Ladder Street () is a street in the Central and Western District of Hong Kong, consisting entirely of steps and landings formed from a mix of granite slabs and concrete paving. It was so named because it extends up and down in a straight line like a ladder.Antiquities Advisory Board. Historic Building Appraisal. Ladder Street, Hong Kong The street has been listed as a Grade I historic building.Antiquities Advisory Board. List of the 1,444 Historic Buildings with Assessment Results
The name has since been applied to describe other streets of this type in Hong Kong.
History Ladder Street was built between 1841 and 1850. The name 'Ladder Street' first appeared on a plan of Victoria dated 1856.
Location Ladder Street starts north at the junction of Queen's Road Central with Lok Ku Road (). It intersects with Hollywood Road and Bridges Street, and has junctions with Upper Lascar Row, Circular Pathway (), Square Street () and Rozario Street () before reaching its southern terminus at Caine Road.
Features The Man Mo Temple on Hollywood Road is located on the corner of Ladder Street.Film Services Office. Location Database. Ladder Street
The Chinese YMCA of Hong Kong, Bridges Street Centre, is located on the corner of Bridges Street and Ladder Street.Film Services Office. Location Database. Chinese YMCA of Hong Kong - Bridges Street Centre
Metal railings have been installed in the centre of the street, and open drainage channels are located on each side to drain off rainwater. Many old sections of stone retaining walls and boundary walls are present along Ladder Street.
Plans to build escalators on five sections of Ladder Street were considered by the Transport and Housing Bureau, but were abandoned in 2010 due to heritage concerns.
In popular culture Ladder Street was one of the locations in the 1960 film The World of Suzie Wong.
The street was a main location – and metaphor for the downfall of Hong Kong – in the 2004 Hong Kong independent suspense movie The Cat of Hollywood, directed by Pierre Lam.
See also Ladder streets Chung Wan (constituency) and Sheung Wan (constituency)
References
Further reading
External links
Antiquities Advisory Board. Pictures of Ladder Street Entry at gwulo.com