OPEN-TOP SIGHTSEEING BUS TOURS
Until recently the only way to see Hong Kong from an open-top bus was either to take the Citybus service 15C bus operating on the short journey from Central to the Lower Peak Tram Terminus to connect with the Peak Tram or join a group tour on a specially hired bus. However there are now three companies operating “turn up and go” open-top sightseeing tours. UK-based THE BIG BUS COMPANY introduced a “hop-on, hop-off” service on two routes serving Hong Kong Island and Kowloon in December 2008, followed in May 2009 by local operator CITYBUS'S CITYTOURS non-stop sightseeing tour of Wan Chai and Causeway Bay districts of Hong Kong Island and in October 2009 by Citybus sister company NWFB (New World First Bus) RICKSHAW SIGHTSEEING BUS with its “hop-on, hop-off” service along two routes on Hong Kong Island;
"NWFB RICKSHAW SIGHTSEEING BUS" OPEN TOP "HOP-ON, HOP-OFF" TOUR;
During October 2009 New World First Bus introduced its "NWFB Rickshaw Sightseeing Bus". The "hop-on, hop-off" service utilises open-top double-deck buses decorated in a rickshaw-themed livery and mock rickshaw style canopy at the rear of the top deck. The rickshaw branding is intended as a reminder of the early 20th century when the Chinese rickshaw was an important form of public transportation around Hong Kong and gradually replaced by buses as the most popular public transport. There are two routes, the "Heritage Tour" and "Metropolis Tour" each departing from Central Star Ferry Pier at 30 minute intervals and taking about 50 minutes from start to finish. The routes serve a total of 21 stops and pass numerous scenic locations including 16 declared monuments and 10 grade-one historic buildings;
H1 HERITAGE TOUR daily 10am to 6pm at 30 minute intervals- Central Star Ferry Pier, Exchange Square, Western Market, Man Mo Temple, Old Central Police Station, Dr Sun Yat-sen Museum, Ladder Street, Hong Kong University East Gate, Pokfield Road, Chiu Sheung School Hong Kong, Centre Street, Dried Seafood Street, Macau Ferry, Central Star Ferry Pier.
H2 METROPOLIS TOUR daily from 10-15am to 9-45pm at 30 minute intervals- Central Star Ferry Pier, Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre, Causeway Bay, Times Square, Happy Valley Racecourse, Queens Road East, Pacific Place, St John's Cathedral, Statue Square, Central Star Ferry Pier.
Buses are equipped with a bus stop name announcement system and a video system with bilingual journey commentary in Mandarin and English. A One Day Pass costs HK$50 for adults and HK$25 for children under 12* and seniors 65 or over and can be used an unlimited number of times on both routes. (* children under 4 can travel free if accompanied by an adult and not occupying a seat). Purchasers of One Day Passes receive a complimentary route map. Single journey tickets cost HK$8.70 for adults and HK$4.40 for child/senior. Octopus Card or exact cash can be used to purchase passes or single journey tickets. Promotional leaflet can be downloaded and further details obtained here;
http://www.nwstbus.com.hk/content/default.aspx?intLangID=1§ion=hotSpots&page=rickshawSightseeing
THE BIG BUS COMPANY OPEN-TOP "HOP-ON, HOP-OFF" SIGHTSEEING TOUR;
The Big Bus Company, one of the largest sightseeing tour operators in the world, has started operating "hop-on, hop-off" sightseeing open-top bus tours of Hong Kong. The company was established in 1991 and already operates open-top bus tours in London, Dubai and Philadelphia. The Hong Kong tour was "soft-launched" during December 2008 around Kowloon and has since been extended to include Hong Kong Island providing passengers with a unique way of visiting many of Hong Kong's most popular attractions. The Big Bus day tour covers two routes;
The RED ROUTE on Hong Kong Island starts at Central Pier 7 (Star Ferry Pier) in Central and takes in Central, Admiralty, Wan Chai and Causeway Bay with stops at Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, Lower Peak Tram Terminus and Lan Kwai Fong.
The BLUE ROUTE around Kowloon starts at Tsim Sha Tsui East Promenade near the Avenue of Stars and New World Centre and takes in Tsim Sha Tsui and Tsim Sha Tsui East, Nathan Road, Mong Kok and returns via Canton Road and Chatham Road South with stops at Langham Place, Shanghai Street and Mody Road.
The routes are connected via the Star Ferry and a single ticket covers both routes with return Star Ferry tickets and also return Peak Tram tickets included in the price. The routes operate daily from 10am to 6pm and tickets are valid for 24 hours.
There is also a Panoramic NIGHT TOUR around Kowloon which follows the Blue Route.
Recorded commentary is available in eight languages.
Adult tickets cost HK$320 for the (day) Big Bus Tour and HK$200 for the night tour and Combo tickets for both tours are available for HK$420.
Child (5-15) tickets cost HK$200 (day tour), HK$200 (night tour) or HK$300 (combo).
Family tickets (2 adults/2 children) cost HK$840 (day tour), HK$600 (night tour) or HK$1140 (combo)
Tickets can be purchased from hotels, by phone on (852) 2723 2108, at the tour departure points or online from the Big Bus website;
http://www.bigbustours.com/eng/international/default.aspx
Big Bus Company open-top sightseeing bus
CITYBUS "CITYTOURS" SIGHTSEEING OPEN-TOP BUS TOUR;
In May 2009 Citybus launched a new open-top "Citytours" bus tour on Hong Kong Island. The tour which covers Wan Chai and Causeway Bay operates from 10-30am to 6-30pm daily from Golden Bauhinia Square next to Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre (HKCEC). The route takes in Golden Bauhinia Square/Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre, Wan Chai Police Station, The Pawn, Lung Moon Restaurant, Emperor Group Centre, Sogo Department Store, St Paul's Hospital, St Mary's Church, Hong Kong Central Library, Victoria Park, Causeway Bay Typhoon Shelter and People's Liberation Army Building. This is not a "hop-on, hop-off" service and there are no stops en route.
The fare is HK$88 with a free child ticket for each pair of adult tickets. Tickets can be purchased on the bus or from the Dragon Pearl Cruise ticket office at the night cruise pier at Golden Bauhinia Square or Citybus Customer Service Centres at the Airport Ground Transportation Centre or Admiralty Bus Station. Promotional leaflet can be downloaded and further information obtained here;
http://www.nwstbus.com.hk/content/default.aspx?intLangID=1§ion=hotSpots&page=openTopCityTours
Citybus Citytours open-top sightseeing bus