Hong Kong’s TramOramic tour: ‘Ding Ding’ through the city

Not a lot of businesses earn praise for being slow in fast-paced Hong Kong. But then, not a lot of them offer a rolling view as great as the city’s 111-year-old tram.

Affectionately called “ding ding” by locals – mimicking the sound of its bell – the tram’s one of the city’s icons, gliding past some of the most recognizable landmarks in town.

The experience is now even better thanks to the introduction of a new TramOramic tour.

“You don’t need to travel fast – you just have to enjoy the city and discover the space,” says Antoine Sambin, Hong Kong Tramways’ commercial and corporate affairs manager.

Antoine Sambin, Hong Kong Tramsways spokesperson, says the tram tour will cater to both foreign and local visitors.

“We’re lucky because the tram is on the northern part of the island – it’s the busiest part of Hong Kong.”

The tour runs between Sheung Wan’s Western Market (a historic colonial building) and Causeway Bay (a busy shopping district) through Central (home to many famous skyscrapers).

Sambin’s favorite tour scenes are the old Legislative Council Building in Central and the towers of HSBC and Bank of China.

“So you’ve some very modern skyscrapers on one side and a heritage building on the other side. It’s very Hong Kong – a good mix of old and modern,” says Sambin.

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On board a 1920s-style tram

One big feature that differentiates it from a normal passenger tram is its covered upper deck, which has a large balcony. It’s modeled after the company’s third-generation tram – the first double-decker tram to have a roof – built more than eight decades ago.

“We decided to resurrect one tram car from the 1920s,” Sambin tells CNN. “It has a very unique design.”

“We tried to find the designs and plans from that time and rebuild the tram with spare parts from former times or source new parts from original vendors.”

It has a retro interior finishing, mostly in wood, and the tram lever is an original from the 1920s.

The journey takes about an hour. There are personal audio guides available, broadcasting tales about the tram and the city in eight languages.

There’s also a mini museum on the lower deck with exhibits including pictures and videos from times past.

“We also have authentic artifacts from past years – old tools, tickets and punching machine that were used to make holes on tickets.”

The tour includes a free two-day pass, which allows unlimited travel around the city by tram.

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How to ride the tram

7 must-see stops —

Hong Kong's trams run in two directions -- east and west. Starting from the westernmost station at Kennedy Town and heading east, here are some of the highlights of the 110-year-old tram system.

Stop 1: Eastern Street, Sheung Wan —

The tram runs along Des Vouex Road West in Sheung Wan -- also known as "Dried Seafood Street." Eric Lee Tsun-lung, founder of tram fan club Hong Kong Trams Enthusiast, says the best time to visit is late morning or early afternoon, when vendors are busy laying out goods to dry in the sun.

Stop 2: Ice House Street, Central —

Business center Central offers many photo ops. This photo was taken from the ground floor of Alexandra House. The pedestrian bridge crossing the road at Alexandra House is a great spot to photograph the tram cruising through traffic or past these skyscrapers.

Stop 3: Bank Street, Central —

One stop away (or a short walk from Ice House Street station), Bank Station offers a classic shot of Hong Kong's cityscape. The former Legislative Council Building, with its colonial architecture, is opposite the station.

Stop 4: Luard Road, Wan Chai —

Once infamous for its sleazy nightlife, Wan Chai has in recent years transformed into a hipster playground with a booming food and shopping scene. A walk around the Star Street Precinct (packed with shops and galleries), a food tour along Ships Street or a historical walk to the Blue House clusters and Hung Sing Temple are great ways to see the neighborhood.

Stop 5: Percival Street, Causeway Bay —

Hong Kong's shopping center, Causeway Bay is crammed with people 24-7. The most famous spot to feel the city's high-density energy is the pedestrian crossing in front of SOGO shopping mall. Another great photo spot is on the circular bridge over Yee Wo Street, near Sugar Street.

Stop 6: Chun Yeung Street, North Point —

Any tram heading to North Point runs through Chun Yeung Street, which features one of the most interesting wet markets in Hong Kong. The tram runs right through the middle of the market. This shot was taken from the front row seats on the tram's upper deck.

Stop 6: Chun Yeung Street, North Point —

In the past, vendors set up their stalls right in the middle of the road. Today, they stick to one side or the other.

Stop 7: Tai On Street, Sai Wan Ho —

The Tai On Building sits near the end of the tram's eastbound route. The unassuming blue and yellow building contains a hidden cave of delights for street food lovers.

Stop 7: Tai On Street, Sai Wan Ho —

Indoor corridors beneath the Tai On Building have been turned into a food market open every evening till late, with vendors serving curry fish balls, imitation shark's fin soup and "cart noodles."

Getting on and off —

Passengers board the tram from the rear door and exit from the front, where they pay HK$2.30 (U.S. 30 cents). Riders can use an Octopus card on all trams.

Classic details —

Hong Kong Tramways has slowly been revamping its trams, one by one. Improvements include the addition of extra handles and passenger information systems. However some older elements are reused, such as the controller and wheel -- both are more than 80 years old.

Antique tram —

Tram no.120 is the oldest tram in operation. It was built in the 1950s and preserved in its original form, including the bamboo woven benches on the upper deck.

How to ride Hong Kong's iconic trams

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Launched earlier this year, the tour is one in a series of recent campaigns reigniting interest in vintage public transport since Hong Kong Tramways was taken over by French firm Veolia Transport China in 2010. But if you can’t afford to go on a one-hour tour, this is how to use the company’s normal passenger tram. (And see the above gallery for our favorite stops.)

For traveling short distances, Sambin says that riding regular trams is “probably the best solution in Hong Kong.”

The tram line runs 30 kilometers across Hong Kong Island, stretching from Kennedy Town in the west to Shau Kei Wan in the east. It runs in only two directions – eastbound and westbound – but some routes go further than others.

Tram stations usually sit on “islands” in the middle of the street, although a few are on the side of the road. Stops are marked by stand-alone green signs.

Decide which direction you’re heading then look for the tram that goes to or beyond your station. There’s a map at the stops. Boarding is through the rear door – passengers don’t pay until they exit through the front.

The fare is HK$2.30 (about 30 U.S. cents per ride), regardless of the length of the journey. Fares can be paid with cash or by swiping one of Hong Kong’s all-purpose Octopus cards inside the tram. For comparison’s sake, it costs more than 50 U.S. cents for a one-stop ride on the MTR.

QR codes are posted at most stations, allowing passengers to find out the time of the next three arriving trams.

The longest possible tram ride takes around 90 minutes.

The TramOramic Tour departs six times daily and costs HK$95 per adult (HK$65 for children aged between 4-11). See its schedule on Hong Kong Tramways’ official website.

TramOramic Sightseeing Tour, No. 88 Yee Wo Street, Causeway Bay Tram Terminus, Hong Kong, China.

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