Hong Kong Central Mid Levels Escalators 中環至半山自動扶梯

This is a part of Hong Kong that are very seldom visited by tour groups (that means those packaged tours). After all, what’s the fun of looking at an escalator. I am very pleased to be able to take a ride on this as I am always interested in Hong Kong stuff and also, I think I saw TVB serials on these escalators before. A lot of times.. HA HA

I am talking about the Hong Kong Central Mid Levels Escalators (中環至半山自動扶梯). It was built in the island of the Hong Kong. it is the longest outdoor covered escalator system in the world.

The original intention of the escalators are very cool. It is designed to bring office workers from Mid Levels flats (半山) to the Central (where all the tall beautiful buildings are such as HSBC, Bank of China etc). That’s why the escalator runs downhill from 6:00am to 10:00am (to bring workers to work) and then switch direction uphill from 10:30am to midnight (to bring workers back to their homes). If you are going in the opposite direction, you used the stairs that are next to the escalators.

The escalator runs through Cochrane Street between Queen’s Road Central and Lyndhurst Terrace. Then it runs along Shelley Street (些利街). The escalator bisects the following streets/roads:

Des Voeux Road Central (德輔道中)
Queen’s Road Central (皇后大道中)
Stanley Street (士丹利街)
Wellington Street (威靈頓街)
Gage Street (結志街)
Lyndhurst Terrace (擺花街)
Hollywood Road (荷里活道)
Staunton Street (士丹頓街)
Elgin Street (伊利近街)
Caine Road (堅道)
Mosque Street (摩羅廟街)
Mosque Junction (摩羅廟交加街)
Robinson Road (羅便臣道)
Conduit Road (干德道)

It was officially opened to the public on 15 October 1994. Since the escalator system opened, many restaurants have opened around all the elevated level, in the first or second floors of buildings already present. So you can actually have lots of fun going to the different places along side of the escalators.

So how do you get there ?

Here’s a map from my notebook of where the escalators are located. You should use Exit C from Central MTR and walk to the start of the escalators. You should be able to easily see signboards that point to the escalators.

My advice is to take the escalators after 10:30 am. That way, you start the journey UPWARDS with the automated escalators. Then when u reach the top (or somewhere at the top), come DOWNWARDS by the stairs. I think it is easier to walk DOWN than to walk UP. As you walk down, stop at the streets and explore the area. Have a coffee, watch people or even do some shopping.

Hong Kong is a great country to walk around… when the weather is good too…