Hong Kong, Asia, a shoppers paradise with Yuen Po Street Bird Garden, The Flower Market, Stanley Village Market, Jade Market, Goldfish Market, Western Market, Temple Street Night Market, Ladies’ Market, Granville Road Factory Outlets and the Spring Garden Lane Bargain Shopping.
There are many ways to see and sense how Hong Kongers thrive in their City of Life, a must for visitors is to join them at their favorite open-air street markets. Several are fascinating specialty markets where Chinese traditions flourish. In others, stallholders sell almost everything, and Temple Street Night Market provides and evening of sidewalk surprises. In all of the markets, basic English is spoken and bargain prices prevail.
Yuen Po Street Bird Garden- Recently relocated to a specially designed garden setting; Kowloon’s famous “Bird Market” is the favorite gathering-place for Hong Kong’s legion of songbird owners. Here, the tones of prized pet birds are studied intently and all their home comforts are for sale, from intricately crafted cages to nutritious grasshoppers. Many of these birds are also for sale.
Flower Market- Sweet scents, exotic blossoms and luck-bringing pot plants line the sidewalk and many florists’ stores in one of Kowloon’s loveliest specialist street markets.
Stanley Village Market- Once a historic fishing village the lanes are now packed with retailers specializing in Western-style casual clothing, Chinese artworks, silk and curios.
Jade Market- Hundreds of registered stallholders trade precious stones whose beauty and magical powers have enchanted Chinese collectors for hundreds of years.
Goldfish Market- An aquarium of tropical fish is a luck-brining essential item of home décor for many Hong Kong people, and this specialty market street is their favorite source of supplies.
Western Market- A handsomely renovated Edwardian redbrick market building housing souvenir shops and fabric merchants relocated from the area’s former “Cloth Alley”.
Temple Street Night Market- Hong Kong’s most popular open-air market with an array of stalls and shops selling casual clothing, watches, leatherwear and souvenirs. Side-attractions include Cantonese opera singers, fortune-tellers and al fresco restaurants serving basic street food.
Ladies’ Market- Kowloon’s most popular daylong street market, primarily attracting women seeking bargain-priced clothing, cosmetics and household knick-knacks.
Granville Road Factory Outlets- A favorite hunting ground for huge discount on designer samples and “irregular” items, with almost imperceptible flaws, specializing in casual shirts, sweaters and jackets.
Spring Garden Lane Bargain Shopping- Browse for bargain-priced casual clothing in the historic heart of old Wan Chai, near the district’s bustling market streets and ancient Taoist temples.
Hong Kong’s climate is subtropical, with four seasons. Summers are hot and humid, with average temperature 82F, frequent rain showers from April through September. There is a winter season, and a very brief spring and fall. The best time to visit is October to December, when it is cooler and drier. From January to March is the coldest time of the year with an average temperature of 59F.
Call the experts at James TravelPOINTS 1-800-538-7461, www.travelpoints.com
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