Central is the central business district of Hong Kong. For two MTR Stations' distance, there is a…read morefamous Toy Street named Tai Yuen Street in Wan Chai. No matter how old we are, Tai Yuen Street can evoke our happy childhood memories. It is because every toy from the latest marvel heroes' figures, limited edition Japanese figures to Tin Toy are available there. Apart from toys, there is also a great place to pick up seasonal decorations. In the weeks before Chinese New Year, Halloween and Christmas, they sell festival decorations, party outfits, and accessories. In addition, many people in Hong Kong believe that good Feng Shui can attract prosperity and ward off bad luck. Feng Shui decorating can be found there. Honestly, there are just less than 10 toy stores in Tai Yuen Street, even it is known as a famous toy street. For someone who has a tight schedule during a business trip in Hong Kong Island, the location is perfect.

See, there are many things that I love about Hong Kong - all that density makes up for a diverse…read morescenery, and all that commerce means everyone is at each other's throats for your business. If you are a savvy shopper, you pretty much know where to go for certain things. I know that if you want remote control cars or airsoft guns, you hit Kwong Wa street (廣華街) - if you want Legos, you hit In's Point (現時點). If you want a crap-ton of Japanese figurines, you hit Richmond Shopping Arcade (皆旺商場) or Sino Centre (信和中心). If you like diecast display planes, you hit West Main trading (西幹線玩具) near Prince Edwards MTR. If you want diecast buses, that's 80M bus shop, which has multiple locations in the territory. If you got the money you can try hitting the spiral at Langham Place (朗豪坊) if you want to check out the latest fashion accessories from Shinjuku or Seoul. Me, I like collectibles - stuff like Rement food kits, F-Toys trade models, little double decker buses like the stuff that TinyHK (微影) put together. I enjoy collecting stuff like that for the display cabinet back in New York. Now, normally, you can hit Wonderland Superstores (奇趣天地) all over Hong Kong, but you could end up paying a lot, and their selection is often meh. That brings us to Tai Yuen street (太原街). If you know your Hong Kong history, you would know that Lee Tung Street (利東街) used to be right next door - it's a 3 block long street of little print shops and stores that were the go-to spot for doing wedding invitations. The Urban Renewal Authority of Hong Kong (市建局) tore that entire street down and replaced it with a shopping mall, which gentrified the place but also killed a crapload of those little businesses. The URA is not known for being nice and understanding to the little shop owners, and none of them were invited back. Basically, Tai Yuen is a peek at what that area looked like in the past, and frankly, the place is a freaking jewel. Just wait until past noon if you want to see stuff bloom here. First, check out the intersection with Johnson Road (where the Tramways run), the stalls in the middle sells all sorts of stuff like the Japanese fortune kitties. One of the stallkeepers there also has a really nice diorama of a Hong Kong Dai Pai Dong and a couple of buses, so thats cool. Then there's the toy stores. Well, there's really only, like 6, but if you have to choose one, check out Hung Hing Toys (鴻興玩具), which spans 2 storefronts and has nearly everything, from Gashopons, to Giant Robo figurines, to Legos, and to TinyHK/F-Toys/Rement figurines that I like so much. The others are still rather nice, but not as extensive as Hung Hing. You also got stalls with trinklets, bags, and stuff like that. Note that the usual crapload of cheap gaudy ugly Mainland products (ala Lady's night market) are kept to a minimum here. Next, continue down the block - wanna try some snake soup? Se Wong Sun (蛇王燊) makes a decent meal out of them. Now, if you continue on down, you'll hit the market area on Cross Street - keep an eye out for a classically Hong Kong treat - Smith's Orange Jelly candy (史蜜夫鮮橙花軟糖), which is made by Smith's Candy company (史蜜夫糖果廠) out in the New Territories. It's the flavor that most Honkers grew up with, and there are usually at leas one candy peddler with bags of candies and a scale. They sell them by the pound, and you can mix and match. Smith's makes an Orange jelly, a Melon jelly, and the classic nougat. Keep an eye out for the produce markets nearby. If you want a real Hong Kong treat, hit Cross Street until you get to Spring Garden Lane, and then look for Kam Fung (41 Spring Garden Lane) - it's a decent with fresh out-the-door Bolo and Cocktail buns, and one of the best pre-blended iced milk tea in the Central district. I hope you took photos, because this is probably as good as it can get in terms of outdoor markets. This is also about as good as Hong Kong can get.

