Heading to or from Hong Kong via High-Speed Rail XRL? Here is a guide to the new Kowloon Station. The station is a spectacular modern architectural marvel incorporating green space, shopping, intercity fast rail, and a major transport hub.
If you are traveling from Mainland China to Hong Kong or vice versa, then you may like to take a convenient fast train via the new West Kowloon Station.
Services are scheduled to begin soon (September 2018) and travel times between Hong Kong and Shenzhen, Guangzhou and beyond will drop dramatically.
Instead of the old way (which will still be an option) of taking the rather slow East Rail Line to Lo Wu or Lok Mau Chau, then, passing through immigration and then finding a train or bus for your onward journey into mainland China will be a thing of the past.
As an example, instead of taking an hour or more to reach Shenzhen, travel time will be reduced to 14 minutes with the terminal in Shenzhen located at Futian Station, right in the CBD of the city.
Here is a video walkthrough of how to navigate the new West Kowloon Station
For this train service, the immigration checkpoint for the mainland and Hong Kong will be located at West Kowloon Station, meaning you pass through immigration at that point and can relax the rest of the way until you reach your final destination.
Floor plan of West Kowloon Station
| 1 | Landscaped Deck | A large public green space with a footbridge connecting to Kowloon MTR Station and Austin MTR Station. |
| G | Ground Level | Entrance, concourses, public transport interchange |
| B1 | Ticket Hall | Ticketing lobby, taxi drop-off stations, parking |
| B2 | Arrival Level | Austin Road West underpass arrival hall, offices, taxi pick-up stations, subways to Austin Station, the station car park |
| B3 | Departure Level | Customs and Immigration, waiting room, departure hall, duty-free stores, food, and beverage stalls. |
| B4 | Departure Platforms | Train boarding |
At West Kowloon Station
- Free WiFi – use “MTR Free Wi-Fi” (4 x 30 min sessions per day)
- Free mobile device charging – service counters are located at Exit G (level 3), B2 Arrival Concourse (level 2) and B3 Departure Concourse (level 3)
- MTR Tourist Service Center – on level B2, you can get travel advice for HK, help using the train and MTR services, and even buy tickets for attractions
- Business Lounge – if you have a Business Class, Premium Class, and First Class ticket then you can access the Business Lounge on Level B3
- Left baggage service and baggage lockers – near Exit B at Level G
- Sightseeing Deck – Level 2, opening hours: 07:00-22:00 daily
- Artworks – if you have some free time check out the art displays at Exit A level B2, Taxi stand Level B2, Exit F Level G, Arrival Hall Level B2, Level B2 walkway, Departure Hall Level B3.
- Toilets & Baby-care Room – toilets are on every level and there are nursing rooms on B1 level, B2 level, and on B3 level.
- Shops – Hong Kong Duty-Free, Asia Favourites, Circle K, GODIVA Chocolatier, Mannings, Okashi Land, Pocket Noir, Sa Sa Boutique, Sunglass Hut, TripAdvisor, 7-Eleven
- Food & Beverage – FOODIUM (a food court with 6 restaurants located on the Arrival Concourse, Exit A), Chun Shui Tang, hana-musubi, MaoMao Eat by Tsui Wah, maxim’s cakes, MX, Starbucks Coffee, Tim Ho Wan, and Uo-Show.
Near West Kowloon Station
- ELEMENTS Shopping Mall – large modern shopping mall
- West Kowloon Cultural District – a developing international-grade arts and culture hub
- Sky 100 – Observation deck on the 100th floor of the International Commerce Centre
Hotels near West Kowloon Station
- W Hong Kong – 5 Star – A modern luxury boutique hotel that offers a rooftop pool on the 76th floor, an international buffet, a Cantonese buffet, spa services, 24-hour gym, and rooms that have nice harbor views.
- The HarbourView Place -5 Star – The luxury hotel shares amenities such as the rooftop pool with the above-listed W hotel. Large family rooms available.
- The Ritz-Carlton Hong Kong – 5 Star – Perhaps one of the nicest five-star hotels in Hong Kong, it offers unmatched views from its location on floors 102 to 118 of the International Commerce Centre.
Getting To and From West Kowloon Station
Via MTR (subway/metro)
See here for MTR Guide and system map
Austin MTR Station is a 2-minute walk via exit A on B1 level, exit K or N on Level 1. Austin Station is on the West Rail Line which can connect you to
- East Tsim Sha Tsui Station from where you can walk to Tsim Sha Shui Station, Avenue of Stars, and Victoria Harbour.
- Hung Hom Station where you can catch trains on the East Rail Line that head to Sha Tin, Tai Po, Sheung Shui, and Lo Wu and Lok Mau Chau border crossings.
- Nam Cheong Station and all the way to Tuen Mun Station
Kowloon MTR Station is an 8-10 minute walk via footbridge on Level 1 Exit M. Kowloon Station is on the Tung Chung Line and Airport Express Line. The Airport Express Line takes you directly to Hong Kong International Airport. Via The Tung Chung Line, you can connect to
- Hong Kong Station which is located in Central on Hong Kong Island. IFC is located here and its a short walk to Central Station.
