Hong Kong Tram DING DING: Route Map & Complete Guide to Riding Like Local Hongkongers!

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Tram (Ding Ding) in Hong Kong

If you have a whole day to spend here on Hong Kong Island, have you ever thought of taking a ride on the "Tinker Train" (Hong Kong Tram)?

For example, how about arranging a 60-minute ride on the Hong Kong Tram from the Kennedy Town Tram Terminal in the Western District of Hong Kong Island to the Shau Kei Wan Tram Terminal in the Eastern District of Hong Kong Island? During the journey, you will slowly pass by different areas of Hong Kong Island, such as commercial and residential areas, and enjoy the different facets of Hong Kong Island.

It has been said that Hong Kong's double-decker trams are a moving antique in the city. Compared with other cities in the world, Hong Kong Island is the only place where trams still retain the shape they had a few decades ago. In the past 20 years, the design of trams and their routes have not changed much. Perhaps the only thing that has changed over the years is the fare you have to pay to ride the tram.

On the other hand, riding on the Tinker Bus can give us a taste of the history and culture of Hong Kong. Every place that the Ting Tau passes through, such as Sheung Wan, Central, Admiralty, Wan Chai and Causeway Bay, can be said to be a microcosm of the whole development process of Hong Kong. In other words, you can experience 5 different facets of Hong Kong during your ride on the tram.

Apart from that, Ting Ting is the cheapest mode of transportation in Hong Kong. Whether you are traveling for a short distance or arranging a long distance sightseeing trip, you will find that the tram fare remains the same. So if you have the chance to visit the attractions in different parts of Hong Kong Island, we would recommend you to take the tram instead of the MTR, so that you can have the chance to experience the daily life of Hong Kong people.

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Hong Kong tram route map

Is the route of the Hong Kong Tram very complicated? Yes, it is a bit complicated, but in reality, it does not seem to be very complicated.

Why do I say so? For example, if you are a first time traveler in Hong Kong, and it is also your first time to take the Hong Kong Tram, you may find the routes of the Hong Kong Tram very complicated. For example, you will always encounter trams departing from the same tram stop to different terminals, and sometimes there will be several trams terminating at Happy Valley, North Point and Shau Kei Wan at the same time. If you encounter such a situation, you may not know what to do if it is your first time to ride a tram in Hong Kong.

However, the routes of Hong Kong trams are not as complicated as you may think. Why? Because as long as you follow the instructions below, you can decide which tram you want to board and go to your destination as quickly as any Hong Konger.

Refer to Hong Kong Tramways official route map

Method 1: Refer to the official route map of Hong Kong Tramways in advance to understand the 6 major routes of Hong Kong Tramways, which are as follows.

Tram Terminus on the west side of Hong Kong Island	Tram terminus on the eastern side of Hong Kong Island
Sheung Wan (Western Market) / Sheung Wan	Shau Kei Wan
Happy Valley	Shau Kei Wan
Shek Tong Tsui / Shek Tong Tsui	North Point
Shek Tong Tsui / Shek Tong Tsui	Causeway Bay / Causeway Bay
Kennedy Town	Happy Valley
Kennedy Town	Shau Kei Wan

Then open the Hong Kong Tram Map before each ride and quickly check if the tram in front of you will pass by where you want to go before it leaves so you can decide if you want to get on it or not.

Information on Hong Kong Tram routes. Hong Kong Tramways Official Website

This is how the average Hong Kong person interprets the Hong Kong tram route map.

However, if you ask any Hong Kong people, we can be sure that they will not know that there are 6 specific routes for Hong Kong trams. Just like us editors who live in Hong Kong, we have been riding the tram for decades, and only today, writing this article, do we realize that there are 6 fixed routes.

However, this also shows that even if we don't know which routes the Hong Kong Tram has, it doesn't affect the efficiency and speed of riding the Hong Kong Tram. Similarly, if you don't know the routes of Hong Kong trams at all, you can still board the tram quickly and accurately to your desired destination as long as you memorize the location of the destination on Hong Kong Island.

Simply put, as long as you can memorize the order of different parts of Hong Kong Island from east to west, you can quickly determine whether the tram in front of you will pass by the destination you want to go to and whether you should board the tram.

Here are our tips for understanding Hong Kong's tram routes.

