The MTR, Hong Kong's mass transit rail system, is a world class transportation wonder. It's extremely efficient, extremely widespread as a metropolis-wide network, very clean, and also very economical. The fares vary by distance, but many of our one way fares were in the range of only $0.60 USD to $0.90 USD. We used it numerous times, and I don't think we waited more than 5 minutes for a train to arrive. Often, it came quicker than some waits we had for the hotel elevators lol. The MTR stations are everywhere in the Hong Kong area, and you never seem to have to walk very far to get to one. There is an MTR station at virtually every major mall in the Hong Kong vicinity. An Octopus card can be loaded into your Apple wallet and a nod of your smartphone at their smart turnstiles will get you in or out of a station effortlessly. When our trip was completed, I applied via the Octopus app for a refund of our unused balances, and instead of the stated 6-8 weeks wait, the refund showed up in my checking account in 2 days! Each train of maybe 8-10 long cars had one car dedicated to first class. For grins, we tried it once for a short ride. First class is very comfortable with bigger seats, like on a comfortable bus coach, and there is never a need to stand, which is often the case with regular MTR rides. The fare is about 2-3x that of the regular fare. It's an option but not really something most consumers would opt for. Overall, I was just as extremely impressed with the system today as I was 32 years ago when I first encountered it. read more

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I was asked about getting around in HKg. Definitely take the MTR! It's a little daunting, but you'll get the hang of it. I think it is the best mass transit systems around. Here's my pro tips: Get an Octopus Card. Good for fares and almost anything else. Trust. Remember what entry and exit you need to use at each station. They are lettered A - ? and there might be 12 or more! Be prepared to walk a bit inside the station. It's not like New York or The Bay. The stations are as big if not bigger than Grand Central Station. It's very safe. Just understand that it may be crowded. Oh, if you're going to Kowloon and you have time, take the Star Ferry! read more

I absolutely LOVE the MTR. Wait, I take that back. I love the convenience of it, but I definitely don't love the fact that there is so many people on the trains at any given time of the day. But that's just to show you how efficient the MTR is, and it's still expanding!!! The MTR corporation as a whole is definitely doing something right that the other transit agencies in the world needs to take note of. Their subway stations are clean..well, clean compared to the other subways I been on in other different parts of the world (I'm looking at you NYC Metro and Bay Area Rapid Transit [BART]). And the most important thing: trains themselves are practically spotless. I can sit on a seat (if they ever become available) and not have to worry about what that seat has seen or been through and I'm just wiping it clean with my pants! MTR is definitely the choice of transportation in HK out of all the other means of public transportation offerings, but as far as convenience and time savings goes, the MTR is the way to go! read more

港鐵 - The cleanest train I've ever been on - Public Transportation Near Me - Hong Kong, HK

Hong Kong's MTR metro system is a decent way to get around the city. I found the trains to be very clean, efficient, and with frequent arrivals. The only negative that I can think of is that the spacing of the stations makes it that you have to still walk a good 10 to 20 minutes to get to most places once you get off the stops. This was true for both the Kowloon side and the Hong Kong Island side. I did see many public buses on the streets, so I imagine when it is paired with the metro, you can get almost anywhere. All signs are in both in Chinese and English too for easy navigation. read more

港鐵 - Public Transportation Near Me - Hong Kong, HK

MTR is one of the most popular transportation system in Hong Kong. It goes pretty much everywhere. My folks and I used it both last month and earlier this month when we were back in Hong Kong on vacation. The trains are very clean, reliable, and very convenient. And best of all, it is fairly inexpensive. I love the fact that it has opened a new expansion to South Horizons, where an uncle and aunt lives. It only takes about 15 minutes once you transfer from the Admiralty station all the way to South Horizons. I too would recommend picking up the Octopus card if you plan on exploring much of Hong Kong. I especially recommend it when using the MTR as most everyone else uses the card. read more

Hong Kong's metro is a decent way to get around. It's a bit hectic and can be confusing. Luckily, I was with my father who knows how to get around somewhat or a family friend who showed us. I got an Octopus card and put money on it. You can fill it up at 7-11 stores. Very helpful if you are going to get around on the metro quite a bit. I just loved people watching on this metro. Check out the snazzy sneakers young people wear. Lots of young people on the metro. We went all the way across town and had to transfer at least 3 times in one trip. Other option is taxi! Don't forget to Mind the Gap! read more

