Getting to Hong Kong

Hong Kong International Airport (Chek Lap Kok) is a major international airport in the South East Asian region and a super-modern facility, with flights coming in from everywhere. By land, getting to Hong Kong can be cumbersome unless you are already in Guangdong Province, although trains do run direct from Beijing. Buses and ferries also run from Guangdong to Hong Kong, but, unfortunately, driving is not really an option for tourists coming from China.

By car

Getting to Hong Kong by car requires driving from China proper, which is not possible for most tourists. Only residents of China and those who have spent the time hiring driving guides and acquiring Chinese license plates through a state-registered agency can actually drive. If you do pass these stiff criteria however, there are four checkpoints on the Shenzhen–Hong Kong boundary, where you can cross over to Hong Kong. The checkpoints are: Man Kam To, Lo Wu, Lok Ma Chau and Sha Tau Kok.

By rail

It is now easier to get from China to Hong Kong since the handover in 1997, with many more rail services available from major centres on the mainland. Trains run from Beijing to Hong Kong on a regular basis (a 30-hour journey) as well as from Shanghai and from Guangzhou. Those coming from Europe or Beijing can also make use of the upmarket Trans-Siberian Railway, which runs all the way to Hong Kong.

By bus

You can also get to Hong Kong by bus from mainland China, although long journeys are generally quite uncomfortable, even aboard deluxe coaches. Several bus companies offer connections between cities in Guangdong province and Hong Kong including from the boundary town of Shenzhen. Buses also arrive indirectly from Beijing. Buses arrive at destinations throughout Hong Kong including one stop on the main island and seven other stops in Kowloon and the New Territories.

By air

Hong Kong’s new international airport, Chek Lap Kok, receives flights from cities all over the world and is the major gateway to China. Fares to Hong Kong are generally reasonable and transfer options to the city are excellent, with trains, buses, taxis and ferries all providing direct access.

By ferry

Dozens of international cruise ships call in at Hong Kong every year at the Ocean Terminal in Tsim Sha Tsui. Facilities here are superb, with numerous shops and restaurants, while the nearby Star Ferry Terminal receives daily ferries from Guangdong and Guangxi provinces as well as from Macau. The Star Ferry Terminal is also used as the launching point for ferries to Hong Kong Island.

Hong Kong International Airport

Also known as Chek Lap Kok, Hong Kong International Airport is a state-of-the-art airport located about 25 miles west of the city centre and it is an air hub for South East Asia. The single-terminal facility is huge and is full of facilities and services. Getting about is made easy by an internal shuttle train that connects the East and West halls. There are banks, cash machines and bureaux de change throughout the terminal as well as medical facilities, a post office and a myriad of other facilities. Shops and restaurants can be found evenly spread in all areas of the terminal and the SkyMart duty-free store in Departures is well stocked.

Hong Kong International Airport transportation

Getting to Kowloon and Hong Kong Island is easy from Chek Lap Kok Airport, with all public transport services available. The Airport Express train runs directly to Hong Kong Island from the Ground Transportation Centre every 10 minutes between 06:30 and 01:30. Travel time is just 23 minutes. There is also a bus station at the Ground Transportation Centre, with services running to destinations throughout Hong Kong including to Hong Kong Island (A11), Kowloon (A21), Discovery Bay and the Northern Territories by day and at night. The Cityflyer airbus makes the journey to Hong Kong in just 35 minutes.

Those who hire cars can get to Kowloon and then Hong Kong Island by first taking the North Lantau Highway across the Tsing Ma Bridge and then joining the Kowloon Expressway for Kowloon, followed by the Harbour Tunnel to Hong Kong Island. The taxi rank is located near the Ground Transportation Centre, opposite the bus station, and cars are colour-coded to determine destinations served in Hong Kong. To get to the mainland by ferry, catch the bus from the airport to the ferry pier; ferries run to and from Tuen Mun between 06:00 and 23:00.