Last year, I spent lunar new year in Hong Kong for the first time. Growing up, my mom, who was born…read moreand raised in hk, would often tell me stories about the CNY flower markets and fairs, so I knew I had to pay one of the fairs a visit. I ended up visiting this one on its last day, and it was unbelievably crowded. There was a line from the train station to the fair and a bunch of cops in the area. It took awhile to actually reach the fair. And even when I was inside the fair, the crowd all sort of moved along together because it was just so crowded. Crowdedness aside, I was also quite disappointed with the stalls - specifically the food stalls. Nothing stood out to me, I only bought the glazed strawberries on a stick to try. They were like frozen glazed strawberries. It was pretty good but super sweet! There were some stalls selling goods like tote bags. TVB's big big channel also had a stall. I saw some of the young and restless cast members there (the college kids). I also saw celebrity Matthew Ho walking around with a group of friends! A bunch of flowers were being sold here. Overall, it was a fun atmosphere, but I just wish there was more food options and things to do.

What a fun experience of the lunar new year flower market! It was my first time spending the…read moreChinese New Year in Hk and of course we gotta hit up this flower market. There were a lot of students at each individual stand selling some awesome and unique stuff animals. A lot of them were hilarious like they were selling a piece of a fake salmon filet as a back pillow that looked extremely realistic expect for its size. Another stall were selling stuff pillows that said "賤人牙膏" instead of "黑人牙膏". There were also a lot of political stuff such as throwing slippers at 梁正英's big face. There were also some food stalls around but I was a little disappointed to find out that they pretty much sell the same kind of food. The flower market reminded me of the night markets in Taiwan minus the games and diff variety of foods. However the actual flower stalls of the market were fabulous. All the flowers were very pretty and elegant. Over all it was a very nice and unique experience!

Pottinger Street / Central (Hong Kong) -- Even though this wasn't my first trip to Hong Kong, I…read moremust've conveniently forgotten how steep the hills can get to elevation-challenged tourists like myself, especially the steep inclines to be found in the Central district on Hong Kong Island. That's why there are helpful automatic walkways and escalators under long canopies over certain roadways. That was definitely a smart urban renewal move built back in the '90's, but Pottinger Street has been left intact. This atmospheric walkway consists of a series of steps and inclines on terra firma and retains its vintage Hong Kong charm with seemingly random stone slabs that connect Connaught Road Central up to Hollywood Road. Souvenir kiosks line the street on both sides, and they apparently change depending on the holiday season. Jamie W and I were here too early to see Christmas trinkets and decorations, but we saw stall after stall of local tchotchkes and T-shirts. It's worth the stroll in either direction. RELATED - Exploring Hong Kong? Here's my collection of places I've visited and reviewed: https://bit.ly/3AGgadg

A touristy three or four block sloping street made up of granite slabs that aren't quite stairs…read more Its official name is Pottinger Street, named in 1858 after Henry Pottinger, the first Governor of Hong Kong, serving from 1843 to 1844. Fun fact was that in the early days in HK, Chinese and European residents used to live separately in different neighborhoods. Pottinger street once acts as a rough boundary between the two groups. The Chinese used to mainly live west of the street and westerners to the east. Today there are various vendors selling trinkets and services such as caricature painting on the street. Many blockbuster HK movies have had iconic scenes filmed here including "Lust Caution", "October Besieged City", "Infernal Affairs III", and "Dragon and Phoenix Fight".

If I have to point out the best degree at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, you have to admit…read moreit has the best Fashion and Textile degree in Hong Kong. Not only that, students there have long to be said are very fashionable and nicely dressed. (And some even say they have so many good looking people there as well) Anyhow, for those who studied there, I am sure they all have been one place for "scavenger hunt". By that, I mean there is one Late-night market that only opens from 4 to 6 in the morning. I am not a student there but I am very glad that some of my friends who studied there took me there one time. (As much as I loved that place, I just could not bear waking up in the middle of the night just to go there and find treasures). This place is located around Burkeley Street and sometimes farther down the road to other streets, depends on how many vendors that night. So what is the fuss about? Around 3am, you may start to see some middle-aged people or elderly gathering their stuff and find a spot and put all kind of things on a mat. That basically means they are opening now so grab your flashlight and go ahead. Most of them here sell clothes, sometimes brand names including Dr. Martens, Levi, no one knows how they get them but they just have it anyhow. And they are only around HKD$10 to HKD$60. If you are a good bargainer, you may even get them less than 10 dollars... apart from clothes, they also sell electronics, make-up products and trinkets. This is definitely worth a visit and I have seen so many people grabbing a luggage just to buy stuff here. If you do not believe me, believe those who are from Polytechnic University. They all have been there and frankly, most of them are wearing stuff from there...