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I can't believe I'm reviewing a subway system. But when you come from a city where the acronym for the metro line, TTC, is lovingly known as "Take the Car", then the MTR is deserving of all the praise it can get. And here's why: 1. Not one service disruption in the many times I've taken it. And with the amount of people going through it! No "disruption on this line" or "medical emergency between these stops". Maybe people should stop pulling the emergency alarm for non-emergency things....cough, Toronto. 2. Octopus card. Hallelujah. That little colourful piece of plastic is the embodiment of human productivity and efficiency. Doot! Subway fare paid. Doot! Lunch bought at Cafe de Coral. Doot! Getting drunk on a bottle of 7-11 wine. 3. You can get everywhere! Maybe not actually everywhere, but pretty close. Or you can get close enough to your destination that you don't really mind too much. And they are always adding new stations (Ocean Park soon woo!) 4. Trilingual announcements. Chances are, if you're in HK, you are speaking Cantonese, Mandarin, and/or English. Prepare to learn how to say "please step away from the closing doors" in 3 languages. 5. It's clean. So clean. When I went to NYC, I sat across a seat full of pee for 30 minutes. Clean is good. 6. A lot of times, I can get data. Data. Underground. Speechless. Of course, the MTR isn't perfect. It gets pretty scary during rush hour times and sometimes the walk in between stations is ridiculous. I believe it was Mong Kok that required a good 15-20 minute walk to get from one line to the other. But take away all those supplementary things, and it succeeds completely as what it was intended to be: a functional subway system. If the TTC stands for "Take the Car", then the MTR might as well stand for "Must Take Rail". (93/100) - 2016 read more

Hong Kong MTR might be one of the best subway system in the cities I have been to. It might not be cheap compares to other options in Hong Kong but as a tourist, it will take you to most of the places you want to visit. The coverage is just extensive and it is expanding at an astonishing pace. Every time when I am in town, there seems to be additional routes and stations! The only complaint is a lot of the Stations are just so deep down underground, it can be a long walk to reach the surface and then at major stations, you are faced with 10+ different exits. The trains always clean and spotless. There is no funky smell like some of the other transit system I experienced. I think the stainless steel everything really help though some might argue about the coldness of the design. Octopus card does make payment of fare pretty easy but sometimes I don't really realize how much a trip cost exactly. Wish they have a day pass or weekly pass of unlimited rides for tourists. Staff is really polite and helpful. During rush hours, they even have people standing at the escalator to remind people to mind their steps and be careful. read more

Hong Kong's MTR is one of the best subway systems I have experienced! Clean, efficient, fast, cheap, reliable, on-time: like many terrific infrastructure in the city, MTR sets an excellent example of public transport that all developed cities should follow. Yes I am reviewing a city subway system on Yelp but it's because the Hong Kong's MTR system is simply worth praising! Although the network is not as dense as Paris's metro, the MTR nonetheless covers a significant area of this dense city and is significantly cleaner. With the exception of peak-hour cross-harbour rides, the MTR train cars are surprisingly spacious and give everyone personal space. Always, the cars are super clean, probably because of the no eating and drinking restriction. Did I mention that some stations like Olympic basically have malls as their stops? I thought that's pretty crazy. Anyway, make this your main means of transport, no matter how long you are staying in HK! The bus network is equally impressive and actually covers a larger network, but the MTR is completely immune to the notorious HK traffic and is easier to master. Grab an on-loan Octopus card for convenient and discounted fare and ride away! --- tl;dr version: 1) One of the world's best mass public transports 2) Reliably the main transport method in HK read more

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Never reviewed a transportation system before but gotta give thumbs up for MTR in Hong Kong. I hail from the city of TTC's which, as another yelper put it, means take the car. Seriously. MTR is a clearly well thought transportation line for the people in HK and the stations are always pretty accessible. It's a fairly efficient line and they keep their rides well informed of delays and wait times. (Not that I've ever experienced any delays at all) I am not a native HK resident, so having a well planned MTR with great signage and helpful staff made my life super easy. The subway card you use to pay is the Octopus card which is pretty colourful and I dare say, kinda fun to tap. You can also use the Octo card at participating convenient stores, retailers, and eateries. It makes city life just a bit more convenient. Load your card and go! Having an octopus card is pretty much a must here! The systems are always pretty clean and there are plenty of signs and staff to help the riders get to where they need to be. What I like best is that there are labels on the floor to tell people to wait on the left and right sides. People follow the rules pretty well and I appreciate the glass wall most stations have to separate the train tracks and the people waiting. This is a really good safety measure. I don't know how many people in Toronto have been pushed onto the subway line and a few actually killed by the subway train. Over all, very well run! But do avoid the after work rush hour if you can. It's insane and you can't really move around. read more

