Hong Kong and Macau_ City Guide (Lonely Planet, 14th Edition) - Andrew Stone [211]
If you’re in Central, the best place to catch minibuses to Wan Chai and other points east is the Central bus terminus below Exchange Square ( Map). If heading west towards Kennedy Town, walk to Stanley St, near Lan Kwai Fong.
There are a few minibuses that cross the harbour late at night, running between Wan Chai and Mong Kok. In Wan Chai, minibuses can be found on Hennessy and Fleming Rds. In Kowloon you may have to trudge up Nathan Rd as far as Mong Kok before you’ll find one. Minibuses to the New Territories can be found at the Jordan and Choi Hung MTR stations in Kowloon.
GREEN MINIBUSES
Green minibuses operate on some 352 routes, more than half of which are in the New Territories, and serve designated stops. Fares range from $2.50 to $24, according to distance. You must put the exact fare in the cash box as you descend (no change is given) or, on some routes, you can use your Octopus card.
Return to beginning of chapter
Night Buses
Most buses run from about 5.30am or 6am until midnight or 12.30am, but there are a handful of useful night-bus services in addition to the ones linking the airport with various parts of the territory. Citybus’ N121, which operates every 15 minutes between 12.45am and 5am, runs from the Macau ferry bus terminus through Central and Wan Chai on Hong Kong Island and through the Cross-Harbour Tunnel to Chatham Rd North in Tsim Sha Tsui East before continuing on to eastern Kowloon and Ngau Tau Kok ($13.40).
Bus N122, also run by Citybus with the same fare and schedule, runs from North Point ferry bus terminus on Hong Kong Island, through the Cross-Harbour Tunnel to Nathan Rd and on to Mei Foo Sun Chuen in the northwestern part of Kowloon. You can catch these two buses near the tunnel entrances on either side of the harbour.
Other useful night buses that cross the harbour include the N118, which runs from Siu Sai Wan in the northeastern part of Hong Kong Island to Sham Shui Po in northwest Kowloon via North Point and Causeway Bay ($13.40); and the N170, which runs from Wah Fu, a large estate near Aberdeen in the southwest of Hong Kong Island, through Wan Chai and Causeway Bay before crossing over to Kowloon and travelling as far as Sha Tin in the New Territories ($24).
Useful night buses on Lantau run by New Lantao Bus Co include the N1 ($16; $27 on Sunday and public holidays) linking Mui Wo and Tai O at 3.45am and the N35 ($21; $32 on Sunday and public holidays) between Mui Wo (3.15am and 4.20am) and the airport (1.30am and 4.30am).
Return to beginning of chapter
CAR & MOTORCYCLE
It would be sheer madness for a newcomer to consider driving in Hong Kong. Traffic is heavy, the roads can get hopelessly clogged and the ever-changing network of highways and bridges with its new numbering system is complicated in the extreme. And if driving the car doesn’t destroy your holiday sense of spontaneity, parking the damn thing will. If you are determined to see Hong Kong under your own steam, do yourself a favour and rent a car with a driver.
Return to beginning of chapter
Driving Licence & Permits
Hong Kong allows most foreigners over the age of 18 to drive for up to 12 months with a valid licence from home. It’s still a good idea to carry an International Driving Permit (IDP) as well. This can be obtained from your local automobile association for a reasonable fee.
Anyone driving in the territory for more than a year will need to get a Hong Kong licence, which will be valid for 10 years ($900). Apply to the Licensing Division of the Transport Department ( Map; 2804 2600; www.info.gov.hk/td; 3rd fl, United Centre, 95 Queensway, Admiralty; 9am-5pm Mon-Fri).
Return to beginning of chapter
Hire
Car-hire firms accept IDPs or driving licences from your home country. Drivers must usually