Hong Kong escalator speed startles Taiwan visitors online
Bastillepost · 1 SOURCESabout 2 hours ago2 MIN

Summary
A Taiwan netizen said one of the hardest things to get used to during a Hong Kong trip was how fast the city’s escalators felt, describing them as about three times quicker than those in Taiwan . The post drew responses from other Taiwan travellers, including one who said an elderly family member was left shaken after riding one in Hong Kong . Hong Kong commenters pushed back by saying Taiwan’s escalators feel unusually slow, and some complained that Hong Kong’s own escalators are no longer as fast as before . Users also traded recommendations for the city’s most intense rides, especially the long escalator at MegaBox in Kowloon Bay and the MTR Kowloon Tong station connection to Festival Walk .
Key Points
- A Taiwan visitor wrote online that Hong Kong escalators were the most unfamiliar part of the trip, calling them “really fast” and roughly triple Taiwan’s speed .
- Another Taiwan traveller said an older mother was still rattled after one ride, joking that the escalator felt strong enough to fling passengers forward .
- Hong Kong netizens replied that Taiwan’s escalators are so slow they feel sleepy, with some exaggerating that local rides there move at a fraction of Hong Kong speed .
- Some Hong Kong users said current escalators have already slowed compared with the past, complaining they now feel inefficient and less suited to the city’s pace .
- The most-cited “extreme” example was MegaBox’s roughly 43.5-metre escalator running from the first to the fifth floor, while Kowloon Tong’s link escalator was also noted as fast before later slowing .
Why It Matters
The discussion shows how ordinary transport features can become part of Hong Kong’s image for visitors, especially when they match the city’s reputation for speed and efficiency . It also suggests that small design choices in public spaces can shape comfort for elderly travellers and first-time tourists, even when locals barely notice them anymore .