On ding-ding express

heritage in Hong Kong

It’s not for nothing that National Geographic ranks Ding Dings among the world’s top 10 trolley rides. Hong Kong’s trams, fondly called Ding Dings by the locals for the sound of their double-bell ring, which the tram drivers have used to warn pedestrians for a century, are also known as the ‘grandfather of Hong Kong’s world renowned public transport system’.

As you perch on the upper deck of a tram, this bustling ‘Asia’s World City’ reveals its many charms, which are not accessible from either its fast-paced trains or air-conditioned buses. Trams offer an intimate contact with Hong Kong life and trundle through the tallest skyscrapers and the narrowest streets. There certainly is no better or cheaper way to see this erstwhile British colony than on the trams.

Apart from the world-famous touristy spots like Ocean Park, Disneyland, The Peak, Star Ferry and the Big Buddha, Ding Dings continue to charm millions of tourists visiting Hong Kong. With India’s economy prospering, now Indian tourists are also coming in droves. “These matchbox-like machines are amazing,” says an Indian tourist Pawan Kumar, disembarking from a tram at the main tourist area called Central. “Since we don’t have trams in Delhi, I really enjoyed travelling on these Ding Dings. In fact, it was my first-ever ride on a tram.” Although Kolkata is the only Indian city that has trams, they are very different from the ones in Hong Kong.

Hong Kong has the largest fleet of double-decker tram cars in the world that are still in service, and its tram system runs exclusively on double-deckers. The trams system, an iconic mode of transportation, is also a unique aspect of Hong Kong’s cultural heritage.
Today, the fleet of 163 double-decker Ding Dings, which include two antique tram cars, ferry over 2,00,000 passengers a day. With a flat fare of just HK$2.30 (about 15 rupees), they take you from one end of the city to the other. The trams are numbered up to 170, with certain numbers missing owing to local superstitions.

A tram ride makes a memorable journey as they roll along generating rumbling sounds.
Tom, a young American currently travelling around Asia, is hooked to these trams. “I love them, they are fun,” he says, as he boards a feisty tram. “This is the new tram. I have travelled in all kinds of trams here, both old and new. They are the best way to explore Hong Kong; you can hear, see and smell what’s happening around on the streets.”
Credit for building Hong Kong’s iconic tram system goes to its colonial rulers. The first fleet of 26 tram cars was imported from England. They have become an integral part of the city and last year, the double-decker trams completed a full century.

It is said that trams caused a sensation when they were first introduced, and people would flock the tram lanes just to see them. Trams were also obstructed by hawkers who would drag their heavy carts on tram tracks, following which the British authorities made a law banning carts with same wheel gauge as the trams. This ban has not been lifted till this day.

Though sometimes criticised for their slow speed in this ultra-modern city, trams reflect the unique mixture of speed and relaxed attitude of this city, making Hong Kong the extraordinary place that it is. They also offer a counter balance amidst the fast-pace life that Hong Kong needs and secretly craves for. Indifferent to the maddening hurry of this busy metropolitan city, the trams trundle through their journey at a steady speed of 20 to 40 km per hour.

In fact, in 1984, the authorities thought of getting rid of the Ding Dings to pave way for faster means of transportation, but following strong public protests, the idea was dropped. Many support Ding Dings for being the most environmentally friendly mode of transportation.

“In Hong Kong, Ding Dings carry not just the passengers, but a sense of nostalgia,” says Wendy Ho, a tram enthusiast. “It is a special story of Hongkongers unending romance with the Ding Dings.”

“I saw some really beautiful harbour scenes from the trams,” says K Sridhar, a tourist from Chennai. “They are slow enough to leisurely enjoy the city sights. And during night, they offer amazing scenes in this city of lights. They are the best way to discover Hong Kong and I wish they withstand the mad rush of modernity.”

Loved by locals and adored by tourists, these iconic remnants of past, the Ding Dings, continue to move majestically on the busy Hong Kong streets, attracting all with their lasting and echoing sounds of ding-ding… ding-ding.