A nice walk in Central and Western District (6)

Hollywood Road (Antiques Street) / Upper
Lascar Row (Cat Street)
Hollywood Road (Antiques Street)

Built in 1844 by the British army, this road took its
name from the many holly shrubs lining it. Linking
Sheung Wan to Central, Hollywood Road is famous for its many
curios and antiques shops.
You can find items as small
and delicate as a perfume
bottle to large antique
Chinese furniture. The
shops can help you
arrange shipping of
large items back home.

Upper Lascar Row (Cat Street)

Lined with traditional street stalls, Upper Lascar Row is a great
place to pick up a wide variety of antiques, curios and other
collectables.

A nice walk in Central and Western District (5)

Bonham Strand West
(Ginseng and Bird’s Nest Street)

Previously known as Nam Pak Hong after
the Nam Pak Hong Chamber of
Commerce (North-South Chamber of
Commerce) located there, Bonham
Strand West is now an extension of
Ginseng and Bird’s Nest Street.

Shatin Cycling Tour

Enjoy the cycling tour from Shatin to Tai Po Via the bicycle track along the Tolo harbour. During the trip, you can have a very beautiful views of Tolo harbour, race course and paranomic view of Chinese University.

Aberdeen - Waterfront wonders

Whatever you do, don't miss the picturesque Jumbo Floating Restaurant in Aberdeen. Its traditional Chinese glamour showcases a delicious menu for the whole family. This is the right place to indulge in lobster and Peking Duck. Get your photo taken on a Chinese “throne” and take away some Jumbo souvenirs.

From economical to upscale in Causeway Bay / Happy Valley

In Causeway Bay, budget eateries serve delicious noodles and other Asian fare. The dining scene here is eclectic and informal, with many small, brightly lit and cheerfully noisy restaurants. Don't miss the glamorous boutique shopping at Times Square and Lee Theatre Plaza. Then again, the Japanese department stores nearby the Excelsior Hotel offer top quality and real bargains whenever there is a sale.

At the end of a long day of retail therapy, a pint at The Chapel, on Yik Yam St – on the doorstep of the Happy Valley racetrack – is sure to go down well. Proffering irresistible Indian curries, real British ales and fun quiz nights, this pub is the perfect escape from Hong Kong's hubbub.

Relax in Wan Chai

The harbourfront location of the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre was once a favourite haunt for sailors. Nowadays, the neighbourhood has turned naughty-but-nice, with fun nightclubs, bars and eateries springing up amid the sample clothing outlets and electronics stores.

Soho and Mid-levels : fashionable and fascinating

Lan Kwai Fong and Soho are the most popular dining and entertainment centres on the Hong Kong island, just north of the Ritz Carlton Hotel. You can virtually eat your way across the globe in this cornucopia of international restaurants: French, German, Greek, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Mexican, Middle-Eastern, Russian, Spanish, Vietnamese, and many more.

Trendy discos featuring live pop, rock and jazz also abound here. Conveniently situated near some of Hong Kong's finest art galleries, nestles the romantic and cosy Bohemian Lounge, featuring live jazz, occasional salsa dancing, and a light tapas menu.

Repulse Bay / Stanley: simply scrumptious

With numerous casual eateries dotting its seafront, Stanley is a great place to go to ease any tension. Enjoy a drink at one of the cosy neighbourhood pubs before tucking into a delightful culinary presentation in the open air.

Several Asian restaurants are located here – one of Hong Kong Island's most romantic spots, also home to the ever-popular Stanley Market. Also on the south side of Hong Kong Island, Repulse Bay is known for The Verandah, a premier restaurant with classical décor, nestled in the lush, sub-tropical hillside.

Ladies Street - Hong Kong

Where in Hong Kong can you find the cheapest and largest selection of clothes, toys, cosmetics and more? What is Ladies’ Street? Ladies’ Street is a street (or should I say open-air bazaar) famous in Hong Kong for cheaper goods. It is one of the busiest places in Hong Kong. Ladies’ Street, as it is nicknamed, is also known as “Ladies’ Market”. Its official name is Tung Choi Street. Despite its name, not only ladies’ products are sold there, even though it was once devoted to ladies’ clothing only. Ladies’ Street must not be missed by the tourist. But watch out for fakes or pirates. After all, like they say, you can’t be a tourist without being scammed!