1. Before boarding the tram, open Google Maps on your cell phone to identify which district in Hong Kong you are located in and which MTR station you are near.
2. Identify the east and west directions of Hong Kong Island
3. Find the eastbound and westbound routes of the tram.
4. Get on the tram that suits you best

Why do the above methods help you to quickly determine the direction and route of your tram ride?

The reason is that Hong Kong Island is a very small island, and basically each MTR station represents a separate district. So when you find out where you are on Hong Kong Island, you can easily tell whether your destination will be on your left or right hand side, and then choose which direction to take the tram.

If your destination is on the east side of Hong Kong Island, take the tram that terminates at Shau Kei Wan; if your destination is on the west side of Hong Kong Island, take the tram that terminates at Kennedy Town.

For example, if you are at the Landmark in Central and you want to take a tram to Sheung Wan, you need to take a tram bound for West Bound(W) on Hong Kong Island West. On the other hand, if you want to go to Causeway Bay, you will take a tram bound for East Bound(E) on Hong Kong Island East.

If you are in Causeway Bay and plan to take a tram to the Monster House (Hoi Shan House) in Quarry Bay, you will need to take a tram to East Bound(E) on Hong Kong Island East, or if you plan to go to Central, you will need to take a tram to West Bound(W) on Hong Kong Island West.

When you have decided which direction you want to take the tram, you can stand at the tram stop and wait for the tram. Simply put, if you are going to the east side of Hong Kong Island, stand at the tram stop for East Bound(E) on Hong Kong Island East; if you are going to the west side of Hong Kong Island, stand at the tram stop for West Bound(W) on Hong Kong Island West. So far, each tram stop is clearly marked to indicate which direction the tram in front of you is going, so you don't have to worry about taking the wrong tram in the opposite direction.

Once you've chosen the right direction to take the tram, the next step is to choose the right tram that will get you to the destination you've booked. As a resident editor in Hong Kong, we use the following methods.

First of all, suppose we need to take a tram to the Eastern District of Hong Kong Island, we need to take a tram to East Bound(E) of Hong Kong Island. In short, you will meet some trams at the tram stops going to Shek Tong Tsui, Sheung Wan (Western Market), Happy Valley, Causeway Bay, North Point and Shau Kei Wan.

On the other hand, if we need to go to the Western District of Hong Kong Island, we need to take a tram to West Bound(W) of Hong Kong Island, which means you will meet some trams at the tram stops going to Kennedy Town, Shek Tong Tsui, Sheung Wan (Western Market), Happy Valley as the final stops.

In other words, if I am in the Central Market and I am about to take a tram to the shopping center in Causeway Bay, then I will meet trams terminating at Happy Valley, Causeway Bay, North Point and Shau Kei Wan at the tram stop, and I will be able to reach my destination by taking any of these trams. However, if you meet some trams terminating at Shek Tong Tsui or Sheung Wan (Western Market), it means that you are standing at a tram stop in the other direction, and you need to walk to the opposite tram stop to take a tram.

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Simply put, trams in Hong Kong are like the MTR in that they run in a straight line. So, if you are in Central and planning to go to Causeway Bay, basically all trams going to the Eastern part of Hong Kong Island will be suitable for you (trams going to Causeway Bay, North Point, Sai Wan Ho, Shau Kei Wan), as they all pass through Causeway Bay. On the other hand, if you are going to Sheung Wan from Causeway Bay, all trams going to Hong Kong Island West are suitable for you.

However, when traveling on trams in certain areas of Hong Kong Island, you need to pay special attention to which terminals the trams will go to. For example, if you are planning to take a tram from Quarry Bay Monster House (Hoi Shan House) to Central, you should always take a tram that passes through Central. Therefore, some trams that terminate at North Point or Causeway Bay are not suitable for you and will not be able to take you to Central.

On the other hand, when you come across some trams that terminate at Happy Valley, you will need to double check the tram route before you can take it, because all the trams going to Happy Valley will terminate at Happy Valley Racecourse. If you plan to travel from Quarry Bay to Central, or from Sheung Wan to Quarry Bay, these trams to the Happy Valley tram terminus will not be able to take you to your intended destination, and you will need to take a different route.

Although the tram has an on-board announcement system, we recommend that you use Google Maps to check your current location while riding the tram. Sometimes the volume of the announcement system is low and the stopping time is short, so it's easy to miss your chance to get off the tram. By checking the map on your cell phone regularly, you can see where the tram is going and be ready to get off when it is almost at your stop.