"Great subway" Efficient and modern. A truly great subway system and the best way to get around Hong Kong. Also fairly inexpensive. read more

港鐵 - MTR Subway - Public Transportation Near Me - Hong Kong, HK

Hong Kong MTR has zero fail rate. Yes I mean 0 fail rate. It works non stop. 100% reliable. Only thing is that you have to make sure when traveling try to avoid 6 to 8 pm because that is crazy madness there. Yes its the peak hour. People get off work and its crazy. Loading the Octopus card is easy. Also you can use the Octopus card to purchase things like at 7-11 etc. I am impressed by their train. So high tech and fast. Unlike Canada slow dirty train :( MTR is very clean as well. read more

Alright, I'm gonna rain on the party here. Having ridden the MTR as a kid, and in 2010 and 2012, the MTR is not what it used to be in several ways. In fact, if I'm not in a rush nowadays, I find methods to avoid riding the MTR by riding the buses. Everything in terms of fares and technology are certainly top notch for the MTR. The octopus card is easy to acquire, easy to reload (as there's hundreds of reloading stations in the city and in the MTR system), and easy to use. There's also announcements for pretty much everything, ranging from safety announcements to when the next train is arriving. However, in terms of the MTR itself...it's way too small for the demand it gets. I can't believe I'm saying this, but the MTR has not kept pace with the incredible demand the system has daily, to the point where the trains are not breathable even at 11pm on a Sunday due to excessive crowds. Passengers have also gotten a lot more rowdy. Forget about the whole "please let passengers exit first" rule, you're on your own once the train arrives. Maybe once the Sha Tin to Central Link opens in the next couple of years it'd be better... The seats, if you can even get them, are very uncomfortable and are hard as rock. Maybe that's why people opt to stand, but thought it's something to point out. While reliability is still at a high point, I got caught in more delays this time around compared to my previous visits, each of them due to power failures. I'm pretty much used to delays living in Toronto, but it did catch me off guard a bit since delays are something you never hear in the MTR. Do I still think the MTR is better than almost all underground systems I've ridden? Yes. However, I can't give it 4/5 stars, especially since I felt the MTR has taken a step back in the reliability and convenience sense. read more

As a native Honkie who grew up with the MTR, you gotta love the system. It's fast, its clean, mostly well designed, and damned efficient - like the woman you married after years of growing up together, she'll always be there for you. However, just like the girl you knew, she also has her blemishes. a) The MTR is 80% held by the HK Government, the rest market listed, and is first and foremost a real estate company that runs trains. It's a vehicle of government policy, a profit seeker and a transit system all folded together, which will not fly anywhere else. - The government is its biggest shareholder, and it has powers of eminent domain. It has its own shopping malls and high-rise condominiums. Ever been to Maritime Square, Popcorn or Elements? Those are MTR malls. How about Lohas Park, Telford Plaza or Heng Fa Chuen? Those are MTR condos. They work with local developers to link holdings to their properties, so it is possible to go from your workplace, your shopping and your home without stepping one foot outdoors. Think about the implications of a public transit operator using government finances to generate profit and to help dictate policy, like leaving the poor in the urban core while uplifting the middle class to the suburban new towns. If China is socialism with Chinese characteristics, then Hong Kong is capitalism with Chinese characteristics. If the MTA in New York or the CTA in Chicago pulls something similar you'll immediately see inquiries into conflicts of interest. b) The reliability of the MTR? When it works, it's great. When it's not, well... - I've seen both sides of the reliability coin here - a tourist with a stroller got the wheels wedged on the gap between the platform and the train during disembarkation, and the MTR crew sprung immediately into action, held the train, pulled out the stroller, and cleared the train to proceed, all within 3 minutes - real professional work. However, a broken line bracket bought down service for 5 hours in December 2013, and groups of confused commuters end up looking for non-existent alternative options (bad contingencies or lack of viable competition). As much as people bitch about New York City Subways, it does have built-in redundancies. The MTR do not have that in certain areas (ask about non-existent alternative bus service at Lohas Park for an example) - and thanks to the HK government's rail first policy, alternative services are often terminated to avoid competition with the MTR. Just like everything else in life, 100% reliability is not guaranteed. c) The system is getting more crowded and the riders are getting more and more correspondingly...ridiculous thanks to demographic changes One trait of a Hong Kong education is its emphasis on Confucian values - the importance of courtesy & deference to the elders is beaten into the head of every honkie at an early age. Stand up, give up your seat to the elderly, be mindful of others, don't take up too much space, no man-spreading, and etc. Unfortunately Mainlanders aren't raised on those values, and so they'll do things like blab non-stop in the quiet section, stop for no reason at all in the middle of intersections to look around (and block traffic), and pack/unpack their luggages at the worst places. There's also the problem of the parallel market trade. Come to HK with a draggie case, buy a bunch of crap at Sasa, Watsons or whatnot, over-stuff it the best you can, jump on the East Rail to cross the border so they can flip the merchandise at a profit. This means groups of mainlanders with unnecessarily large bits of luggage on the MTR, making the journey unpleasant for everyone else. And unfortunately, thanks to ongoing immigration from north of the border, this will only get worse. It's still close to the leader of the pack in terms of transit system worldwide, but it's not always peaches and roses on the MTR. Be careful when you wish for your local operator to be more like them. read more

