Travel tales and tips for shopping in Hong Kong by asiahotels.com

Traveller's Tales: Shopping suggestions in Hong Kong

Get the best advice on shopping in Hong Kong. You may read about shopping malls, souvenir items and best buys in the area. Also, you might want to read our Hong Kong city guide.

D Simpson	07 December 2002
Stayed at YMCA - The Salisbury - Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
This was our second visit to Hong Kong and our first to Kowloon. We stayed 3 days on the Kowloon side before moving over to Hong Kong Island to join the rest of our group for a further 8 nights. Walking is an ideal way to get around both on the Island and in Kowloon. We picked up a pamphlet from our hotel on walking tours and spent days exploring both the back and main streets and enjoying all the resulting cultural experiences. The MRT is very easy to use and city street maps are readily available and should be carried at all times - especially for when you pop up out of a station and have completely lost your bearings! Use the Star Ferry. It's easy and the best value scenic trip there at HK$2.20 and do one of your trips at night time to see the lights on either side of the Harbour. Hong Kong harbour at night, especially if the Chrismas decorations are up, or a cruise liner coming or going, must nearly be one of the 7 wonders of the world. We visited in early December and the weather was surprisingly cool - believe the guide books! 13-19 degrees during day with some 25 degree days thrown in for confusion. You probably need to visit the many and varied markets: Stanley Market for the clothes and the bus ride there; The Night Market for hand bags, phones, watches; Ladies Market seemed to be the place for more handbags and the padded bra; The Bird Market, if only to be introduced to the 'live' bird food; the Flower Market, definitely the most pleasant smell we came across; the Jade Market - only a little knowledge would be a dangerous thing! A trip up the Peak tram was a memorable experience - talk about life hanging on a thread. Enjoy the magnificent view on a clear day but leave your shopping money in your pocket as retail prices are high. We did excellent tours to Macau and China on our previous visit so concentrated this time on the local experiences and were not disappointed. We were lucky enough to be granted temporary membership of the Hong Kong Football Club and full use of its facilities for our stay. A wonderful complex with free views of race night at the adjacent Happy Valley, thrown in. Eating places are many and varied and it's good to try a variety. English translations are not always humourous misprints - 'stir fry seasonal vegetable' was indeed one vegetable and not a mixed stir fry as one wife found out when her meal of bok choy arrived. Smoking is still allowed in restaurants so some establishments lost our group's custom as a quick measure of the 'fog' levels quickly had us going somewhere else. Hong Kong is a great place to visit. Our previous visit of 2 weeks had been 6 months prior to the handover to the Chinese. This time we noticed many more Chinese people and far fewer Europeans. Most seem to understand a few basic words of English and being a tourist there is no problem. Enjoy it!
T Eidsmo	04 December 2002
Stayed at YMCA - The Salisbury - Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
The ferry is close to the hotel and is the best way go to HK island (central). I went to Stanley market by bus. It was a nice to see the areas outside HK but it is an expensive non-bargain-friendly market. I recommend the bird-, flower-, and fish markets and a visit to a food-market all found in the area of Prince Edward metro-station.
M Takaoka	02 December 2002
Stayed at Empire Hotel Kowloon - Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
I didn't take any tours. This is my tenth time there, of course. I went on a shopping tour on my own. I went to the Temple Street Market the first night, being that is was Friday, it was very crowded, but I had fun, haggling for prices on items, I am sure, they, the merchants, enjoyed the interaction, because I laughed and joked with them as we discussed prices. I am a friendly guy anyway. The second day, I had to find a Starbucks, which was located underneath the Regal Kowloon. Still a great cup of coffee. I just relaxed most of that day, it rained during some parts of the day. Sunday, was great, I woke up late, and I was ready for Dim Sum, They are plenty of excellent Dim Sum restaurants in Kowloon, so I just walked north of Jordan on Nathan Road, and found a Dim Sum place, and had brunch. After Dim Sum, I went to the Chinese Emporium, a lot of things, you name it, and you would find it there. Later in the afternoon, I visited my friend that lives in Hong Hom, the eastern side of Kowloon, we visit the busy and bustling wet market to purchase ingredients for dinner, Hot Pot. There was live seafood everywhere, fresh veggies and fruits too. It was quite the fun experience, the merchants seem happy and enjoyed my naiveness of this type of market, along with the excitement from my eyes as I looked with total amazement of all things around me. I had enjoyed my stay in Kowloon. It was just an outstanding weekend.
J Burlace	25 November 2002
Stayed at Caritas Bianchi Lodge - Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
Set a little back from the busy Nathan Road, the hotel's location is ideal for all the Night Markets - just a short stroll from the hotel. The A21 bus stop to the Airport is just on the opposite side of the road.@If you like Japanese food there is a good restaurant near the hotel. Yoshinoya, is also a good Chinese fast food restaurant if you are in a hurry. The Star Ferry is about 20-25 mins walk away from the hotel.
D Emery	17 November 2002
Stayed at Anne Black Guest House (YWCA) - Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
I travelled primarily by MRT (metro) and taxi. Hong Kong is a great shopping destination and I recommmend the warehouse outlet at Kowloon Station.
J Brennan	15 November 2002
Stayed at Shamrock Hotel - Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
This was mainly a shopping stopover. I bought a camera in Mon Kok rather in the more expensive golden mile shops where there is less hassle. I visited the Temple St. night market very close to the hotel and went to the Golden Arcade in Sham Shui Po. I got there on to MTR to Sham Shue Po exit D brings one out almost beside this computer arcade on 3 floors which is about the best place in HKG to but computer products. Very crowded at weekends.
F Mrack	11 November 2002
Stayed at YMCA - The Salisbury - Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
We used the Octopus pass, which included the Airport Express, MTR, buses, Star Ferry and Victoria Peak tram. Great value! We also visited several markets and found the Stanley Market to be the best. We did the harbour tour at Aberdeen and found it quite interesting seeing the house boats. Walking down Nathan Road at night was quite an experience, all the people and all the lights. We found the people friendly, helpful and courteous. Twice while we were consulting our map we had people come up to us and asked if we needed any help.
S Sullivan	08 November 2002
Stayed at Evergreen Hotel Hong Kong - Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
I've been to Hong Kong on many occasions over the past 5 years. I now find that the days of "good" value in Hong Kong are long gone. Overall service and value for your dollar in Hong Kong are less than MANY other destinations. For shopping -you can get better prices on-line & at Brick & Mortar stores in the US than you can in HK, even with the 'no tax' deals. The local 'sites' are still great, Bird Market bring one of my favorites - and the Hong Kong people are wonderful - but, as a tourist destination HK has much work to do to regain some of the past attractivness.
D Novotny	04 November 2002
Stayed at Bishop Lei International - Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
If you like oriental antiques go to Hollywood st. If in town more than a few days get an octopus card.
S Reid	04 November 2002
Stayed at Anne Black Guest House (YWCA) - Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
Great clothes shopping if you are thin.

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