|
|
|
All About Shopping |
|
Hong Kong's
malls,
department stores and designer boutiques
offer an amazing contrast to the
bustling
open-air markets nestled among the towering
skyscrapers. Save time and money with the latest
shopping tips
and discover
where to
shop to get the best deals around.
What is your
favorite ?
Hong Kong
during a sales period is a complete retail therapy course! During the
winter (late December to February) and the summer sale (July to
September) major discounts are available for the avid shopper.
In order to attract visitors, quality service is a must. The Hong Kong
Tourism Board rewards local enterprises that provide exemplary service
and help raise Hong Kong's profile as a world-class city with the Hong
Kong Awards for Services. |
|
Back to the Top
 |
|
Shopping
Malls
Hong Kong's well-designed shopping mega-malls cater to every taste and
budget. These vast emporiums combine boutiques from a Who's Who of the
international designer scene with brand names from every corner of the
world. Enjoy the fine dining and gourmet food outlets in Hong Kong's
malls, offering everything you could ever desire under a single
air-conditioned roof. Hong Kong's biggest and brightest malls play
host to fashion shows, previewing the very latest trends from around
the world.
Department Stores
Every shopping area and mall in Hong Kong has a
trademark department store. World-class department stores from many
countries have carved out a niche in Hong Kong. From the bastion of
the British high street, Marks & Spencer, to Sogo of Japan, everything
is available. Also popular are hometown favourites Wing On, Sincere
and Lane Crawford.
Visit the popular Japanese-style emporiums, such as Seibu, Sogo or
Mitsukoshi and be enthralled by their gourmet food halls, exclusive
boutiques and quirky displays. The chain of China Products stores are
the ideal place to pick up a gift for a loved one. You can find
traditional padded silk jackets, embroidered cheongsams and
even the latest electronic gear.
Street Markets
Hong Kong's street markets are always full of excitement and colour.
The market stalls are where Hong Kong's dedicated shoppers hone their
bargaining skills. A little Cantonese helps but sign language is
universal. Pick up a bargain or just wander among the fascinating
range of wares.
Hong Kong
Kowloon
-
Yuen Po Street Bird
Garden
The Bird Garden is the favourite gathering place for Hong Kong's
songbird owners. The market provides them with all manner of
creature comforts, from intricately crafted cages to nutritious
grasshoppers.
-
Flower Market
Hong Kong's Flower Market is a truly magical experience. Admire
in the colourful displays, the sweet scents and the exotic blossoms
of many fortune-bringing houseplants.
-
Goldfish Market
Ensure you
have good luck throughout the years with a goldfish bowl from Hong
Kong. Aquariums are popular in Hong Kong because of their perceived
luck-bringing quality when properly positioned in the home. Mong
Kok's Goldfish Market is a favourite source of supply.
-
Ladie's Market
The Ladies' Market is Kowloon's version of Stanley Market. You
can find an amazing array of bargain women's clothing and
accessories.
-
Temple Street Night
Market
Temple Street Night Market is ordered chaos in action and the
perfect place to pick up a few bargains. Temple Street is awash with
rows of brightly lit stalls hawking an astonishing variety of
clothing, pens, watches, CDs, cassettes, electronic gadgets,
hardware and luggage. The busy food stalls offer a range of
delicacies including fresh seafood and hotpot dishes to tempt your
appetite. Fortune-tellers cluster at the Yau Ma Tei end of the
street, and so do Chinese opera enthusiasts seeking kindred spirits
for impromptu performances. Simply absorbing the Temple Street is a
memorable experience.
-
Jade Market
The Jade Market is a great place to spend a morning browsing and
soaking up the atmosphere. The market is a mecca for collectors from
all over the world. According to Chinese belief, jade wards off evil
spirits and protects travellers. Stallholders ply their trade,
displaying everything from rare and valuable jade carvings to small,
inexpensive trinkets. Beware of the temptation to invest in
expensive jade unless you have an expert on hand to advise.
