The ‘never-ending’ commute with 19 escalators takes 99,000 people to work every day

The escalators take you all throughout the city (Picture: Getty Images) For many Brits, their commute involves a bus ride or battling the Tube during rush hour. But for workers in central Hong Kong, the journey is rather different. Here, people use The Central-Mid-Levels Escalator, a system of 19 escalators, which takes about 20 minutes to ride. The long zig-zagging chain of staircases (which also include street crossings and pavements), cover a distance of about 88m, and 135m vertically. Latest figures from 2024 show they carry a staggering 99,000 every single day. The area covers a residential area (on the higher levels), that merges into the lower CBD (Central Business District) so is perfect for people on their way to work. The escalators pass by restaurants and shops, and you can hop on and off if you fancy a stroll around the neighbourhoods. The run from morning to night, around commuter schedules (Picture: gionnixxx/Getty Images) You can’t just ride these moving walkways at any time of day, though. The escalators only move downwards from 6am to 10am, and upwards from 10.20 am to midnight. And Londoners, prepare to fume… it’s also completely free. What’s it like to ride Hong Kong’s Central-Mid-Levels Escalator? Travel vlogger and TV producer, Richie Litchfield, often visits Hong Kong for work, and when he does, he uses the escalator system to get around. Ask Metro Use AI to go deeper into the stories you care about – powered by Metro and trusted publications. Richie tells Metro that despite carrying crowds of commuters, the flow remains pretty orderly. ‘People stand behind each other,’ he says. If people do need to walk past them, they will do so, just like in London,’ he explains. And the best bit?’You don’t get traffic jams on the escalator,’ he says. ‘It’s constantly moving; once you’re on it, you just stand there, and it just takes you down. ‘It’s just like jumping on a tube, but not as busy — and you’re not fighting to get on.’ Unlike the Tube though, Richie says people are quiet and well behaved on the escalators. ‘There’s not really any pushing and shoving as you would get in London. It’s more respectful, they’re not so they’re not so much in a hurry as they are in the UK.’ Richie’s fondness for the escalators are shared by other riders online. There’s proper etiquette to be followed (Picture: PRANGKUL RUANGSRI/ Getty Images) ‘This escalator ride is an adventure in itself,’ said @travel_hbom on Instagram. ‘Along the way, You’ll find a treasure trove of trendy cafes, vibrant bars, and delightful shops.’ While @queen_earth31 called it ‘wonderfully unique’ and @capitaltocapital said it was her ‘favourite commute’. Meanwhile @cecile.artio said the escalators felt ‘never-ending’. Highlights along the Central-Mid-Levels Escalator route in Hong Kong It’s not just a series of boring corridors and stairs. There’s a lot to take in on this commute too, if you know where to look. Near the upper-middle section, the escalator passes right above Hong Kong’s oldest mosque built in 1890, and glides directly past Tai Kwun, Hong Kong’s biggest cultural hub, featuring historic brick courtyards and art galleries. As the escalator passes through Hong Kong’s Soho, it provides direct access to bustling dining and entertainment lanes, crossing streets filled with terrace bars, international eateries, and local ramen shops like Bari-Uma. Tucked behind discreet doors along the mid-section are eccentric speakeasies like Club Feather Boa, famous for its ‘kitsch’ decor and chocolate-dipped frozen daiquiris, and a place Richie would not have discovered if not for the escalators. Another escalator spot was a Michelin-star restaurant, Tsim Chai Lee, which sells noodles for less than £5, and a must-visit, according to the vlogger. The system goes all throughout the city (Picture: sjpark/Getty Images) It can be considered somewhat of a catalyst for SoHo, as before the system opened, the steep streets of Shelley Street were quiet residential alleys. The accessibility brought by the escalator transformed the entire neighbourhood into the dining and nightlife hub known today as SoHo. Do you have a story you’d like to share? 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