4 Best Places to Shop in Hong Kong, China
They say the only way to get to know a place is to do what the locals do. When in Rome, scoot around on a Vespa and drink espresso. When in Hong Kong, shop. For most people in this city, shopping is a leisure activity, whether that means picking out a four-figure party dress, rifling through bins at an outlet, upgrading a cell phone, or choosing the freshest fish for dinner.
Shopping is so sacred that sales periods are calendar events, and most stores close on just three days a year—Christmas Day and the first two days of Chinese New Year. Imagine that: 362 days of unbridled purchasing. Opening hours are equally conducive to whiling your life away browsing the racks: all shops are open until 7 or 8 pm; many don't close their doors until midnight.
It's true that the days when everything in Hong Kong was mind-bogglingly cheap are over. It is still a tax-free port, so you can get some good deals. But it isn't just about the savings. Sharp contrasts and the sheer variety of experiences available make shopping here very different from back home.
You might find a bargain or two elbowing your way through a chaotic open-air market filled with haggling vendors selling designer knockoffs, the air reeking of the chou tofu ("stinky" tofu) bubbling at a nearby food stand. But then you could find a designer number going for half the usual price in a hushed marble-floor mall, the air scented by the designer fragrances of your fellow shoppers. What's more, in Hong Kong the two extremes are often within spitting distance of each other.
Needless to say, thanks to travelers like you running out of space in their suitcases, Hong Kong does a roaring trade in luggage. No need to feel guilty, though—shopping here is practically cultural research. All you're doing is seeing what local life is really like.
Monocle
As if running a magazine, website, and radio station weren’t enough, Monocle also has a handful of retail outlets, and Hong Kong devotees of the London-based media brand rejoiced when its store-cum-office opened on Star Street's St. Francis Yard in 2010. Whether shopping for excellent reading material or stylish accessories (picture trendy totes, linen-bound notebooks, greeting cards, and embossed card cases), you'll be in good company.
Wander Kagu
Hong Kong has a surprisingly strong outdoor culture given its many hiking trails, and this independent store with a Japanese aesthetic will ensure you're stylishly dressed to tackle them. It's packed with chic camping gear sourced from around the world, and it has a section of vintage clothing, too.
Recommended Fodor's Video
Woo Ping Optical Co.
If you've seen a notable pair of spectacles on a Hong Kong celebrity, chances are they're from this retro shop that's been around for more than 50 years. Woo Ping has a reputation for stocking unusual, statement-making vintage eyewear that often can't be found anywhere else. Prices run affordable, and they do regular prescriptions, too.
