Starting Feb. 22, Citybus, in collaboration with the Southern District Office of Home Affairs Department and Ocean Park, will launch a panda-themed open-top sightseeing bus. The bus will initially operate on three routes—H1, H2, and H2K—and is expected to switch to newly planned H3 and H4 routes from March 17.
These routes will cover iconic attractions such as Ocean Park, Repulse Bay, Stanley, and Kennedy Town Praya, with 17 daily trips planned. Final arrangements are pending discussions with the Transport Department.
The bus features adorable panda-themed designs on its exterior, a large skylight, and Arabic-language destination displays, aligning with the city's initiative to promote "panda tourism" and attract Middle Eastern visitors.
Citybus Assistant Operations Director Mr. Ma stated that the current single-trip fare for the sightseeing routes is HK$47.6, which he believes is competitively priced. He also noted that bus ridership has increased, reflecting the attractiveness of the service. Given that the new routes include steep and winding roads, Citybus specially designed shorter buses to ensure smooth operations. The initiative aims to optimize coastal and tourism resources, aligning with the concept of "tourism is everywhere in Hong Kong."
Ma further revealed that Citybus will distribute 500 ticket packages to Southern District residents, allowing them unlimited rides on the panda-themed buses and other routes within 24 hours. He expressed confidence that the initiative will help boost the local economy.
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