PLACE OF PRAYER
CENTRAL | HONG KONG - Did you know that, Muslim friends, Hong Kong has the longest outdoor escalator in the world? Up to 800 meters in length!
If usually escalators or escalators are inside the building, in Hong Kong there are outdoor escalators. Namely, the Central – Mid-Levels Escalator, the longest outdoor escalator in the world.
Central – Mid-Levels Escalator is an escalator that connects the Central District and Western District, on Hong Kong Island. Citing the official Hong Kong tourism website, this escalator was built in 1993.
The Central – Mid-Levels Escalator is divided into 20 escalator sections and 3 connected 'moving walkways'. Along this path, there are 14 entrances and exits. Because of its length, it took up to 20 minutes to complete the escalator, from the bottom to the top.
The bottom escalator entrance is located at 100 Queen's Road Central. This escalator ends at Conduit Road, the very top of the Western District. This escalator is available in 2 directions, namely up and down.
Every 06 a.m. to 00 a.m., the escalator goes down, that is, when residents rush to their offices in the Central area. Conversely, from 10:00 a.m. to midnight, the escalator moved up in the opposite direction.
Well, if you go along this escalator, at the very top of it you will find the entrance gate of a building that is familiar to your mind. Above the gate is a white emblem with gold ink in three languages: Arabic, English and Chinese.
In Arabic, the name Jamia Masajid is written. Meanwhile in English, it is written Jamia Mosque. Yes, this is a mosque that is better known among the Indonesian community in Hong Kong as the Jamia Central Mosque.
Oldest Mosque
Jamia Mosque is located at 30 Shelley Street, Mid-Levels. This mosque is the oldest mosque in Hong Kong.
Based on data on the Wikipedia site, this mosque was first built in 1890 on a plot of land leased by the Hong Kong government which was still under British rule at that time. Initially, the mosque was named Mohammedan Mosque. In 1915, the mosque building was restored and enlarged as it looks like it is today. After World War II, the mosque was renamed the Jamia Mosque, and is also known as the Laskar Temple (Lascar Temple).
Jamia Central Mosque is very familiar among Indonesian migrant workers (PMI) Hong Kong. This is because almost every month there are organizations or taklim assemblies that organize rihlah activities or tours from mosque to mosque. And, Jamia Central Mosque has always been part of several mosques visited by hundreds of tour participants.
If Sahabat Muslim is in the Central area and wants to visit the Jamia Mosque, just walk down the hall to the Pedder Street exit, at Exit D2 of the MTR station. Then, turn right. After walking for about 70 meters, turn left. From a distance, a tall building is visible: the Hong Wai Building, which is located at 36 Queen's Road, Central.
After crossing the road, go through the zebra crossing, turn right. You just have to walk straight until you find the Regent Center Building at 100 Queen's Road. On the left, you can see a horizontal escalator. This series of escalators will lead us to the front gate of the Jamia Mosque.
From Causeway Bay, Sahabat Muslim can take bus number 23. The bus stop is in front of the Hysan Place Mall, right across from the SOGO shopping center. Upon arrival at Central, get off at Dr. Sun Yat Sen Museum. From there, it's just a walk or take the escalator. About 3 minutes, I arrived at the Jamia Mosque.
So, if you happen to be taking a walk in the Central area, make sure to visit the Jamia Mosque to perform your prayers. The room which can accommodate 400 worshipers, as well as a place for wudlu which has been repaired and expanded, the Jamia Mosque is also comfortable for performing Friday prayers. [Siti Ngatipah]
