Shopping Hong Kong Style

It often amazes visitors that, no matter what their financial circumstances, Hong Kong people can look so stylish; especially since most tourists never get beyond the malls with their high priced shops and designer labels. The secret, as you might guess, is knowing where to shop. I have a few suggestions here. I would welcome additional hints and input from others.

Needless to say, almost all inexpensive shopping in Hong Kong is under “caveat emptor” or “buyer beware” conditions. Returns are not welcomed and trust only your own eyes. For instance, never buy anything packaged unless you unpack it to insure it is what the packaging says it is. I own two sweaters that even my wife Pam has to squeeze into even though the labels say “x-large.”

One of the most accessible areas for inexpensive shopping are the alleys and side streets off Queen’s Road Central and Des Voeux Road, west of Wyndham and Pedder Streets. These are truly alleys and side streets and are hard if not impossible to find on a street map. The best way to locate them is to walk west on the North side of either Queens Road or Des Voeux Road and at the alley and side street entrances look to your left uphill and you will see the booths along the walls. Most of them are open in the afternoons and well into the evening. They are busiest on Sundays when the domestic helpers have their day off. Everything from fresh fruits and vegetables to designer seconds and knock-offs are sold here. Bargaining is a necessity unless you wish to pay inflated prices. In the evenings, if you continue uphill to Hollywood Road, you’ll find even cheaper stuff being sold off blankets on the sidewalk.

Temple St. in Mongkok, Kowloon-side, sometimes called the poor man’s night club, has hundreds of booths and shops selling goods which would cost 5 to 10 times as much in the regular stores. Yes, some of the goods are pirated, some are contraband, some are knock-offs but the one thing they have in common is they are cheap. This is triad territory so be careful at night.

Causeway Bay is perhaps the most popular shopping area for local people. Interspersed among the big department stores and the designer shops are clothing and shoe stores that sell seconds and off-season merchandise at huge discounts. You must walk around to find them but they are there. A number of the clothing shops in Happy Valley, near Causeway Bay, have incredible bargains on legitimate goods. Do not expect the clerks to speak English and do expect to explore the racks of stuff to find your style and size preferences.

Last I will mention “Stanley Market,” on the East side of Hong Kong Island, the popular expatriate and tourist bargain center. Unfortunately, Stanley is creeping up-market but you can still find incredible bargains here if you are patient, persistent and can negotiate. I have friends who buy all their presents for the whole year on their trips to Hong Kong and Stanley Market. The merchandise is mostly clothing and accessories but there are household goods, jewelry and souvenirs to be found here, also pick-pockets and rip-offs, so be careful.

I am sure I’ve just touched the surface. I’m not a shopper myself, but frankly, sometimes I enjoy just walking through these markets and watching the interactions. I also save a lot of money that way.

By ejh | Permalink

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