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Hong Kong has to have one of the absolute best metro systems in the world. I'm not so sure it is "easy" but it is definitely timely, fast, convenient, orderly, and clean. While in Hong Kong we took a pretty much every mode of public transportation available. We took the mode most convenient to the area we were in or going to. For instance, we stayed on the Hong Kong Island side, but needed to get to the Ritz Carlton on the Kowloon side for afternoon tea. We took the Star Ferry to the Kowloon side. Then, we took a taxi for maybe US $5 to the Ritz Carlton. We stayed in Wan Chai - on the Northern side of Hong Kong, walked to the Wan Chai MTR via a covered walkway to Mong Kok for Ladies Market and Sneaker St. We took the MTR to Causeway Bay for to get off in Times Square for some out of this world shopping. We took the tram up to see Victoria Peak, but we took the 15 bus down and got off at Admiral - more shopping. The MTR can get you just about anywhere you need to go, however, you must know the exit closest to your destination or you will be spinning your wheels trying to figure out how to get places. What I love most about the MTR in Hong Kong is 1. The airport express - its economical and is the BEST way to avoid sitting in 1 to 2 hours of traffic GALORE!!! 2. I love the lines demonstrating where to que. 3. LOVE the way the MTR map lights up inside the actual trains to show you what station you are at and what station/s are next. Most subway stations have a map on the inside of the train, but you have to stretch your neck to read it...making it SO obvious that you're a tourist and not sure of where you are going. Or, you have to look out of the window for station signage. Not in Hong Kong. Everybody takes a quick look up at the super efficient digital board. I recommend picking up the Oyster card if you plan on exploring much of Hong Kong and will be there beyond 2 days. Trust me, it will save you the hassle of having to top off your MTR card, getting a new card each time you want to take the MTR, having exact change for the bus, etc. The buses do not give change, and they don't wait for you to find it. You don't want to be the passenger holding up the line because you didn't know the bus far and now you need to find spare change in your pockets or wallet - yikes! Save yourself the headache - get an oyster card. If not, try to keep HK $10 bills and/or change. read more

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REVIEWER # 14 For all the transportation's and subways in the bay area I would like to introduce you to Hong Kong MTR! Definitely take the time to take notes because the U.S.A can definitely learn something from this amazing, convenient and efficient transportation system in Hong Kong! My first time visiting Hong Kong and I was able to go everywhere I needed by using the MTR. Never did I have to use a Taxi because the trains come every 2-3 mins and it opens super early and closes super late! Trains here are very convenient and easy to navigate, please note that during rush hours it does get crowded and people are crazy! Whoo. They push, tug and shove you to make sure they can get into the train. The signs and maps are all in English as well as Cantonese so it's really easy to get around on your own. The MTR seems to go all over the Hong Kong Island. There does seem to be a lot of walking when changing line so be prepared to walk. They are NOT lying when they say that Hong Kong has a huge population! There are people everywhere at ALL times of the day and night. So be prepared for the crowds and you may miss a train or two because of it being over crowded. Don't worry, they come very frequently! Perfect way to get to the main HK City from the Airport. The terminals to the MTR are very easy to understand. The stations are VERY clean. They do have strict rules such as: No eating and drinking in the MTR Trains. I wish this was the same for transportations in California. OCTOTPUS CARD: This was the BEST thing Hong Kong could have ever thought about! Get an Octopus Card as soon as you arrive and you will good after that! What is an Octopus Card you may ask? It's a card that you can store money and use on buses, trains and in convenient stores such as 7-Eleven! This saves you so much time during the boarding time. You purchase one during your stay in Hong Kong and before you depart you turn it back in and get your refunds of your deposit back when you return the card. (Not a bad deal!) TIPS FOR FIRST TIME RIDERS: When going up the escalator, walk on the left and stand on the right. This will help risk people motioning for you to move out the way and the risk of the displeasure of everyone behind you! I am happy to say that I have witnessed the most AMAZING transportation in the world! Hong Kong indeed has the BEST transportation! I definitely recommend for anyone coming here to take this rather than a Taxi! REVIEW 220/196 read more