Shopping
Tips
Shop Where You See
this QTS Sign
 The
Quality Tourism Services (QTS) Scheme sign is a symbol you can
trust. When you see this sign, it is your guarantee that shop
provides high standards of customer service and genuine products.
Front-line staff have an in-depth understanding of the products and
can answer your questions efficiently.
Duty-free Prices
Shopping is a dream in Hong Kong because all goods, other than
alcohol and tobacco, are tax-free. This makes Hong Kong one of the
world's most attractive shopping destinations.
Compare Prices
Check different shops to compare prices of items you want to buy.
Shops displaying the QTS sign will have product prices clearly
displayed. Other department stores and chain stores also clearly
label their products. Smaller shops and street market stalls often
do not mark product prices providing a great opportunity to test
your bargaining skills.
Know Your Product
QTS-accredited shops clearly display product information of the
goods they sell. This makes it easy for you to know what you're
buying. Make sure you know what you want in terms of models,
features, prices and accessories. The Consumer Council Hotline +852
2929 2222 can provide suggested retail prices for popular brand name
items.
Be Aware of Parallel Imports
Parallel imports are items brought into Hong Kong by someone other
than the official import agent. While these products can be cheaper,
they often offer restricted guarantees or limited after-sales
service. Check the product and ask the sales staff before buying.
Inspect Your Products
Check the product before paying and make sure you have all the
accessories that should be included. Check the product you have
bought again before you leave the store.
Check Your Receipts
You should always get a sales receipt (street stalls sometimes do
not provide them). Check to ensure that all details and verbal
agreements are fully listed on the sales receipt. Make sure the
product details listed match the product you have bought.
Credit Card Payments
Most Hong Kong shops accept credit cards. Check the credit card slip
before signing it and take your receipt before leaving the store.
100% Refund Policy
All travel agent members of the Travel Industry Council of Hong
Kong, telephone: +852 2807 0707, offer a 100% refund guarantee to
visitors who patronise shops in tours arranged by travel agents. You
are entitled to a full refund within 14 days of purchase, provided
that the goods sold are returned intact and unused. If you're not
satisfied with a purchase during shopping activities arranged by
your travel agent, you should first approach your guide for
assistance. Don't forget to keep original copies of your sales
receipts.
Disputes
If you have any problems, keep your receipts and call the Consumer
Council Hotline +852 2929 2222 for assistance. You can also call the
HKTB multilingual Visitor Hotline +852 2508 1234 for assistance with
items purchased from a QTS-accredited shop or restaurant. In the
event of a serious dispute, call the 24-hour Hong Kong Police
emergency number 999 or obtain assistance from a nearest police
officer.
Where to
shop
Hong Kong
Island
Central
Hong Kong's central business district houses many shimmering
skyscrapers and marbled shopping atriums and malls. The contrast
between the old world markets and designer boutiques provides
variety and excitement to any shopping day. Scattered among the
government headquarters and financial and banking houses are a
wealth of opportunities for any shopper. The Landmark, The Galleria,
Prince's Building, Alexandra House and the International Finance
Centre Mall are the main shopping centres, with designer shops and
exclusive brand names in abundance.
Two parallel streets in Central known as "The Lanes", Li Yuen Street
East and Li Yuen Street West are a riot of stalls hawking everything
from inexpensive clothing, watches and costume jewellery to luggage
and shoes. Situated between Queen's Road Central and Des Voeux Road
Central, the market is open daily from 10:00am to 7:00pm. Stanley
Street is known for its range and reasonably priced photographic
equipment. Hollywood Road winds above the Central business district
and is Hong Kong's antiques row. Farther west towards Sheung Wan is
a bustle of sidewalk hawkers on Central's stepped "ladder" streets.
Western District
Western Market in Sheung Wan is a handsomely renovated Edwardian
building filled with Chinese handicraft stores and fabric shops. It
is situated at the corner of Connaught Road and Morrison Street,
Sheung Wan. The area to the west is famous for its small
Chinese-style shops selling dried seafood and medicinal herbs. Cat
Street bazaar is best known for stalls and shops selling antiques,
such as watches, old coins and stone carvings. The area is also home
to many interesting Chinese herbal medicine stores.
