Initially opened in 1979, Hong Kong's Mass Transit Railway (MTR) is arguably the most efficient, clean and enjoyable subway in the world. Connecting the New Territories and Kowloon to Hong Kong Island and beyond, the MTR is the perfect way for travelers to explore Hong Kong without shelling out for the city's notoriously-expensive taxis.

Whether you're taking the Star Ferry from Tsim Sha Tsui station to Central on the Tsuen Wan Line (red line) and making the quick walk to Lan Kwai Fong and Soho, trekking to the cable car near the Tian Tan Buddha on the Tung Chung Line (orange line) or jetting over to Causeway Bay on the Island Line (blue line) for some boutique shopping, the MTR allows convenient and easy access to all the city's top attractions. The MTR even stretches to Hong Kong Disneyland, which is on the Disneyland Resort Line (pink line), accessible from the Sunny Bay station on the Tung Chung Line.  

Tourists visiting Hong Kong for several days should consider purchasing an Octopus Card (pictured left), the rechargeable smart card for frequent riders. While the Octopus requires a down-payment of HKD 150 (HKD 50 is reserved as a deposit, refundable upon card return, while HKD 100 is the initial balance), card holders receive discounted fares and Octopus cards can also be used to purchase items at local 7-Elevens, Circle Ks and various stores around the cities. If you're in town for just a day, the Tourist Day Pass (HKD 55, pictured below) is the perfect option, allowing unlimited rides for 24 hours. 

Finally, and possibly of most importance to tourists, the MTR's Airport Express (teal line, running from 6 a.m. to 12:48 a.m.) connects central Hong Kong to the Asia World Expo and Hong Kong Airport, the entire journey taking just 24 minutes. Airport-bound travelers can check-in to their flights, check their baggage and receive their boarding passes before boarding the Airport Express, making the normal hassle of airport maneuvering a quick and painless task. 

Although the New York subway may run 24 hours a day, despite the fact that the Moscow subway covers 340 kilometers and regardless of Tokyo's 2.7-billion annual riders, Hong Kong's MTR is a true gem for tourists and residents alike.

* Hours of operation for most stations run roughly from 6 a.m. to midnight. Individual station information can be found at the official MTR website. 

** Black and white image courtesy of  themikelee, all other images courtesy of MTR and Dan Shapiro