what do you buy in Hong Kong?
Oct 9th, 2006, 04:22 AM
#6
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You should go visit Temple Street, u get some good stuff there
Bhavika
http://www.fractalenlightenment.blogspot.com/
Bhavika
http://www.fractalenlightenment.blogspot.com/
Oct 11th, 2006, 07:09 PM
#7
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I am of the opinion that there is virtually nothing made anywhere in the world that you cannot get in Hong Kong. It’s an entropot and always has been. The quality of goods is excellent. Whether they are all reasonably priced is another question, but there are good bargains to be had here. There is also no sales tax (at least not for the present although it is currently threatened by the government), so there is some savings there. I find antique and reproduction furniture, especially Chinese Ching and Ming dynasty furniture, to be an excellent buy. Thins like rattan furniture and Balinese teakwood furniture is also quite inexpensive and can be made to order. (But you have to ship it all back, so for a tourist this is not quite the same bargain perhaps.) Artwork rom Chinese artists and well as other Asian artists, esp Vietnam, is readily available although become more expensive for the really sought-after modern artists; but the charming “village folk art” paintings are quite inexpensive and you can find them in stalls all over Stanley Village. Vintage posters from Chinese Kong Fu movies and other eras are a good buy as are antique maps of Asia. Jewelry is also a very good buy. Brand name watches are about 10-25% cheaper than the US and there is no sales tax. Cashmere is a good buy if you are very careful not to buy fakes. I love having shoes and bags made. You can have clothing made, not really cheaply anymore but of very good quality and in any fabric and color you want. There are a number of outlets shops of designers like Prada and Max Mara where you can occasionally stumble upon a true bargain. There are second-hand bag shops like Milan Station where the rich tai-tais (the “ladies who lunch”) of Hong Kong sell last year’s Louis Vuitton (which they would literally not be seen dead carrying) and you can then buy it for about 25% of this year’s price. If you have the patience, there are bins in shops in Causeway Bay where you can dig up the odd DKNY or Versace outfit for US$10. Finally, there are tons of Asian souvenirs for sales, from scrolls, to calligraphy brushes, to tea sets and tea, to chopsticks, dishes and other porcelain, to musical instruments, all of which make nice mementos and gifts.
However, I don’t think one should come with just the thought of buying “anything”, as you will spend your time wandering aimlessly through stores and markets. If you collect something, you can probably find it here (there are two shops I know of which sell exclusively metal toy soldiers, God alone knows how they survive). You might want to get a copy of Suzy Gresham's book, “Born to Shop Hong Kong” to give yourself some ideas and direction.
However, I don’t think one should come with just the thought of buying “anything”, as you will spend your time wandering aimlessly through stores and markets. If you collect something, you can probably find it here (there are two shops I know of which sell exclusively metal toy soldiers, God alone knows how they survive). You might want to get a copy of Suzy Gresham's book, “Born to Shop Hong Kong” to give yourself some ideas and direction.
