Soho

The Soho district is one of the most thriving of Hong Kong Island's Central area – a place that has become a magnet for culture-seekers in the day, and for energetic nightlife when the sun goes down. Art galleries and antique shops mingle with bars, restaurants and clubs. Known as the 'entertainment lounge' for the central business district, it is now one of the property hotspots of the city. It wasn't always like this, though. And it owes its transformation to the installation of an imaginative piece of transport technology, along Cochrane and Shelley Streets.

The name of the district comes from its location – South of Hollywood Road, or SoHo. A steep-sloped area, difficult to reach area and navigate, it was once home mainly to elderly residents and aged porcelain shops. But that all changed in 1993 when the government built a covered pedestrian escalator here to ease congestion.

The Central–Mid-Levels Escalator, as it is called, is the longest outdoor escalator in the world – at over 800-metres total length – and it made Soho an easy walk from Hong Kong's centre of business and government. That attracted professionals, throughout the 1990s. And it also brought in the expat community. The escalator is a must for any Soho visitor – it runs downhill in the mornings, and uphill in the evenings, following the flow of its commuting users.

The pedestrianised heart of Soho is now lined with bars and restaurants, mixing cuisines and styles from around the world. Much of the older architecture is still visible in its terraced housing and godowns, though much has been replaced by shiny new towers, as the area has become more upmarket. One impressive early building, on Castle Road, is Kom Tong Hall. This early 20th century mansion houses the Dr Sun Yat-sen Museum. There is also a trail which follows the story of this revolutionary national hero for the Chinese.

But most come to Soho to enjoy its relaxed atmosphere, take in a music gig, comedy night or an evening club session. And of course to sit in a bar and recover from climbing double-speed up its famous escalators.