However, you don't have to worry too much if you miss the stop. The distance between each station is not very far, so even if you have to walk back to your intended destination, it won't take too much time.

Ding Ding car fare method

Hong Kong's Tinker Buses are the cheapest means of transportation in Hong Kong, and now the fare for a single trip is only HK$$3.3 (no change), and there is no limit on distance, even if you take one station or 30 stations, the fare is the same. As for the payment method, you can use cash or Octopus card, but we recommend you to use Octopus card. However, we still recommend using an Octopus card because you don't need to spend time recognizing different coins to pay for the fare, and you can get off the bus just by tapping your card.

On the other hand, since most Hong Kong people are used to using their Octopus cards on different modes of transportation, they usually don't carry a lot of coins with them. If you want to exchange bills for coins and pay for the fare in the train, it's not that easy to tell.

More Hong Kong Octopus card information: Where to buy/How to add value/Latest purchase offers

The most comfortable way to ride Hong Kong Tram

Trams in Hong Kong can be used for both transportation and sightseeing. If this is your first time to take a tram, here are some of the lessons we've learned over the years.

First, pay attention to where you board the tram. Normally, we board at the back door of the tram and get off at the front door of the tram, paying the fare at the same time as we get off.

After boarding the tram, you can choose whether to sit on the upper or lower deck. If it is not very crowded, we would recommend sitting on the upper deck so that you can enjoy a completely different view of the streets of Hong Kong. However, if you are only planning to take a short trip, such as from Sheung Wan to Central, we recommend staying on the lower deck as it will be easier to get off.

In addition, Hong Kong trams are not equipped with air-conditioning systems, so we recommend taking trams in sunny seasons. Taking the tram on a sunny day, you can walk to the upper deck seat and open the window to directly feel the scenery of Hong Kong, and you can also enjoy the cool breeze coming from the front during the journey, even if you take the tram under the high temperature of 30 degrees in the summer, basically you will not feel the heat.

If you want to take photos inside the Tinker Train, we recommend you to sit in the front seat on the upper deck of the tram, so that you can get the best view of the tram. However, we recommend that you avoid Sundays and peak hours, when the tram is very crowded and it is difficult to get off the tram.

Styles of Hong Kong Trams

There are basically several different designs of Hong Kong trams (ding-tongs) running on the roads. Until now, there are 5 types of trams which are relatively common.

• Millennium Tram with single-width windshield
• Seventh-generation trams with aluminum frames and aluminum bodies
• Aluminum body with teak frame, 6th generation tram with over 30 years of history.
• Vintage Tram No. 120 (Tungsten lamps, wooden window frames, rattan chairs retained)
• Trams with air-conditioning system

If you have the chance to ride the 120th classical tram, don't forget to take a photo with it.

Sightseeing routes suitable for Hong Kong Ding Ding cars

As I said in the beginning, apart from being a short distance transportation, Tinker Bus is also the most suitable transportation route for sightseeing in Hong Kong Island. If you have an afternoon to spend on Hong Kong Island, the following routes are worth considering.

Take the tram to North Point Wet Market

Taking the tram to "North Point Terminus "* is a very special experience as you will be able to visit the North Point Wet Market.

The North Point Wet Market (North Point Chun Yeung Street Market) is a marvelous place, because apart from the North Point Chun Yeung Street Market, you won't find another outdoor space in Hong Kong that can accommodate both a railroad and a wet market at the same time, and naturally blends them together in a chaotic environment.

Can you imagine that there are stalls selling vegetables and meat next to the tram compartment, and housewives walking casually on the tram tracks? I don't think you can see such scenery outside of Hong Kong.

*As long as you take all the trams with "North Point" as the terminal station, you will definitely pass through the North Point Wet Market.

Head to Happy Valley Racecourse

If you take the tram to Happy Valley Terminus, not only can you arrange a visit to the Happy Valley Racecourse, but it is also a good place to hang out on a holiday. Compared to Causeway Bay, Happy Valley is a little less crowded, and there are several bars and restaurants here, so it's a good place to spend an afternoon.

Old and New Hong Kong Sightseeing Tour

If you have about 90 minutes to spare, we would recommend you to take a ding-tong bus from SOGO Sogo Department Store in Causeway Bay to Shek Tong Tsui.

