Whether it’s high-end luxury brands or affordable tech for a new phone, Hong Kong is well renowned for being the centrum of all things shopping. The atmosphere itself is tantamount to New York’s Times Square, (but bigger). With bright lights, familiar brands on your left and right, you can’t leave Hong Kong without finding what you need.
When shopping in Hong Kong’s shopping malls, don’t forget you can save even more money because you can receive your tax back if you show your passport (unfortunately, not applicable in markets).
Here’s how you can plan your shopping spree, once done, a quick hop to the next one.
Admiralty, Central and SOHO
If you’re looking for a five-star shopping experience, Admiralty, Central and SoHo is the place for you to spend on luxurious good and high fashion. Locked in between the Peak and Victoria Harbour, this city’s financial district boasts exclusive luxury malls such as the LANDMARK which spans four buildings: LANDMARK ATRIUM, LANDMARK CHATER, LANDMARK ALEXANDRA and LANDMARK PRINCE’S retailing high-end labels which includes Louis Vuitton’s Asia flagship store, Tiffany to name a few. Dining is prestigious with Michelin-starred restaurants and the Café is a favourite with local celebrities. So, why not take some time to soak the luxury side of Hong Kong.
Causeway Bay
With endless shopping malls, department stores, boutiques and market stalls, although it will take an entire day to go around, Causeway Bay is perhaps the most convenient area to explore for those with a tight schedule.
Depending on your budget, upmarket fashion can be found in Times Square, Lee Theatre or Fashion Walk; mid-price in Hong Kong’s largest Japanese-style department store SOGO or bargains galore of clothing, accessories and domestic goods at Jardine’s Crest market.
Old Town Central
One of the most dynamic districts in the city, Old Town Central is a place where century-old temples share the same streets as fashion-forward concept stores and modern art galleries.
There’s plenty to discover, one of them is a former school and police dormitory – presently a hub for design and creative industries. PMQ Central is a creative mall with a cool vibe and contemporary art and design space, where tourists can get quirky, handcrafted souvenirs or artisan goods such as home-made soaps and fragrances by some of Hong Kong’s best creatives. On weekends, PMQ hosts a series of pop-markets with live music and food stalls until late.
If you’re on a hunt for costumes, Pottinger Street is the place to drop by. Still prefer to be called ‘Stone Slab Street’ by the locals due to its granite stone pavements, this one of the oldest and iconic streets in Hong Kong. Home to stalls selling festive costumes and party accessories on both sides of the street. Bargaining is expected, so don’t pay the first price.
Sheung Wan
The neighbourhood of Sheung Wan is an eclectic blend of shopping experiences – the Western market offers an array of handicraft shops in an Edwardian-style mall, or head for dried abalones, scallops and other pungent products for soups at Dried Seafood Street, Wing Lok Street or Bonhan Strand West.
If you’re looking for antiques from small pieces of jades to large porcelain vases from the Ming Dynasty, Cat Street or its official name Lascar Row is the place to show off your bargaining skills. After a good bargain, have a drink at their restaurants or bars and soak in the nostalgic builds from the World War II era.
Stanley
Shoppers come to Stanley for its popular Stanley Market which is made up of winding lanes of an assortment of gifts, clothes and antiques. Less than 5 minutes away from this open-air marketplace is a restored colonial building that was originally located in Central, the Murray House. The restaurants on the first floor of this building offer great views over Blake Pier and the South China Sea, a great way to wind down after a long day of shopping.
Wan Chai
Made internationally famous by the 1960 film ‘The World of Suzie Wong’, Wan Chai is not just Hong Kong’s party district; by day it is a pleasant neighbourhood for wandering and shopping. Designer homeware, discount toys and cutting-edge computer gadgetry are just a few of the reasons why locals and visitors travel from all over Hong Kong to come shopping in Wan Chai.
Tsim Sha Tsui
Huge shopping malls and high-end shopping are what you can expect at Tsim Sha Tsui. More than just a district, this giant bazaar spans over 340,000 square feet which includes K11, the world’s first art mall where shopping and art mingle in one building.
You can also find Hong Kong’s largest mall, the enormous Harbour City Mall, a combination of three separate malls together with 400 other shops and houses Chanel’s flagship store in Asia and Louis Vuitton’s largest outlet in Asia.
Drop by 1881 Heritage for a unique experience that blends history with luxury shopping and if you’re looking for a nice place to rest those feet, head to the harbour-side restaurants for a cup of coffee.
Mong Kok & Jordan
Mong Kok is Hong Kong’s most congested shopping and residential district, but don’t let that scare you away. The historic streets are worth visiting – especially for shopping! Just about everything can be found in Mong Kok and its entire street sections are dedicated to the sale of goldfish, flowers, birds, sneakers and kitchenware. The neighbourhood includes one of Hong Kong’s most popular and best markets to pick up inexpensive gifts, the Ladies’ Market.
Langham Place is one of the many malls where you can do your Mong Kok shopping in air-conditioned comfort. Spiralling 15 floors up with more than 200 shops, shoppers are entertained by a continuous medley of entrancing visualizations of the Digital Sky and live performances while shopping. It is also conveniently attached to the Mong Kok Metro Station, and if you’ve been to Hong Kong, you’d know that it’s worthwhile moving from place to place with public transportation.
Another must-go night market is the largest and liveliest market in Hong Kong, Temple Street Night Market, which is popular with their cheap clothes, open-air street food stalls, watches and everything and anything in your shopping list. The market starts at 6pm, but it runs best from 7pm until 10pm when it’s a colourful and noisy spectacle!
Sham Shui Po
Sham Shui Po is a charming district where you can find open-air markets among historical buildings. Indulge reasonably priced Michelin-recommended snacks, look out for decorative fabrics and accessories, and spend hours through the wide range of items in their fashion and fabric markets. Sham Shui Po has also played a starring role in a few high-profile movies such as Hong Kong’s ‘Infernal Affairs’, ‘A Simple Life’, Hollywood’s ‘Transformers: Age of Extinction’ and ‘Ghost in the Shell’.
Lantau
Lantau has the most popular Outlet store in all of the city, offering heavily discounted products all year round at Citygate Outlet. A perfect location close to the airport, it is also a popular spot for tourists to enjoy some last-minute shopping or to catch a movie prior to their departure.
If you’ve still forgotten to buy trinkets to bring home, you can drop by Hong Kong Airport’s Sky Mart at Terminal 1.
PHEW, now that’s a lot of shopping! For those who can’t wait to get their hands on the ‘I Love Hong Kong’ t-shirts, let’s go for a shopping spree in Hong Kong with Tripfez Travel with the support of the Hong Kong Tourism Board, offering you the best 5 Days 4 Nights – Explore Hong Kong at RM2,890 per person (ALL-IN) package!