When I reviewed the map for the Hong Kong MTR back in April, I noted that the smaller, connecting, light rail system in Hong Kong’s north west wasn’t paid much attention. As seen here, it’s a complex and comprehensive system in its own right and is definitely too detailed to co-exist on one map with the MTR system.

Have we been there? No.

What we like: One of the most stylised and diagrammatic maps I’ve seen yet – and one that shows that such a map can be very effective (Although, if you rotate the map 90 degrees counter clockwise, the map does actually correspond pretty well to the physical layout of the system).

Clever integration of the MTR’s West Rail Line into the map – it is shown, but with the parts of the line that don’t interact with the light rail compressed into a tiny area of the map.

Nicely integrated bilingual labels that don’t detract from the layout of the map.

What we don’t like: I’m not a huge fan of the pastel colours for the Zone backgrounds – it makes the map look a bit rainbow-like to my eyes, although this may just be a difference in cultural perception – to my (admittedly untrained) eye, the colours in general do lend a very Chinese feeling to the map.

Our rating: A very solid diagrammatic map that fits neatly into a small, narrow space. Three-and-a-half stars.

Source: Official MTR Light Rail website