Hong Kong’s Peak Tram, one of the city’s most popular tourist attractions, has reopened with a new look after a year-long closure. The funicular, the oldest in Asia, dated back to 1888 and drew over six million visitors annually before Covid-19 struck.
The service welcomed back passengers on Saturday – even as tight coronavirus rules remain in the city.
It has undergone an HKD 799m (£87m) facelift since closing in June 2021.
Tourist numbers in Hong Kong are a fraction of their pre-Covid levels – in the past year, 134,000 people visited the city compared to 65 million in 2018. The tram’s makeover includes a redesigned terminus in the city’s central business district and more spacious tramcars.
But curbs on overseas visitors due to Covid-19 remain in place, meaning Hong Kong is unlikely to see a return to previous tourism numbers soon.
Earlier this month, hotel quarantine requirements for people arriving from abroad were reduced from seven days to three. But they must still undergo another four days of “medical surveillance” either at home or at any hotel and are restricted in where they can travel.
Cases in the city are on the rise, with more than 7,800 infections are seven deaths reported on Friday.
Hong Kong’s Health Secretary Lo Chung-mau warned that daily cases could soon exceed 10,000 and announced a negative test requirement for people dining in groups of eight or more.
The pandemic also impacted the Peak Tram’s redevelopment, with the project going over budget due to difficulties in transporting custom tramcars from Switzerland.