Central-Mid-Levels Escalator System

The Central-Mid-Levels Escalator on Hong Kong Island is, at over 800 metres, the longest covered outdoor escalator system in the world. It consists of 20 escalators and three moving walkways running in series, climbing the steep slope from the Central business district up to the residential Mid-Levels. Opened in 1993 at a cost of around 240 million HKD, it was intended to relieve commuter traffic - the financial result was disappointing, but the urban impact was huge: the SoHo nightlife district with bars, restaurants and galleries grew up along Hollywood Road and Staunton Street next to it. The escalators run downhill into Central until 10 a.m. and then uphill until midnight. Wong Kar-wai filmed key scenes of Chungking Express here.