HONG KONG – Hong Kong commuters, culture lovers, and pet owners have a new reason to enjoy the city’s harbourfront: a cheerful cross-harbour ferry service now connects Central Pier 9 with the West Kowloon Cultural District, offering an easy, scenic, and pet-friendly way to travel.

The new air-conditioned vessels, operated by Fortune Ferry Company Limited, began a smooth four-day trial on Monday, with an official launch ceremony scheduled for Friday. Full public service will start on Saturday, marking an exciting milestone for both districts.

The ride between Central and West Kowloon takes just eight minutes, making it one of the quickest and most pleasant ways to hop across the harbour. Passengers can bring along bicycles and pets, with single-journey tickets set at HK$20 for both humans and furry companions. Concessionary fares are HK$10, while monthly passes cost HK$560 for regular riders.

Departures run every 30 minutes. The convenient schedule operates from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. on weekdays, extending to 11 p.m. on weekends and public holidays so visitors can enjoy evening strolls, performances, and dinners with ease. The final sailing each day departs from West Kowloon.

The West Kowloon Cultural District praised the launch, highlighting plans for “distinctive dining facilities along the waterfront” that will help transform WestK Quay into a lively, welcoming hub for culture, food, and leisure. The new route offers an especially appealing alternative for visitors, providing a direct, refreshing connection from Hong Kong Island to one of the city’s most vibrant arts destinations.

Bernard Chan, Chairman of the WKCDA Board, says, ‘The launch of the new WestK Quay and WestK Ferry service marks an important milestone in the Authority’s ongoing efforts to develop WestK into a world-class cultural tourism destination. This new harbour gateway not only facilitates members of the public’s cross-harbour travel but also offers global visitors a memorable visiting experience, enhancing their participation in the rich and diverse cultural programmes in WestK. By activating the WestK waterfront with curated dining options, cultural programmes and leisure activities, we seek to create a vibrant urban space where connectivity, creativity and community converge, reinforcing WestK’s role as the premier cultural tourism landmark of Hong Kong.’

Mable Chan, Secretary for Transport and Logistics, HKSAR Government, says, ‘With the facilitation of the Transport Department and WKCDA, the West Kowloon Cultural District (‘WKCD’) and  Fortune Ferry joined forces to establish the new ‘Central – West Kowloon’ Water Taxi route (‘WestK Ferry’), providing tourists and residents with a convenient and efficient waterborne transport option to access the landmark WKCD. WKCD is a significant landmark in Hong Kong which can be seen as being secluded in its own corner. The launch of the new route does not only foster synergies among the tourist attractions in Central and West Kowloon along both sides of the Victoria Harbour, but also brings about limitless opportunities for passengers with different needs.’

Liu Guanghui, Chairman of Chu Kong Shipping Enterprises (Holdings) Company Limited, says, ‘As a long-standing operator in Hong Kong’s maritime transport sector, we are proud to partner with the WKCDA to operate the “WestK Ferry” service. Our focus has always been on providing safe, reliable, and user-friendly ferry experiences. This new route connecting WestK and Central, along with the existing water taxi services now rerouted to berth at WestK Quay, reflects that commitment. We believe WestK Quay and the pet-friendly “WestK Ferry” service will improve daily connectivity, and support the district’s growth as a leisure destination by making it more accessible to all.’

Photo Credit: West Kowloon Cultural District

More information about WestK available here