Hong Kong's MTR absolutely shames most of the world's rapid public transit. The efficiency, affordability, and the reach of the MTR is unparalleled. When you can reach most of Kowloon and majority of Hong Kong Island by a subway system, you know people will use it. For tourists, you will reach majority of site seeing destinations by MTR except for Ocean Park(MTR exit Admiralty then catch 629 bus) and Stanley(MTR exit Hong Kong D, bus 66). Each subway station is massive and spans multiple exits to stretch throughout the city. It's not unheard of that you can get to one end of a district to another end underground instead of traveling on the surface. There's also 7-11's and other shops in the stations to pick up some snacks or even repair your shoes. Finding your route and buying a fare is incredibly easy at each of the machines. If you're having problems, there is also a staff box that will assist you. Octopus card will make everything a thousand times easier though(as is the Octopus card anywhere in HK would). What's amazing about the MTR also is that it is remarkably clean. You won't find graffiti nor dirty seats. Hong Kong people love the MTR and everyone takes care of their public transit. Food and beverages are not allowed on the MTR. Rush hour is crazy so avoid as much as possible. If you're stuck having to take the MTR at rush car, it'll be a warzone. Hundreds of people packed in the escalators going up and down and all waiting in a line at each of the many subway car door entrances to get in. read more

The best subway/skytrain in Asia, though I'm eager to compare to Europe when I make my virgin trip there soon, but I digress.... I've used the subs in the Thailand, China, Singapore and Japan and what separates HK from the rest is the seamlessness of it all: easy to use, amenities around each station, fast and efficient, even despite the insane crowds, especially at Tsim Tsui Choi or TST, whatever, I'm a tourist lol. This station has literally 26 exits or something like that, there's a map of the whole alphabet, I kinda lost track lol. And each exit, listed on a wall or a poll while you're walking towards to the exit, would like 3-6 key landmarks, ie. Shangri-La, etc.---how smart is that? Another bonus is while inside the train, the electronic map will show the next stop by blinking a green light. If this isn't enough, the map clearly shows which stops have the interchange to jump onto another 2 or 3 lines. Only negative is that at some stops, like TSM, it's so so huge, that it seems like you're walking forever underground, like a good 3 min. which doesn't sound like much but when you're in a rush.... My personal favourite too, is at almost every stop, which i'm pretty sure now, is there's a 7-eleven and this cream puffs place kiosk (in fact, more like a line of stores on one side) that I indulged daily ;) One of the best ever, and cheap by Canadian standards. read more

The MTR in Hong Kong is one of the best public transport systems in the world. It's clean, air conditioned, easy to navigate even for a first timer who has just arrived, services are very frequent and relatively inexpensive (particularly if you use MTR fare savers). Like other metro stations in Asia, there are also retail outlets within the station (sometimes in the fare paid zone). So you can do some of your shopping there. read more

As a traveler coming to Hong Kong for the first time the MTR was a lifesaver. Granted I really only used the subway and not the buses (so I can't speak for those), but this is what I loved about taking the MTR. - The Octopus Card. A reloadable and refundable (minus a small service fee) card that you can use for the trains, buses, and even at some stores. It was great having this and not having to worry about exact change for tickets, or trying to figure out how to buy tickets. Every city should have this. - English sign and announcements. Of course I know Hong Kong was a British Colony until 1997, so there's quite a bit of English around, but this was just an added bonus for someone like me (who only knows a couple of words in Cantonese). Had there been no English sign or announcements the MTR would still be great, just a bit more confusing for me to navigate). - The signs on the trains and in the stations. There are maps on every train and in every station. There are signs in the train car telling you what side of the train door will open, signs telling you where on the platform to queu for the train, exit signs telling you what attraction/site/institution you're looking for is where. It makes everything orderly and very pleasant. - The MTR app is great to have. I got the regular one and tourist one and the tourist one was more focused on tourist attractions, but not a lot of difference between the two. It was nice to have because the app will tell you "take Exit D5 for this attraction" when you're at the final MTR station. - The fact there's no eating or drinking on the train (and I only saw this broken once by a teenage kid having McDs on a Saturday night). It makes the stations and the train clean. - The fact every MTR station I went has a little mall with shops. Everyone I went to had a Maxim Cake Shop, Okashi Candy Store, and a convenience store (711 usually), but most had several shops. - The trains were on time and never super crowded. Even during what seemed like rush hour it got busy, but I never felt overwhelmed. - The MTR takes you to places in Hong Kong that would - The Airport Line. Sure it's pricier than taking a bus, but it's easy to use and much quicker (and likely cheaper) than a taxi (depending on where you're staying). The downside to the MTR is that it's just in Hong Kong and makes my city's very poor public transportation system look like a sad, cruel joke. I really wish public transit around the world was like the MTR. read more

