Hong Kong's Mid-Levels 'Hell' Route Draws Comparisons to Chongqing's Mountain City
SingTao · 1 SOURCESabout 2 hours ago2 MIN
Summary
A Hong Kong netizen's Xiaohongshu post about navigating steep staircases between Sheung Wan and Central has gone viral, resonating strongly with users from Chongqing. The route showcases at least five challenging staircases and slopes along the route, with photos depicting endless stone stairs wedged between dense buildings. Chongqing natives have responded enthusiastically, with one joking that Central and Western District is so reminiscent of their hometown that family members thought they had returned home during a video call.
Key Points
- A netizen shared a post titled "The slope I must climb every time I go grocery shopping" on Xiaohongshu, documenting her daily grocery route from Sheung Wan to Central
- The route requires navigating at least five highly challenging staircases and slopes, described as passing through multiple obstacles
- Photos reveal steep stone stairs squeezed between dense buildings and stone walls, plus sloping roads lined with vegetable stalls and shops extending upward
- Chongqing netizens expressed strong recognition, commenting "One look and it feels exactly like Chongqing" and "As a Chongqing person, I've never felt homesick on Hong Kong Island"
- One user joked that Central and Western District most closely resembles Chongqing; during their first visit they video-called family who assumed they had returned home
- Concerns were raised about elderly residents and those with joint problems navigating such terrain, with locals noting gentler slope alternatives exist
Why It Matters
This viral moment highlights how Hong Kong's hillside urban design, built on steep terrain out of necessity, creates daily physical challenges for residents that often go unnoticed by visitors. The enthusiastic response from Chongqing residents underscores how shared topographical characteristics can foster unexpected cultural connections between geographically distant cities .
This viral moment highlights how Hong Kong's hillside urban design, built on steep terrain out of necessity, creates daily physical challenges for residents that often go unnoticed by visitors. The enthusiastic response from Chongqing residents underscores how shared topographical characteristics can foster unexpected cultural connections between geographically distant cities .