During the tram ride, you will be able to see the stores in Causeway Bay and Wan Chai, which are the most crowded areas in Hong Kong during weekends. In addition to the commercial buildings and high class offices in Admiralty and Central, you will have a chance to see the busiest state of Hong Kong's financial center during the tram ride. After Sheung Wan, you will pass by Seafood, Ginseng and Bird's Nest Street, and Centre Street, which retains the scenery of Hong Kong's old streets from a few decades ago. In short, you can experience the newest, the oldest, the busiest and the quietest Hong Kong in one go on this tram tour.

It's worth mentioning that the tram fares are not too high, so it's a good time to get off and take photos before boarding the tram for the rest of the trip. However, make sure you have your Octopus card ready, as this will be the most convenient way to ride the trams!

Hong Kong Residential Area Scenic Sightseeing

Compared with the trip from Causeway Bay to Western District, the tram trip from Causeway Bay to Shau Kei Wan is suitable for those who want to go on an in-depth tour of Hong Kong.

Because in this section of the tram journey, you can experience the design of different residential buildings and streets in Hong Kong, for example, you can compare the difference between different buildings in Fortress Hill, North Point, Quarry Bay and Taikoo, and then get off at Taikoo and walk to the side of the Hoi Shan Building Monster House to take photos.

If you have enough time, you can also take the tram back to the North Point MTR station, where there is also a shop called "Lee Keung Kee" which is worth trying. You may also consider going into the Chun Yeung Street Market in North Point for an in-depth exploration, and then finish your Hong Kong in-depth tour at the North Point MTR Station to take the MTR to other attractions in other districts of Hong Kong.

"Ultimate Boss" style tram sightseeing tour

If you don't have any itinerary or plans to visit any Hong Kong attractions in the next few days, and you love Hong Kong's streetscapes, then you may want to consider this "Ultimate Big Brother" tram tour*, where you take a tram from the tram terminal in the Eastern District of Hong Kong Island to the tram terminal in the Western District of Hong Kong Island.

What kind of tram route is it? Simply put, you board a tram from the Kennedy Town tram terminus and take it all the way to the Shau Kei Wan tram terminus. It takes at least 2 hours to complete the longest and most complete tram route in one go.

To many Hong Kong people, the idea of riding the entire tram route is a very crazy and time-wasting idea. We do not object to this idea and we very much agree with it. The last time we rode this tram line, it basically took us almost two hours to finish the ride.

However, there is one thing worth noting about this tram route, and that is that it is a very rare experience for those who love Hong Kong culture. If you're not in Hong Kong for the food and shopping, but rather for the authentic Hong Kong culture, we can guarantee you that the photos you'll get on this tram ride will be more appealing than the ones you'll get at the Peak.

The reason is simple, in just 2 hours you will watch a set of animation with the theme of "Hong Kong City". You will come across different kinds of buildings, different kinds of stores, and you will have a chance to see all the facets of Hong Kong in one go, from different walks of life and different eras.

The "Ultimate Big Brother" tram tour: There are 2 trams running every hour from Kennedy Town Tram Terminal to Shau Kei Wan Tram Terminal and from Shau Kei Wan Tram Terminal to Kennedy Town Tram Terminal.

Comparison of Tram, Bus and MTR

Trams are not only a suitable means of transportation for sightseeing, but also a very suitable means of transportation for short-distance travel. This is especially true for Sheung Wan - Causeway Bay. With only 4 MTR stations away, the tram is basically a very convenient and cheap means of transportation.

However, sometimes the tram is not the best way to get around, especially on weekend afternoons when the crowds are heavier, and we would recommend you to take the bus instead of the tram. The fares for both modes of transportation are not too different, and it's never easy to get on a tram during these times.

If you need to travel to a place farther away, such as Sheung Wan - Taikoo. If you need to go to a place that is farther away, such as Sheung Wan - Taikoo, which is more than 6 MTR stations away, then taking the MTR will be more convenient and less time consuming.

In addition, during rainy days, you should always take buses and subways instead of trams. Because the Tinker Train compartments are not airtight, you may get your clothes wet and it is not convenient to take photos on a rainy day.

Summarize

It was only after we created this website that we had the chance to get to know Hong Kong again, especially after spending an afternoon riding the entire tram route and observing the scenery along the way. We hope to share with you some of the interesting and fun places in Hong Kong that you can experience the culture of Hong Kong through this website.

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