Hands down the easiest train system I've ever utilized. We used the MTR throughout our recent stay in HK, and found the system to be very simple for a foreigner to utilize, clean, and efficient. read more

Very bad experience. Ticket staff provided misinformation about process for using Fast Train to Shenzhen. Spent hours with Chinese customs upon departing. When returning from Shenzhen MTR staff would not honour return ticket? Do not travel on high speed train as the time you waste trying to sort out their misinformation is time you will never recover. This leaves you with wasted time, absolute frustration and wishing you'd never heard of MTR Fast Train. It's lacking commonsense and logic. Not the way you want to spend your vacation. The traditional MTR train network is faster by any comparison without the frustration. read more

Overall, a great way to travel around Hong Kong. Yes, the stations and the trains are really crowded, but they are cheap and you can get to most places in the Hong Kong area. Just make sure that you pick the correct exit: otherwise, you may be walking a long distance to your intended location once above ground. Paired with the Octopus card, it is such a convenient way to get around the city. read more

The Hong Kong MTR train is the absolute best way to see all of Hong Kong. You can get almost anywhere for less than $3USD, with most trips costing less than $1USD. It is quick, reliable, and clean. read more

I LOVE THE MTR!!!!! Studying here for 8 weeks and there was not a single day where I didn't take it!! The octopus card makes it so easy to take quickly and the maps on and off the trains are so helpful! The announcements are in English, Cantonese, and Mandarine and I have never used a CLEANER subway system. Raved about it for months after coming back to the states! There is also so much more than just underground. There are MTR busses that will take you anywhere the MTR subway will not, also great with an Octopus card! read more

No problems taking the MTR (subway) while in Hong Kong. Very easy to navigate with signage and stops in both Chinese and English. Stops and stations easy to get around with public toilets and plenty of shopping and places to eat in every station. Stations all have very good maps with proper exits listed to make sure you go out the correct exit. This makes your journey and shopping/eating experience so much more better. Trains all have air con blasting. A good thing on hot and humid days. People movers, lifts, and escalators in all stations. Train easily connects Hong Kong Island to Kowloon so never have to worry about being to far away from anything. Get used to standing as seats on the train are usually taken up quite quickly. read more

It's very clean and very fast!If l will take the MTR if I have very little time! I always take the Airport express to go to the Airport (HKG)! I heard that they are going to make a new line!Plus, they expanded the island line to Sai yin pun HKU and Kennedy town!!!! If I come back to Hong Kong, I will just take the MTR! read more

I have never wrote a review for a public transportation system before, but feel compelled to after having such great experiences. I usually dread public transportation systems mainly because I'm from Boston and public transit is absolutely horrendous. However, I gave in when I had ventured out to Mongkok; the alternative was grave, being stuck in traffic would have been even more disastrous. With HK being such a small city, it was very easy to find and spot the plentiful red asterisk-like MTR signs. Once you go in, you enter a one-lane walking traffic and following the simple signs, you get to the payment system. Very affordable. You reach the platform and it's all covered in glass to prevent anybody from jumping or pushed into the tracks, which happen more often than one may think. Genius. Certainly would have prevented many deaths & delays if it existed in the States. Train zooms by super fast. I saw a sign "No eating or drinking, maximum penalty $2,000". Genius. No wonder it's so clean and doesn't smell like bagel & cream cheese and there's no breadcrumbs on my thighs. The only thing though, I noticed that people do not give up their seats even for the elderly or kids - it's more of a HK etiquette issue rather than MTR's problem. read more