 '双层' 电车, 硕果仅存喔!

香港电车的收费相对於其他交通工具来说是相当低廉, 更是香港岛上收费最便宜的陆上交通工具.

The best seats are those in the front row, where you have an unparalleled view of Hong Kong: laundry hanging from second-story windows, signs swinging over the street, markets twisting down side alleys, crowded sidewalks, and people darting in front of the tram you'd swear wouldn't make it.

Frequency of trams in peak hours is quite high and there is a tram almost every 2 minutes. The tram operates daily from 6 am to 12 midnight.

Since a tram ride is an unequalled bargain at just $2 and runs frequently, therefore if the first one is too crowded, just wait for the next to ensure you get that all-important front seat upstairs.

Trams are still very much part of everyday life in Hong Kong and provides a good flavor of local life. Hong Kong’s public transport system is nothing short of the word “meticulous”, other than the MTR, regular buses, mini green buses as well as these thin, tall tram buses where the feeling of sitting on the second level can be quite a hair-raising experience. It’s not a fast ride, but it’s cheap and atmospheric.  Travelling by tram allows passenger excellent views of street life and  wonderful opportunity to get-up close and personal with the real Hong Kong, all for only HK$2. Sitting up top, at the front as the tram jolts along was truly a great experience!

坐在电车上缓缓的前进, 可以静静的欣赏香港的街景, 感受香港这城市特有的氛围, 我觉得很棒! 来到香港别忘了试试最具代表性的 '电车' ! :-)

Hong Kong 香港 - Part 8 (last 2nd HK trip blog post) - To be continued....