- Olympic Station where there is a large shopping mall being Olympian City.
- Sunny Bay Station where you can get on the Disneyland Resort Line to visit Disneyland.
- Tung Chung Station where you can visit Citygate Outlets, Nong Ping 360, and Giant Buddha.
Public Buses
Via exit K on Level 1 you can take a short walk to West Kowloon Station Bus Terminus where you can take public buses to a wide range of destinations. There are three Express Bus services operating from this station:
- W1 (West Kowloon Station to and from Admiralty and Central)
- W2 (West Kowloon Station to and from Kwun Tong and Lam Tin)
- W3 (West Kowloon Station to and from Sheung Shui, Tai Po, and Sha Tin)
Via exit H you can also take buses from the West Kowloon Boarding and Alighting Area. For more bus routes see the full list of buses to/from West Kowloon Station
Taxi
On Level B2 near exit A you can find a taxi stand. On arrival at the station, the taxi will drop you off on Level B1. Here are taxi fare estimates for destinations across Hong Kong.
| Hong Kong Island from Hong Kong West Kowloon Station by Taxi | |||
| Destination | Fare (HK$) | Destination | Fare (HK$) |
| Causeway Bay | $90* | Hong Kong – Macau Ferry Terminal, Sheung Wan | $110* |
| Wan Chai / Golden Bauhinia Square / Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre | $90* | The Peak | $135* |
| Admiralty Station | $95* | Ocean Park | $125*+ |
| Star Ferry Pier, Central | $110* | Repulse Bay | $140*+ |
| Lan Kwai Fong / SoHo, Central | $120* | Stanley | $165*+ |
| Peak Tram Lower Terminal on Garden Road, Central | $100* | ||
| Kowloon from Hong Kong West Kowloon Station by Taxi | |||
| Destination | Fare (HK$) | Destination | Fare (HK$) |
| Tsim Sha Tsui / China Hong Kong City / Ocean Terminal | $24 | Kowloon Tong | $65 |
| Tsim Sha Tsui East | $35 | Wong Tai Sin | $75 |
| Jordan / Yau Ma Tei | $24 | Kowloon Bay | $75 |
| Mong Kok | $35 | Kwun Tong / Kai Tak Cruise Terminal | $90 |
| Hung Hom Station | $35 | Lei Yue Mun | $105 |
| New Territories from Hong Kong West Kowloon Station by Taxi | |||
| Destination | Fare (HK$) | Destination | Fare (HK$) |
| Tsing Yi Station | $105 | Ma On Shan Town Centre | $155! |
| Sham Tseng | $140 | Lok Ma Chau Spur Line Control Point | $280@ |
| Tsuen Wan Station | $105 | Shenzhen Bay Port (Hong Kong Port Area) | $280 |
| Tuen Mun Town Centre | $205 | Tai Po Market Station | $195! |
| Hung Shui Kiu | $235 | Clear Water Bay | $160^ |
| Sha Tin Town Centre | $115! | Tseung Kwan O | $130^ |
| Yuen Long Town Centre | $240@ | Sheung Shui Station | $245! |
| Tin Shui Wai Town Centre | $270@ | Sai Kung Town Centre | $155 |
| Hong Kong Wetland Park | $280@ | Fanling Station | $240! |
| Lok Ma Chau (San Tin) | $275@ | ||
| Lantau Island from Hong Kong West Kowloon Station by Taxi | |||
| Destination | Fare (HK$) | Destination | Fare (HK$) |
| Hong Kong International Airport | $260# | Hong Kong Disneyland | $195# |
| AsiaWorld-Expo | $265# | Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge (HZMB) Hong Kong Port | $270# |
| Ngong Ping 360 / Tung Chung Station | $245# | ||
Note: The fare estimates listed above have taken account of the respective toll to be charged for the use of the following toll tunnel and road:
* Using Cross Harbour Tunnel
+ Using Aberdeen Tunnel
! Using Lion Rock Tunnel
^ Using Tseung Kwan O Tunnel
@ Using Tai Lam Tunnel
# Using Lantau Link
West Kowloon Station Street & Exit Map
A map showing station exits and nearby streets, attractions, and buildings. Click for larger image.
Schedule & Ticket Prices for XRL Trains
- 4 trains per hour to Shenzhen Futian & Shenzhen North
- 2 trains per hour to Guangzhou South
- 33 trains per day to 16 Mainland China cities, including Beijing West, Shijiazhuang, Zhengzhou East, Wuhan, Changsha South and Shanghai Hongqiao.
- Hong Kong to Guangzhou South – Fare: 247 HKD – Travel time: 48 Minutes
- Hong Kong to Humen – Fare: 204 HKD – Travel time: 30 Minutes (estimate)
- Hong Kong to Shenzhen North – Fare: 86 HKD – Travel time: 23 Minutes
- Hong Kong to Shenzhen Futian – Fare: 78 HKD – Travel time: 14 Minutes
More about train types and schedules for the XRL Line here
Map
Hong Kong