Hong Kong Island’s North Shore

Hong Kong Island‘s north shore is made up of several areas. Not having time, nor interest in, covering them all, the neighbourhoods of Central and Sheung Wan became my tumbling grounds. With the diverse characters they portray, I found it quite fascinating to walk around among the office buildings, designer shops, restaurants, bars, and curiosity stores. The most striking feature are the elevated walkways that take you from one air-conditioned high-rise to another. It feels like you don’t have to be on street level if you don’t want to. Going in and out of those skyscrapers during the summer heat was bound to make me sick 🙁 In connection to the walkways you’ll find the 800 meter, sectioned Mid-Levels Escalators, which brings people further up the hillside. Going down only during morning rush hour, the rest of the day also going up. But you shouldn’t stay on the walkways all the time, even though it is quite comfortable. Street level is totally different – hot (at least in summer), noisy, and chaotic, but still exciting. It is very possible to find those smaller, quieter streets filled with tiny, less flashy shops, and more Chinese vibe. You’ll also come across streets like Ladder Street, which is a steep, broad stone staircase, a relic from the era of sedan chair carriers. Well, I shouldn’t say era, as I spotted some up in the mainland China mountains bringing tourists up and down…

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