Shopping in Hong Kong

The Ladies' Market in Mong Kok is very colourful and one of the best places to shop for clothes for the whole family. The many street stalls sell a diverse range of bargain items, including clothing, watches, toys and souvenirs.

Central, Admiralty, and Causeway Bay on Hong Kong Island, along with Tsim Tsa Tsui and Mong Kok in Kowloon are the main shopping areas. Shopping hours vary, but most shops are open until late at night, seven days a week. Shops are also open on public holidays, except during the Lunar New Year. However, shops in Central close earlier at around 6 p.m., but the other main areas stay open until 9:30 p.m.

Main shopping malls on Hong Kong Island include Landmark in Central, Pacific Place in Admiralty, Times Square in Causeway Bay, and City Plaza in Taikoo Shing. Kowloon also has its share of malls, which includes the linked Ocean Terminal and Harbour Centre complexes.

Kowloon

Bird Market,. Yuen Po Street, Mong Kok, 10 minutes walk from Prince Edward MTR station. Hundreds of song birds in cages of all shapes and sizes combine to make a noise

Nathan Road. Not a market, but there's a definte market-feel to the many shops that are crammed along the lower end of this street in Tsim Sha Tsui with their neon signs jutting out into the street from the buildings. Here there is everything from cameras, electronic goods, tailors to jewellery shops. Street hawkers will offer "Custom suit", "Copy watch", "Jade rings", anything and everything is available here.Night Market, Shanghai Street, Yau Ma Tei. After dusk into late night a browse through this market is fascinating. There's everything from fortune-tellers to open air restaurants.

Ladies' Market, Tung Choi Street, Mong Kok. Open daily from noon to 10:30pm sells everything from fake designer accessories and clothing to cheap cosmetics and toys. It is also popular for late night snacks.

Jade Market, Kansu & Battery Streets, Yau Ma Tei. Open daily 10am to 3:30pm this market has jade objects in many different shapes and sizes. Beware though, not all of the objects are genuine jade, but if you're not too bothered you can get a reasonably priced souvenir.

The view of Hong Kong's waterfront is spellbinding as millions of lights captivate the senses.

Hong Kong Island

Cat Street (Upper Lascar Row). Shops along this street are filled with a mixture of bric-a-brac, real and fake antiques and hundreds of stalls.

Western Market, Morrison Street. Opened in 1906 this red brick built building was a food market for more than 80 years. Today it has been restored and in 1991 became a shopping complex. It offers handcrafts, fabric and souvenir stalls.

Stanley Market, Stanley Market Road, Stanley, Hong Kong Island. Stanley Market is the perfect place to buy something special for friends or relatives. The historic fishing lanes are jam-packed with vendors selling Chinese artwork, silk collectibles and curios.

Tony works for Strathlorn Travel who specialise in travel for the independent traveller to some of the world's more 'off the beaten track' destinations.