Starting Time
The Market opens at about noon and operates up to around half past ten to eleven. It is said to be the “day version” of Temple Street’s night market. Along the stalls, you will find mainly inexpensive items such as clothing for men and women of all ages, watches, accessories, bags, cosmetics, small household items and toys. The market gets its name because it is particularly well known for fashionable ladies’ clothing and is renowned for good bargains. It makes a popular shopping place for both locals and tourists.



Location
Located conveniently near Mong Kok’s MTR station, Ladies’ Street is crowded with people at all times. Extending from Dundas Street north to Argyle Street, it shares a lot of customers with the Goldfish Market, on a different section of the same street. Walking down the street, besides people and more people, you can see many stalls set up along side the road. Hold your children’s hand tight as you squeeze in between crowds to look at the products each merchant has to offer. If you find something to your liking, you may bargain with the shop keepers, enjoying a different kind of pleasure. It is the delightful place of collecting cheaper goods. Absolutely don’t forget to haggle with the merchants. The owners are very competitive and may drop their prices, but don’t forget the law of shopping – “you will always find what you just bought cheaper somewhere else; that is, after you buy it”.

...If you’re a tourist coming to Hong Kong, you simply can’t miss this famed street. It may not be Hollywood Boulevard, but no visitor can leave Hong Kong without buying anything, and Ladies’ Market is THE place to buy Hong Kong style souvenirs: a mix of both oriental and western style. You may easily overspend your time there looking through the many accessories and might find some items you like. But remember “Hong Kong style” shopping is to look through all the stalls first!...

Transportation
Take the MTR to Mong Kok Station, then take the B2 exit. Walk east along Prince Edward West Road until you reach Tung Choi Street. The Ladies' Market is just next to the Goldfish Market.

A Night Club of Common People - Temple Street

Location
Temple Street is located in the Yau Ma Tei area of Kowloon in Hong Kong. It is the Night Market which is a perfect place to pick up a few bargains as well as to have a large meal.

History
It is named "Temple Street" because a temple to Tin Hau was built there. It was built during the Qing Dynasty. It settled at banyan at the middle of the street (the place is called jung syu tau). Contrast that with the Ladies' Market in Tung Choi Street, Mong Kok.

Attractions
Temple Street is known as "Men's Street" because it is very popular for men's clothing. Temple Street comes to life at dusk each day. Traffic stops going into the street and people begin to swarm there. Nearly a hundred little stalls appear with colourful lights along the street. Carts bulge with goods, from clothing to mobile phones and watches. Merchants sell inexpensive items mostly for men, from jeans and t-shirts to lighters and shoes. There are also old cassettes, video tapes, old newspapers, antiques and nearly any kind of cheap merchandise one can imagine. Shoppers can bargain for cheaper prices there. There are also Chinese street opera singers, fortune tellers, and food stalls. In the past, Anita Mui sang on stage on Temple Street, starting her fantastic career. Her performances are a legend of Temple Street.



This down-to-earth open bazaar usually opens at 2 p.m. It is not uncommon to see the street gradually become crowded with foreign visitors and locals in the evening. Unlike many other cities' flea markets, Temple Street is busiest at night. During weekends or on public holidays, it is extremely crowded with people.

One reason why Temple Street is so popular for men is because of the sexual activities inside the tentament houses. It is not difficult to see prostitutes wearing few clothes exchanging glances with the passers-by. Some hustlers on the street bring men upstairs, where there are many simple rooms with no more than a bed. There are lots of light boxes on the street that advertise those activities at night.


Thanks to its unique characteristics, Temple Street is often chosen as a location for films made in Hong Kong such as Queen of Temple Street in 1990. The street was used as a symbol for public life in Hong Kong at that time.

Clinics
There are old clinics using the traditional Chinese method for curing illnesses and diseases in this street. Instead of doctors, the practitioners are usually called 'Masters'. They have run the clinics for many years and their ability to cure patients is very reliable.


Food and necessities
Temple Street is famous for its midnight snacks and its street-side dining, featuring local cuisine. The busy food stalls offer a wide range of delicacies to tempt appetites.

There are also lots of restaurants selling seafood. These "hot pots" can be perfect for an intimate dinner. They are delicious as well as cheap. All of these culinary delicacies represent Hong Kong's traditional and unique food culture.



Interestingly, to find out if one wants to buy clothes, shoes, leather, watches and everyday items in Temple Street, one has to hunt for the shops hidden in the streets behind the stalls rather than looking in the stalls themselves. This is one of the characteristics of Temple Street.