Admiralty
Admiralty too is famous for its brand-name luxury goods. Pacific
Place, one of Hong Kong's most popular malls, is the ideal place to
go in this area. You'll find perfect gift ideas within its 130-plus
outlets, including Marks & Spencer, Lane Crawford, Seibu and top
designer labels. Pacific Place is connected to the Admiralty MTR
Station.
Wan Chai
Wan Chai's streets are steeped in history and offer an amazing range
of shopping. Along Queen's Road East you can find a number of
excellent rattan and Chinese furniture shops which will happily
arrange to have your purchases sent home. Spring Garden Lane is a
great place to pick up clothes at very competitive prices. The
market stalls exclusively sell products originally meant for export,
meaning quality and price are very competitive. It also connects to
local wet and dry markets, and so offers a multicultural experience
in the heart of Wan Chai. Spring Garden Lane is in between Queen's
Road East and Johnston Road.
Causeway Bay
Causeway Bay is known locally as "Little Japan" because of the major
Japanese department stores in the area. Shops specialising in shoes,
electrical appliances and fashion for young people are found in
abundance. Taking a stroll through the many shopping malls,
including Times Square, Caroline Centre, World Trade Centre, The Lee
Gardens, Lee Theatre Plaza, Fashion Island and Island Beverley,
reveals a strong focus on fashion and food. In Square, in Windsor
House, is known for a wide range of computer products. Causeway Bay
is full of surprises, with a mini shopper's paradise in its heart,
sure to astonish. Jardine's Crescent is great for inexpensive
clothing, accessories and domestic goods - and all at great value.
Nearby, Jardine's Bazaar stocks traditional dried foods and bean
curd (tofu). To get there, take Exit F from Causeway Bay MTR
Station.
Tai Koo Shing
Tai Koo Shing in Quarry Bay houses one of Hong Kong's largest
purpose-built shopping complexes, Cityplaza, where it's easy to
spend an entire day exploring the many shops. Cityplaza is also very
popular, offering an ice-skating rink and other entertainment
facilities as well as an enormous range of retail shops and
department stores. It is located directly above Tai Koo MTR Station.
Ap Lei Chau
There are always bargains galore at Ap Lei Chau. The South Side area
near Aberdeen is known primarily for its discount furniture and
clothing warehouses. Horizon Plaza, located in Ap Lei Chau, has some
furniture and clothing factory outlets.
Stanley
Stroll through the markets at one of Hong Kong's most famous coastal
areas. Stanley Market is a warren of stalls, shops and restaurants.
Historic lanes are jam-packed with vendors selling Chinese
paintings, handicrafts and furniture, silk collectibles, curios and
a wide variety of Hong Kong souvenirs. Open from around 10:00am to
6:00pm daily. |
|
Back to the Top
|
|
What is your favorite ?
Great Buy
Whatever you wish, you'll be able to find it in one of Hong Kong's
thriving shopping districts. Indulge yourself by getting that little
special something you've been wanting. If you're after electronics or
something classic; a new wardrobe or something to put in it, you'll be
able to find it all and ship it home with ease. Browse through the
categories and save your shopping time with the address and contact
details of the shops.
Arts and
Crafts
Hong Kong is a great shopping destination for all types of Asian arts,
crafts and antiques. Valuable Chinese antiques, such as delicate
vases, imperial embroidery and ancient pots can all be unearthed, as
well as traditional silk garments, centuries-old opium pipes and
historical photographs. Many shops can arrange to insure, pack and
ship your goods safely back home. Hong Kong is the ideal place to make
major purchases of antiques and artifacts. For a wide variety of
goods, such as porcelain, silk garments, musical instruments, seals
and handicrafts, Chinese department stores offer a wide range and make
good one-stop shops. You may wish to consider an expert's appraisal
and the customs duty regulations in your home country before buying.