I've been a regular visitor to HKG for well over 30 years now and the must do's here is eating and…read moreshopping. One of the most fun shopping is done at any of their street markets throughout the city. Li Yuen has been around for as long as I can recall and during my last visit, it was bustling with shoppers and activities. On this visit as I made the familiar turn off Queens road, most of what you could see was dark and shuttered shops. A few small shops still remained open but it was nowhere like the past. All the shops that still remains open was virtually empty with their owners sitting and seemed to be waiting for the customers that come few and far between. This is pretty much the same in many retail around the city as I was informed by locals that new shopping mecca is located just across the border in Shenzhen where prices and selections are much better. Sadly, it doesn't look like things here will improve with the signs of the world economy.

REVIEW #2 Hong Kong…read moreis made of varies different markets that offer an array of different items! Li Yuen Street Market is located in Central area and is a hidden little lane market. Its split between two small markets: Li Yuen Street East and Li Yuen Street West. Li Yuen Street East is a cute little hidden Market on the side of Seed Heritage store. These markets are packed with vendors that sell multiple products from purses, clothing, great souvenirs, shoes, and slippers. Sometimes these markets are shortened by the name of "The Lanes of Central". Also in this Lane you will also find a Gong Cha boba spot. Most of the vendors take only cash but there's a vending machine at the end of the market. You can easily miss this Market if you're not paying attention. Just look for the sign that says Li Yuen Street East. HOW TO GET THERE: MTR Central Station, Exit C. Walk along Des Voeux Road Central towards Sheung Wan REVIEWER 200/196

I purchased a few jade bracelets here on my last trip. My HKg GF came with me. It is a clapboard…read moreshell with rows and and rows of stalls full of jewelry products. Much of the stuff looks the same. My friend spoke in Mandarin and did all the haggling. Yes, buyer beware. The sellers at all the stalls love cash and the USD was favorable over HKD. I was pleased with the 3 braceletsI got ($40), even though I wasn't sure if it was quality jade. Recently I had to restring a beaded bracelet and asked if the jade was "real." Turns out that my pieces are of decent quality nephrite and could retail here in the States for much more. Just experience of shopping there was worth it!

I'm not entirely sure whether you can consider a market to be a tourist attraction, though in a way…read moreit is probably better that, say going to a shopping centre, namely because then tend to be so much more alive. Yeah, this is basically the situation with this place, it is alive, despite the only thing that they sell is jade. Honestly, it didn't impress me all that much, particularly since every second vendor is attempting to flog off some over priced trinket to you, though of course you do have the option of talking them down.

Shopping experience…read more.. Retail therapy is my best relief and here in Hong Kong's Fa Yuen Street Market it definitely was something that I'm so glad to have visited. Nadine and so proudly figured out to navigate our way to this huge area that seem to have the dedicated space for this market which took the whole street. Walking through as I browsed each vendor there seem to be the same of many items which made me confused if it was the same seller or different though some of the prices and various other items differ I wasn't the greatest at bargaining though it was easier if it was just out of curiosity versus a want it was really fun looking through the various items with everything from household to electronics, towels and plushies. Taking the train was definitely fun and easy just find your way to Log Kok Station and there are signs to guide you the way...happy shopping! Thank you!

Fa Yuen Street is another "Night Market" shopping experience…read more The street is blocked off from vehicular traffic and both sides of the street are lined with vendors that block the regular brick and mortar shops along the way. That means there's four rows of shopping! The outdoor ambiance was fine for an October day. The sky was a bit overcast, so we were not burning in the heat. Some stalls weren't set up by noon, but most were open. Vendors didn't bargain much since prices were quite reasonable. Example: I got a pair of socks for 10 HK$ while I got another pair for 12 HK$ at a different place yesterday. Yeah, it's only a few cents difference, but hey... it's the principle. Fa Yuen Street had more fruits, towels, and household goods as compared with the Ladies Market. I saw pillows, curtains, chair covers, blankets, and scissors here. Other merchandise included luggage, purses, tote bags, reusable bags, Thai-style clothing, umbrellas, sunglasses, socks, underwear, and more! For us, it was worth the trek over. We got off at the Mong Kok Station... same one we used for the Ladies Market!

This is a small street of craft and souvenir shops, also known as cat street. This could have…read moresomething to do with it being the end of the cat statue photo walk, which is a must do in my opinion. I wish I had the chance to see this street fully open, but unfortunately when I visited on a Monday afternoon, more than half the stores were closed. I think Friday might be the day to go, as I passed by around noon and it was lively at this day and time. I still enjoyed looking at the shops that were open and found some great items to bring back, including some jade trinkets and ceramic tea cups. There is a strong chance the jade pieces were fake considering they were so cheap, but they were just little ornaments, so that was fine for what they were. If we're taking jade bracelets, that's another story. This is a very good place to look around and find deals on gifts and whatever you like to buy.