Entertainment
In addition to the food and clothes collections available in Temple Street, bands of traditional Cantonese opera singers can also be found. These bands seem to be competing with the pop music bands, and they set up their own corners for entertainment in Temple Street where they have mini-concerts every night. Temple Street is a treasure island for collectors. Very old CD collections or nice audio instruments can easily be purchased for a reasonable price. Majong shops can also be found.


There are a groups of fortune tellers who set up their stalls in Temple Street, key feature that makes the market feel typically Hong Kong. This group of people earns a living by telling the fortunes of people who want to know about their past and future. These fortune tellers charge HK$50-HK$500 depending on what subject people are willing to foresee. Apart from that, the jade market at Yau Ma Tei is a great place to find cheap jade stones for souvenirs.

Temple Street Festival
During September 2003, the first Temple Street Festival was organised and supported by local governmental authorities such as the Home Affairs Bureau and the Hong Kong Tourist Board.

Transportation
To visit the Temple Street in Yau Ma Tei, go from the Nathan Road MTR station exit and turn onto Nathan Road towards the Yue Hwa Chinese Products Emporium. Go north on Nathan and walk for two or three blocks. Temple Street can be found on the left. The best time to go is after 8:00 p.m. because you can experience the busy night market at its peak hour of the day.

Conclusion
Temple Street is an impressive place that attracts many tourists as well as local residents. This street is spiced up with the traditional culture of Hong Kong. Apart from the tourists, many locals go there for inexpensive items, such as T-shirts, jeans, luggage, etc. However, shoppers need to know how much they want to spend since the prices are negotiable, just as they are while shopping in Mainland China, such as in Shenzhen. Safety is also an issue here, so shoppers should be aware of their personal belongings. Girls should not hang out there alone.

A nice walk in Central and Western District (3)

Des Voeux Road West
(Dried Seafood Street)*

Discover the surprising
varieties of exotic dried seafood
available on this street. You’ll find rare and expensive items, like
abalone, gathered from around the world.

A nice walk in Central and Western District (2)

Wing Lok Street (Ginseng and Bird’s Nest Street)

This street is lined with specialty shops selling ginseng and bird’s
nest. Both are believed to be essential for longevity, energy and
fair complexion. They also make distinctive souvenirs.

➜ At the end of Wing Lok Street, turn left into
Des Voeux Road West.

A nice walk in Central and Western District (1)

1. Western Market & Sheung Wan Fong

The Western Market, an
Edwardian-style building originally
housing the waterfront Harbour
Office when built in 1906, later became a food
market before closing in 1988. Two years later,
it was declared a historical monument, renovated and then re-opened
in 1991 with themed shops. Next to it is a compass-like piazza
named Sheung Wan Fong – an ideal spot to orientate to the many
traditional trades and shopping streets in Sheung Wan.

Hong Kong Walks

Hong Kong is a non-stop experience filled with the exotic and the exciting. Along every street, down every lane, you are sure to encounter Hong Kong's living culture. From the hustle and bustle of the busy downtown streets and the flamboyant colours and sounds of a local market, to the wonderment and serenity that comes from a visit to a centuries-old temple and a brief experience of a bygone-era - Hong Kong offers a living, breathing cultural experience like no other in Asia or indeed the world.

Six themed walks:
Hong Kong
Central & Western District - Travel Through Time

Shau Kei Wan - Evolvement of a Fishing Village

Kowloon
Tsim Sha Tsui - Cornucopia of Delights

Yau Ma Tei & Mong Kok - Markets for Leisure and Pleasure

Wong Tai Sin & Kowloon City - A Popular Temple and A City Transformed

New Territories
Sha Tin - Suburban Hong Kong

Cheung Chau Bun Festival 2007

Though most attention on the Bun Festival focuses on the parade day - this year to be held on 24 May - it's actually held over several days: this year's Bun Festival starts on 21 May (there's also a Climbing Carnival the day before) and ends on the 25th.

On the Hong Kong Toursim Board's page CHEUNG CHAU BUN FESTIVAL 21 - 26 May, you can find a little info and download a pdf file with some more details and an events calendar - though, curiously, this omits the grand exorcism, which is a key function of the festival.

The Climbing Carnival is scheduled for noon - 6pm on 20 May; will be held on the Bun Festival space rocket cum climbing tower thing in the football court in front of Pak Tei Temple