Audio
and Visual
Hong Kong is
the gadget capital of Asia and the perfect place to pick up a gizmo or
two. Literally thousands of shops fill the demand for
cutting-edge technology, electronics and home appliances. The latest
products are often on sale here before they are available in other
countries and there is always something to impress even the most
technologically savvy shopper. Prices are extremely competitive and
the extent of electrical, audio and visual products is mind-blowing.
As things get smaller and faster, it is often amazing to find
equipment that was considered beyond one's imagination only a short
while age.
Furniture and Household
Take
advantage of Hong Kong's location and the stunning ornaments easily
available from mainland China and other parts of Asia. At the centre
of this rich cultural heritage, Hong Kong is the perfect place to pick
up some household luxuries at affordable and competitive prices.
Furniture warehouses in Aberdeen and Ap Lei Chau stock everything you
need from everyday items to extravagances. Finding a one-of-a-kind set
of dinnerware or teaware is possible at porcelain factories. And you
can select from solid or simple wood veneer pieces when ordering
custom-made furniture.
General Merchandise
Need to find it fast? Exotic teas? A
yacht's chandler? The nearest bookstore? Here's a quick guide to Hong
Kong's shopping scene, probably the world's most extensive emporium.
Jewellery and Watches
All that
glitters ... is usually gold and in Hong Kong the choice is
phenomenal. Gold, diamonds, pearls, precious gems and ever-popular
jade all sit strikingly in every jewellery store window. Hong Kong is
a terrific place to buy high-quality pieces of jewellery at extremely
reasonable prices. The Chinese prize jade for its beauty and the luck
it's supposed to bring. A top quality stone is judged according to its
consistency in colour, translucency and coldness to the touch. The
proprietor should give you a proper receipt that details the type and
origin of the stone. If you are purchasing jade of significant value,
it is advisable to go with someone who is an expert. Pearls are judged
by their lustre, size and the brilliance of light they reflect.
Diamonds and a wide selection of precious stones in a range of colours
are also readily available at affordable prices. Time is truly
precious in Hong Kong, with the many expensive watches on offer. But
if you would rather go for something sporty or funky, there is a wide
range of fun and specialised sports models available too.
Leather Good
Jackets... shoes... bags... belts... it's
all in Hong Kong at amazingly reasonable prices. Whether it's styled
here or imported from the world's fashion centres, if it can be
fashioned in leather it will be available in Hong Kong. Orders for
specially designed, made-to-measure goods can be placed for just about
any item at very competitive prices. From buttery-soft leather to fine
suede, skilled craftsmanship will satisfy your every desire.
Shoes, accessories and clothes can be
made to order, and with several fittings and a few hundred dollars or
more, you can have the gorgeous leather goods that you always wanted.
Optical Goods
Eye
glasses, like other fashion accessories, are in abundance and very
reasonably priced in Hong Kong. Hong Kong's optical shops stock just
about every type of frame available from high-end designer names to
the cheerful and funky. Lens grinding is relatively inexpensive and
fast and can take as little as a day for simple prescriptions. Contact
lenses can be made up quickly and at a good price.
Clothings and Tailors
Hong Kong's
designers have taken the world by storm in the past few years, proving
how serious fashion is in the city where East meets West. Chic local
brands and international design houses rub shoulders in exclusive
outlets throughout the territory and chain stores bring the styles to
the streets. Renowned Hong Kong designers, such as Vivienne Tam,
William Tang and Walter Ma, have stylish boutiques, while cheap and
cheerful styles can be found in outlet stores. There is something for
every fashion finder's budget and plenty for those who want to make a
style statement all of their own. For something unique, why not
have an outfit custom-made at one of the many reputable and famous
tailors. Suits, shirts, skirts and evening gowns can be created to
suit the most elaborate or sedate of tastes. A figure-hugging
traditional cheongsam (Chinese dress) might make the perfect gift for
yourself or someone special. Hong Kong's tailors also boast a wide
range and high quality of wedding garments. Besides, furs bought in
Hong Kong are often of higher quality but are much cheaper than in
most Western cities. |
|
Back to the Top
|
|
|
|
Information provided by
Hong Kong Tourism Board. |
|
|
|
