How to Book a Trip on Kowloon-Canton Railway

If you plan on traveling to Hong Kong from mainland China, book a trip on Kowloon-Canton Railway, the government-owned passenger and freight train service to and from Hong Kong. Kowloon-Canton Railway also provides domestic service inside Hong Kong with four different lines: East Rail, West Rail, Ma On Shan Rail and Light Rail.

Instructions

Book Tickets on Kowloon-Canton Railway

1. Call Kowloon-Canton Railway at 011 ([phone] or visit their Web site (see Resources below).

2. Buy your ticket at the train station you are departing from. If you are leaving from Beijing, go to Beijing West Station. Kowloon's train station is called Hung Hom.

3. Consider booking a tourist pass for the best prices. A KCR Domestic Travel Pass is less than $4 and is good for unlimited travel on the East and West Rail domestic trains. This is great for sightseeing in Hong Kong. For a trip to the mainland, add a KCR Lo Wu Travel Pass for about $6 more.

4. Ask your hotel to make arrangements for your train tickets. This is by far the easiest way to book, as train stations can be very busy and lines are usually long. The small fee (the equivalent of $1 or $2) for this service is well worth it.

Prepare to Travel in Hong Kong

1. Get a visa if you plan to take a trip from Hong Kong to China. Visas are not typically required for travel to Hong Kong, but China has different requirements that are strictly enforced by immigration authorities.

2. Get a Cantonese phrase book. Cantonese is the primary language spoken in Hong Kong. Most people do not speak Mandarin fluently. English is widely understood in the business district and tourist areas.

Tips & Warnings

• Book tickets to and from Beijing and Shanghai as early as you can for the best seats. Deluxe accommodations are available but they sell out.

• If Deluxe Sleeper tickets are available, get them. This class has two bunks per compartment and is much more private and comfortable than other classes. Tickets are less than $200.

• All phone numbers include the United States international prefix "011." When calling internationally outside the United States, check which prefix to use. All country codes are within parentheses and begin with a "+" sign.

• Train tickets from mainland China to Hong Kong typically cost about 1/3 of the price of airplane tickets.