Travel News – Hong Kong Launches First High-Speed Rail Service (Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong High Speed Rail)

[Travel News]

Hong Kong’s first high-speed railway – the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong High Speed Rail (Hong Kong Section)– was launched on 23 September 2018), allowing travellers the chance to travel quickly and conveniently between Hong Kong and cities across Mainland China. Most importantly, the new rail link puts Hong Kong in easy reach of nine (9) neighbouring cities in Guangdong Province.

The 26-km rail link connects Hong Kong for the first time to Mainland China’s vast high-speed rail network, which is the world’s most extensive. Travellers will be able to ride from Hong Kong to 44 destinations in Mainland China destinations 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, the new line makes travelling within the Greater Bay Area faster and more convenient than ever before.

Photo Courtesy of MTR

Photo by HKTB

Photo Courtesy of MTR

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 landmark for 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, while the three-hectare green area outside the station provides a peaceful oasis in the heart of the city.

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. The tourism hub of Tsim Sha Tsui with its world-renowned restaurants and shopping malls is a short walk away. The station is also connected by public transport to fascinating neighbourhoods including Sham Shui Po in Kowloon where visitors can experience authentic Hong Kong life, or Old Town Central on Hong Kong Island where visitors can enjoy history, arts, food, and culture in one of the city’s oldest and most idiosyncratic districts.

Directly outside the station is Hong Kong’s new arts and cultural hub, the West Kowloon Cultural District. The district is located directly outside the station, which will soon offer visitors the opportunity to enjoy an array of exhibitions, performances, and cultural events.