Street Escalator (Central Escalator) description and photos - Hong Kong: Hong Kong (Topic)

Central Escalator description and photos - Hong Kong: Hong Kong. Detailed information about the attraction. Description, photographs and a map showing the nearest significant objects. The title in English is Central Escalator.

Photo and Description

The Hong Kong Escalator System is the world's longest covered network of moving sidewalks, stretching over 800 meters, rising up to 135 meters in height along steep, sloping streets linking different areas of Hong Kong Island.

The street escalator was opened in October 1993, the cost of the construction was six times the original estimate. The system is not a one-piece continuous escalator, but a series of 20 movable stairs and 3 inclined travelators. They are connected to one another at the places of pedestrian bridges, there are 14 entrances and exits. The journey through the entire length of the escalator system from the start to the end point takes about 20 minutes.

The project, originally called "Hillside Escalator Link", was controversial and in the first days after the launch was considered unsuccessful, because did not achieve the main goal of easing congestion between the Central and Mid-level city levels. However, the system provided an easy and free way to move residents of these counties, passengers and tourists, and the passenger traffic grew to more than 55,000 people daily, more than double preliminary estimates. In addition, the outdoor escalator allows easy access to the top of the hill, which has contributed to the economic and social growth of the areas it passes through.

Escalators run from Queens Road in Central to Conduit Road in Mid Levels. Due to the small space in the narrow streets, it was impossible to build two escalators. That is why the system only works on the descent from the average level from 6 to 10 am daily, which allows everyone to get to their offices in Central. After 10 a.m., the stream reverses and the escalators move up until midnight.

The second, 800-meter continuous escalator between Conduit and Center Streets in Sai Ying Poon was designed in 1993 and is due to be completed coincided with the opening of the nearby port of Western Harbor Crossing in 1997, but the project was never launched. Plans were still pending in 2011.

For tourists, the escalator ride is a great potential to explore the bustling streets of Central Hong Kong, the oldest shopping, antique and art district, its museums, old buildings, and contrasting, more calm level of Mid-Levels.

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Topic: Street Escalator (Central Escalator) description and photos - Hong Kong: Hong Kong.