The ICSNN 2016 conference will be held at the Mr & Mrs Chan Hon Pun Lecture Theatre (LT-18) of the City University of Hong Kong (CityU), located at Floor 4 of the Academic Building 1 (see the red circle on the map below). For detailed directions of how to get to this theater, please follow this link. For more information about the venue, please see the "Venue" page.
The following is a map of the CityU campus:
The City University of Hong Kong can be accessed via the Festival Walk, where there is an entrance on the LG 1 level. Therefore, the simplest way to reach the University is to first get to Festival Walk. There are several ways to do this, by MTR, by bus, by minibus, or by taxi.
From the Hong Kong International Airport:
There are three ways to get to town from the airport: By bus on the
Cityflyer Routes,
by the
Airport Express operated by the MTR,
or by taxi. If Airport Express is used, it is best to make a connection to the MTR service at the Hong Kong Station, which connects directly to the Central Station.
By MTR:
Direction connection to the MTR Kwun Tong line (or the "green line") and East Rail line
- Get off at the Kowloon Tong station and then take Exit C
For more information on fares and routes, please refer to the
official MTR website.
It should be noted that unlike some subway systems in other major cities, the MTR does not operate during late night hours. For more information regarding the scheduling of MTR trains, especially the first and last train information, check the official website or information provided at the station concerned.
By Bus:
First Bus on the Kowloon side - 702
KMB on the Kowloon side - 203C
Hong Kong buses accepts both payment in cash (exact change must be tendered) or by Octopus card.
By minibus:
Numbers 2, 2A, 41A, 41M, 72, 73, 85
Please note that the above are all green minibuses, which accept both cash and Octopus cards as payment options. However, if in case you will need to travel to different locations in the city by red minibuses, keep in mind that only cash is accepted.
By taxi:
Taxi fare in Hong Kong is relatively low among developed cities or countries. Normally the fare starts at HK$22 and stays at that level for the first 2 kilometers, and increases incrementally for every subsequent 200 meters or 1 minute waiting time thereof, by $1.6 per increment before the amount reaches $78, and by $1 per increment after the fare has reached $78. For every piece of baggage carried in the storage compartment, an additional charge of $5 is charged, except for wheelchairs and crutches for the disabled/injured person(s) and for light hand baggage carried in the passenger compartments. In case of fare dispute, request a printed receipt and take note of the license plate number. Note that payment for taxi rides in the city is in cash only.
More official information about public transportation in Hong Kong, information can be obtained from the Transport Department of the Hong Kong Government, which can be accessed here.
The official source of weather information is the Hong Kong Observatory. Local weather is known to be unpredictable, so it is important to check the weather condition with the Observatory before setting out. Their weather news and information is posted online which can be accessed via this link. Their services are in both English and Chinese, and a mobile version is available. Moreover, their weather hotline is at 187-8200. This telephone service is offered in English, Mandarin, and Cantonese.
To get around town in Hong Kong it is crucial to have an Octopus card, which is a contact-less smart card that can be used to store value and be used in electronic payments. It is accepted for payment at most convenience stores, supermarkets/grocery stores, fast food restaurants, and vending machines, and for most means of public transport except the red minibus or the taxi.
There are two types of Octopus cards which are relevant to the attendees of the ICSNN 2016 conference: They are the standard adult and sold tourist cards. The standard types are on loan to the user, so a HK$50 deposit is charged when this type of Octopus card is purchased. Also, for the adult category, an initial stored value of HK$100 is mandatory. This type of Octopus card is available at all MTR Customer Service Centres. On the other hand, the sold tourist Octopus is available to any persons holding a foreign passport, and costs HK$39 each. This type of Octopus card is available at all 7-Eleven, Circle K, VanGO convenience stores, and no initial stored value and no deposit is charged. To purchase the sold tourist Octopus card, a foreign passport must be presented at the time of sale.
For official and most up-to-date information about the Octopus card, please follow this link.
Octopus cards can be topped up at all 7-Eleven, Circle K, and VanGO outlets, and at all MTR stations either with self-service machines or at the Customer Service Centres.
Hong Kong, being a major international financial center, is a special administrative region (S.A.R.) of China situated on the Southeast coast of China, neighboring Shenzhen. Being designated an S.A.R., Hong Kong people maintains a certain level of autonomy in the governance of the territory.
The city has a very comprehensive public transit system. It is readily available and affordable, and it is convenient to use the MTR (the name the local subway system goes by here in Hong Kong), buses, mini-buses (or the public light bus), trams, taxis, ferry boats, etc. to get to anywhere in the territory.
Geographically, Hong Kong is divided into 3 regions - Hong Kong Island, Kowloon, and the New Territories - and 18 districts, and is predominantly urban in character. Within the urban centers such as Causeway Bay, Central, Tsim Sha Tsui (or T.S.T. for short) and Mong Kok, shopping is easy, as malls, shops, and restaurants can be found on almost every block of these districts.
The City University of Hong Kong, where the conference is held, is adjacent to a mid-range to high-end shopping mall Festival Walk. Other similar shopping malls in the city include the Harbour City cluster in T.S.T. (located next to the Star Ferry pier) and the ifc mall in Central along the harbor. Also, Lan Kwai Fong is a popular spot for expats to go clubbing and to socialize with friends. The neighboring SoHo district features a variety of high-end restaurants and is also very popular among expats.
Even though the urban areas of Hong Kong are full of concrete jungles, there are also some rural areas scattered throughout the city, especially in the New Territories and on the outlying islands. Hiking trails, beaches, and parks are aplenty for visitors to explore the outdoors of the city. A guide of the top 10 beaches as recommended by the Guardian can be found here. A list of all parks, zoos, and gardens provided by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department can be found here. And, if hiking if preferred, the best way to hike is to pick up a map with information of the hiking trails. The recommended maps are the Countryside Maps series, which are available from some local bookstores. A list of the different hiking schemes as provided by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department can be found here.
Last but not least, the Victoria Harbour situated at the geographical center of Hong Kong is famed for its scenic views, and is best navigated by taking the Star Ferry across the harbor, which runs between Hong Kong Island (Central or Wan Chai) and T.S.T. on the Kowloon side during the day. More information regarding the services provided by the "Star" Ferry Company is provided at this website.
As a side note, one of the most interesting observations that visitors to Hong Kong make is that there are convenient stores almost everywhere, many within distances of blocks apart in the busier areas.
Some of the more popular tourist attractions around town:
Ocean Park Hong Kong, Victoria Peak, Hong Kong Disneyland, Lantau Island, Ngong Ping 360, Tian Tan Buddha, Po Lin Monastery, Man Mo Temple, Madame Tussauds Hong Kong, Victoria Harbour, Stanley Market, Stanley Main Beach, Cheung Chau, Shek O, Lamma Island, Hong Kong Park, Kowloon Park, Lan Kwai Fong, SoHo
For different official representations of CityU campus map, including campus directory, the University's WayFinder Service, and the various floor plans, please follow this link.
For a map of Hong Kong, please follow this link.
For official information about visiting Hong Kong, including major tourist attractions and the hiking trails mentioned above, as provided by the Hong Kong Tourism Board, please follow this link. The Tourism Board operates a Visitor Centre in Kowloon at the Tsim Sha Tsui Star Ferry Pier. They provide free information for tourists on sightseeing in Hong Kong, as well as giving out a free map of the territory at this center. Opening hours is normally between 8am and 8pm daily, except for Public Holidays on which the hours might deviate from the normal schedule. For more information on the services they provide, their staff can be reached at +852 2508-1234.
