Blogs we like

Once you have cleared the China and Hong Kong border customs, the first thing you should do is get an Octopus Card.  It is the Singapore equivalent of an EZ-link card which you could add money to the card and use it to pay for transportation around Hong Kong.  Octopus fares are between 5% and 10% cheaper than ordinary fares on the Mass Transit Railway (MTR), Kowloon-Canton Railway (KCR), Light Rail Transit (LRT) systems and minibuses.

This card is sold for HK$150 with an initial value of HK$100.  An Octopus card may be returned to any MTR Customer Service Centre for a refund of the remaining value stored on it. A handling fee may be charged for the refund; HK$7 for an Octupus card that had been in use for fewer than three months.

The KCR East Rail Line (see light blue line in map below) travels from the Shenzhen-Hong Kong border station (Lo Wu) to the heart of Hong Kong (East Tsim Sha Tsui) and the journey takes about 30-40 minutes.  It passes by Mong Kok East and Kowloon Tong so if your hotels are around these area, you can also alight earlier.  The cost of travelling between Hong Kong and Shenzhen by the KCR is about HK$40.  The train is usually quite crowded so if you want to guarantee yourself a comfortable seat, you can consider buying a first class ticket at twice the regular price.

Related posts:

1. Shenzhen, Hong Kong, Macau Trip Summary
2. How to Bargain when Shopping in Shenzhen and Hong Kong?
3. Hong Kong Day Markets: Bird, Flower, Goldfish Street