Photo By: Elin Chow
Website: Hong Kong Tramways
During my recent trip to Hong Kong, nosotros decided to hop onto the double decker trams to larn closed to too consider the metropolis inwards a leisurely way.
Ding Ding, the tram tardily approaches the station. The tram is affectionately known every bit "Ding Ding" yesteryear the locals. When approaching a station, the double bell on the tram rings, Ding Ding, thence the name. The role of the bell is to warn traffic too pedestrians of its approach.
Ding Ding trams stimulate got been traversing the busy streets of Hong Kong since 1904 too is the earliest too oldest cast of shipping inwards the metropolis. The Hong Kong Tramways ain too operate a fleet of 163 double decker tramcars, making it the world's largest fleet of double decker trams soundless inwards service. It is the only tram organisation that runs exclusively on double decker trams.
The Ding Ding trams run betwixt the due east too W along the northern coast of Hong Kong island. With a total of 120 stops, the trams furnish shipping services on vi routes over xxx km of tramways, operating from vi am till midnight everyday. The tramways stretch from Kennedy Town inwards the W to Shau Kei Wan inwards the east, amongst a branch circulating the Happy Valley racecourse. There are route maps at every station.
Each tram volition display their terminal finish on the front end of the tram, then y'all practise non stimulate got to worry virtually taking the incorrect one. The trams volition halt at every stations too run at to the lowest degree twice every hour. Stations are located at an average of 250 m too it is like shooting fish in a barrel for anyone to locate the trams without getting lost.
The Ding Ding tram is boarded on the left side through the dorsum door too the fares are paid only when y'all larn out via the front end door. Climbing the steps onto the tram, nosotros had to struggled to overstep through a really narrow turnstile that preclude passengers from exiting the tram without paying.
Inside the tram, nosotros walked through a really narrow corridor amongst rows of 2 wooden seats on either sides. We climbed upwardly the narrow spiral staircase to the upper level, heading towards the window seats on the correct side. The seats on the upper deck offering the best persuasion too photograph opportunities. I would highly recommend anyone to larn a topographic point upstairs to taste the best experience.
Since nosotros boarded from the terminus, nosotros had the best lead chances of getting a topographic point at the upper deck. The tram was quite empty when it arrived at the Western Market Terminus station.
The non-air conditioned trams are surprisingly well-preserved too really clean. However, it tin send away larn really crowded during rush hours every bit locals utilisation the tram to commute to too from go every day. During peak hours, both tourists too locals volition go packed within the trams similar sardines, which is definitely non going to go an enjoyable experience.
Although standing is allowed inwards the trams, it is probable that y'all would non stimulate got lead chances to stimulate got photos too taste the sights along the track. I would suggest anyone to avoid the peak hours during weekdays for the best experience.
Ding Ding Trams are cheapest agency of shipping on the island. The fare is HKD 2.30 for adult, HKD 1.20 for children nether 12, too HKD 1.10 for senior citizens aged 65 too above. Tram fare are the same apartment charge per unit of measurement regardless of the distance traveled too tin send away go paid either inwards cash or yesteryear the Octopus card.
For those who are paying inwards cash, in that place is a money box located yesteryear the larn out side yesteryear side to the driver. Please complaint that exact amount of coins stimulate got to go given when y'all larn out from the tram. For budget traveler, the Ding Ding tram is certainly the most cheapest agency to larn closed to the island. The trams are really affordable, reliable too convenient. You practise non stimulate got to walk a long agency to MTR station to stimulate got the trains if y'all are non inwards a hurry.
Trams locomote at relatively depression speed too are really environmentally friendly every bit they emit naught emissions. Riding on a tram provides us plenty amount of fourth dimension to taste the views along the tram track.
Along the way, nosotros passed yesteryear several MTR stations. The tram rails is built parallel to the MTR amongst the fundamental MTR trouble going through an identical route every bit the tram. Do non stimulate got the tram if y'all are inwards a hurry. You powerfulness desire to stimulate got the MTR instead if y'all are curt of time. You are able to accomplish your finish inwards but a few minutes amongst the MTR.
Riding on a Ding Ding tram is an unique experience.The tram is non only a cast of shipping inwards the city, but also an iconic symbol of Hong Kong.For over a century, Ding Ding trams stimulate got been role of Hong Kong civilization and locals' daily life. H5N1 ride on the tram volition give y'all a glimpse of Hong Kong everyday street life - a sight which y'all would non able to consider if y'all are riding on the MTR.
The tram ride was however, a lilliputian bumpy too noisy due to traffic congestion. I believe it powerfulness go worst during the peak hours.
We pass our fourth dimension looking out of the opened upwardly windows, observing the the life of the locals. As the tram move, I could experience the gentle current of air brushing across my face. Although the windows are broad open, the current of air was genuinely non cooling enough. This is likely non going to go a pleasurable ride during hot conditions days.
We overstep through bustling residential surface area too primary metropolis take in where y'all volition discovery the fiscal gist of Hong Kong.
The primary route are total of organized traffic, too are lined amongst skyscrapers, shopping malls, trendy restaurants too traditional eateries.
While sitting on the tram, I noticed that Hong Kong is really similar to Singapore inwards many ways. The towering skylines, congested roads too crowded shopping districts.
The buildings inwards Hong Kong are then former too dilapidated that seems to go on the verge of collapsing. However, the high density of the population makes rebuilding nearly impossible. Some people retrieve that this is the truthful beauty of Hong Kong too what makes the metropolis solely dissimilar from Singapore.
Passing through the Hong Kong's fundamental area, nosotros are surprised to consider thousands of maids gathering inwards trains stations, parks too exterior of populace buildings. It was a Sunday, which was also their fixed once-a-week working twenty-four hours off. Every Sunday, y'all volition consider the maids run across too get together inwards the populace spaces where they volition socalize, swallow too sing, blocking the facade of luxury stores too underground exits. It is quite sight!
H5N1 trip to Hong Kong is never consummate without a ride on the Ding Ding Tram.Passengers are gratis to hop on at whatever tram station too fountain off anywhere along the route every bit y'all like.
However, the tram ride tin send away larn pretty tedious later a while. It genuinely took longer than nosotros expected. Halfway through the journey, my eyelids were tardily drooping. I was falling asleep. To preclude myself from sleep, I took out my photographic idiot box camera too started to snap lots of photos of the same former buildings, streets, shops too people along the way. I tried to taste the ride but it was difficult. Everywhere I look, it was the same former buildings, streets too shops.
Even so, it is soundless a corking agency to consider Hong Kong. You volition notice things y'all volition never notice when y'all are on the ground. I would recommend anyone to stimulate got a ride on the Ding Ding Trams if y'all stimulate got spare fourth dimension inwards Hong Kong.
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