Hong Kong Launches First High Speed Rail Service
Hong Kong’s first high-speed railway – the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong HighSpeed Rail (Hong Kong Section) – was launched this past weekend (Sept. 23), bringing visitors from around the world the chance to travel quickly and conveniently between Hong Kong and cities across Mainland China.
In particular, the new rail link puts Hong Kong in easy reach of nine neighbouring cities in Guangdong Province and heralds a major boost to tourism in the Greater Bay Area.
The 26-km rail link connects Hong Kong for the first time to Mainland China’s vast high-speed rail network, the world’s most extensive. Travellers will be able to ride from Hong Kong to 44 destinations in Mainland China without changing trains, making the city an ideal starting point for multi-destination journeys through China. With frequent direct high-speed trains linking Hong Kong to Shenzhen and Guangzhou in as little as 48 minutes, travelling within the Greater Bay Area will be faster and more convenient than ever before.
The Hong Kong section of the High Speed Rail network runs from West Kowloon Station, one of the world’s largest underground high-speed railway stations and a new must-see landmark for visitors to the city. The station’s design has already garnered a number of international design awards, including one at the World Architecture Festival Awards, known as the “Oscars of architecture.” Visitors can enjoy views of iconic Victoria Harbour by walking along the Sky Corridor on the station’s rooftop. A three-hectare green area outside the station, meanwhile, provides a peaceful oasis in the heart of the city for residents and tourists alike.
Outside the station, there is a wealth of entertainment and attractions for visitors who want to enjoy shopping, dining or a taste of traditional Hong Kong. Directly outside the station is Hong Kong’s new arts and cultural hub, the West Kowloon Cultural District.
(https://www.highspeed.mtr.com.hk/en/ticket/cross-purchase-way-hk.html)
(Photo courtesy of MTR)
