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How can I contribute?Hong Kong has amazingly safe, affordable and reliable transportation ranging from trams and ferries to a sleek high-speed train that takes only 24 minutes from the airport to the city. Your choice begins at the airport where you can hop a train, bus, taxi, hotel transport or personal limousine into town or shuttle buses and high-speed ferries to Mainland China. The Star Ferry, which began service in 1888, and the historic double-decker trams on the north corridor of Hong Kong Island are the most picturesque ways of getting around.
Because few people need to rent a car in Hong Kong, options are fewer than in most cities. Before you rent, remember that driving is British-style with a left-hand drive and manual gears, parking is expensive and rentals can't be taken across the border into China.
The New Territories and Landau have recreational trails with rides ranging from easy (West Kowloon Waterfront Promenade) to challenging (Chi Ma Wan on Landau). The Tai Wai-Tai Po route, along Shing Mun River and Tolo Harbour, is a Hong Kong favorite with views, rest stops and restaurants. Ten parks also have mountain bike trails, including Shek O on Hong Kong Island. Many trails have bike rental kiosks.
The Mass Transit Railway (MTR) system with 10 rail lines makes it quick and easy to reach the main parts of the city and includes two stops at the boundary with Mainland China. The Octopus smart card is accepted for transit, but tourists may also want to consider an Airport Express Travel Pass, which includes the Airport Express and three consecutive days of travel on the MTR, or a Tourist Day Pass for one day of unlimited travel. Riding off-trail in busy commercial areas is not advised.
Buses, most of them air-conditioned, service almost all of Hong Kong. The final destination of the route is marked in Chinese and English on the front of the bus. Fares are based on distance and paid in exact change or by an Octopus electronic Smart Card, which is accepted for all public transport and by many retail shops. Several bus companies operate routes around Hong Kong Island, Kowloon and the New Territories and two on Lantau Island. For the more adventurous, there are shared-ride mini-buses. Green ones travel fixed routes at fixed prices, paid in exact change or by the Octopus card. Red ones have more fluid routes with passengers getting on or off anytime, paying in cash as they alight.
Taxis in Hong Kong are color-coded: red taxis operate throughout Hong Kong except for certain parts of Landau Island; green are only in the New Territories; blue are only on Landau Island. All taxis can go to and from the international airport and Hong Kong Disneyland. Taxis are metered and can be hailed on the street or engaged at a hotel or taxi stand. Fares range from HK$17 for the first 2 kilometers for blue taxis to HK$22 for the red with increments based on every 200 meters plus any waiting time.