IN PICTURES: A look at Hong Kong’s ‘ding ding’ trams through the ages
The first-generation tram had a single deck. It appeared on the streets of Hong Kong in 1904. Photo: Alan Cheung and Hongkong Tramways Ltd
The first-generation tram had a single deck. It appeared on the streets of Hong Kong in 1904. Photo: Alan Cheung and Hongkong Tramways Ltd
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Affectionately known as the ‘Ding Dings’ from the sound of their bells, Hong Kong's historic 111-year-old trams have graced the cities streets since 1904 and retain a special place in the hearts of Hongkongers, despite their sharp contrast to the rest of the fast-paced Asian metropolis.

They trundle along Hong Kong Island between Shau Kei Wan and Kennedy Town, with a branch circulating through Happy Valley. Every day the city’s 163 trams carry 230,000 passengers, from office workers and students to tourists, all travelling on what is the largest double-deck tram system in the world.

The city’s network has lived through Japanese occupation, Hong Kong’s transformation into one of the world’s biggest financial hubs and the handover from British to Chinese rule in 1997.

It has also survived the development of modern public transport, including a vast subway system, making it a rare symbol of the city’s rich history while much of Hong Kong’s colonial heritage has been demolished.

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