This is a huge, historic, and iconic department store that has been in the heart of Kowloon's now…read moreolder shopping district for decades (since 1959 to be exact). It is located very prominently at the intersection of Jordan Road and Kowloon's main commercial artery Nathan Road. Back in 1995, when I lived in Hong Kong for 4 months on a work assignment, this was one of the stores I would occasionally putz around in. And now in 2024, 29 years later, it is virtually the same and it's like having walked through a time warp. It's like the old-fashioned flagship version of Macy's of Hong Kong and a store full of traditional Chinese goods and products, and some of them exotic. What struck me the most, and I recall the same sentiment back in 1995, was the number of staffers they have. It seems there are more of them than customers, and there are a lot of customers in this 5 story (plus fully stocked basement) store! Some practices are still antiquated. For example, the sister-in-law wanted to buy some dry goods in the basement, and there was an advertised 20% off promotion. To get the promotion, she had to go up to a clerk on the 5th floor to get her receipt hand-stamped. Then she returned to the basement to complete the transaction. It all took maybe 20 minutes, but it did allow us to use their interestingly tiny and slow elevator. As a tourist, it's worth a walk-through just to say you've seen the store and the surrounding historic Nathan Road shopping area.

Growing up and spending summers in Hong Kong, you can imagine how HOT and humid it would be…read more Turning on the air conditioner was a luxury (more often than not, the fan would be running all day long instead). To combat the heat at night, I cherished the cotton weave breathable blankets that you could only buy in Hong Kong. When I got older, I tried finding one in the states (specifically, NYC Chinatown), but to no avail. So, I would ask my Uncle to help me get one whenever he went back for a visit. Well, this store, Yue Hwa, still has these special blankets for sale. Even though I have 3 of them, I just couldn't help buy another. This store is huge, and I haven't had the time to really browse properly, but I really like what I've seen so far. You can really find some traditional things here, but it can be on the expensive side.

Toy street was super fun and a kids' (and kids at heart) paradise. I was able to shop for stickers…read moreand Sanrio products. It's a nice stroll, and wasn't crowded on a weekday afternoon.

Sham Shui Po is a shopping heaven in Hong Kong. Electronics, computer gadgets, accessories and toys…read morecan be found. I called Fuk Wing Street is the best just one reason. Although the Street is short, there's over 30 toy stores along the street. Some are selling brand-name goods at half the price of those in department stores. Furthermore, most of the shops have fixed prices for retail but still offer great wholesale discount when you buy in bulk. And Fuk Wing Street has some restaurants which are very famous in Sham Shui Po. I can sure you can grab enough food to eat there.

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.

I came here twice, and really liked the fashion brands that were available here. They had stores…read morelike Monki, Pull & Bear, WEGO Tokyo, Gu, and some others. However, they didn't offer that many apparel shops for a big building. Now that I think about it, there seemed to be a lot of baby stores. What's interesting is they also have karaoke and a post office.

Since I stayed at sugar street, I was constantly in and out of this mall. My boyfriend liked…read morechecking out clothes at Pull & Bear and eating at genki sushi was a definite must. Plus, on the 9th floor, they had a delicious place for early morning to mid-afternoon dim sum. This place had it all and was just minutes away from us. Plus, after running at Victoria Park, it was nice to walk around and cool down.

Citi Store is an odd little place, up in the sticks of HK. It is sort of in a housing estate in the…read moremiddle of nowhere, It's not near an MTR, so the only option to get there is bus or taxi, or a long walk from Prince Edward. The store it self is a department store. A very local department store. You can see it as basically either a cheap Sogo, or, due to the larger real estate, a less crowded Wing On. It sells the same sort of things that one would expect in a department store; home-wares, clothes, luggage, sports goods, toys, ladies underwear, you know, regular department store stuff. However, unlike Sogo, there are few big brand names (mainly the local and mainland brands), so don't come here looking for Prada bags. The mall itself that Citi Store is located in, is very local. There are few other shops, with most of the real estate taken up by kids' learning centres. In that sense, it is ideal for one to shop there whilst Tarquin has his viola lessons. To be fair, it is a practical shop for house hold items. No one really needs a Tumi case for thousands of HKD, when a Chinese brand will do at a fraction of the cost. This is why you should come here, and fill your boots with consumable items that will do a job adequately for a reasonable amount of time. If you Chinese brand food processor falls apart, you can afford another! If you aren't here for shopping, then take a tour around the outside (but inside the mall) of Citi Store. You will notice that it is modelled on a huge ship, with chimney stacks, life rings, and brass statues of sailors pointing randomly at stuff. It is quite hilarious to be shopping in a giant fake ship.

This retail shop is located in New Town Plaza of Shatin in the New Territories and proves to…read moreattract customers that like the unique products. The shop is filled with trendy products from around the world. I found that the items this store sells are a good mix of local goods and imported goods. The price point is on the higher end but the items are either well crafted or high quality. The service is great and there's almost one person in each department standing there waiting to assist you if need be. The shop has everything including but not limited to household items, kitchen things, beauty supplies, toys and plushies, cameras, small electronics, shoes, umbrellas, bags, fashion, and interesting knickknacks. Just so much to explore! Whether you're looking to get something for yourself or buy a gift, Log-On has a lot to offer.

city'super is a Hong Kong grocery store chain that focuses on upscale foods. Particularly imported…read moreitems. This would be the place to go if you are an ex-pat looking for foods from home, particularly from the US and Europe. This location is on the second floor of New Town Plaza Phase 1. Being from the US, this store does not quite appeal as much to me, but just checked it due to curiousity. The prices on the US goods were understandably high. But they do carry some interesting items. Particularly those from Europe that make me want to grab them here since I wouldn't be able to find them back in the US. There are also a few food stands here selling some interesting fare. There is a stand selling matcha desserts for instance. While perusing I came across a fridge full of freshly squeezed juices that I thought was cool. Grabbed a bottle of guava and passion fruit juice for HK$24. Not the cheapest place, but the bottle design was interesting and I needed some refreshment. If you get it, be sure to drink it quickly as fresh juices don't last for long. If you happen to be at New Town Plaza, city'super is worth perusing through. Interesting products found here, albeit at higher prices than elsewhere.

The "Whole Foods" (United States, upscale super market) in Hong Kong. I've spent hours here walking…read morearound looking at all the unique food's and goods that they have to offer. I walked out of here with a nice bottle of vintage Bordeaux, cured meats and toy's for the kids. One stop shop and the service here is impeccable, I had an issue with waiting in line with my grocery and did not have enough hands to push my kid's stroller thru the line with me, I had asked if someone can help me and one of the grocery helpers told me that they can stand next to the stroller with my kids while I finish paying and check out.

All you need to know about Aeon is their Supermarket - Food Hall!…read more You will find groceries imported from all the prefectures of Japan. Everything under one roof! That's how awesome it is! Aside from Japanese items, you can also shop all the produces from around the World! How about some D24 durian?! They even have LIVE Australian Lobsters available. Mind Blown! You might not able to find some special European import truffle or balsamic oil but I am just happy to shop here everyday! The other floor has more household products which I found them A-OK but did not wow me. For more selection, I suggest going to CSB or other bigger shopping centres. The new Japanese skin care selection on the 2nd floor though quite promising!

An extensive supermarket, and pretty much anything else you could be looking for from TVs to…read morechopsticks, slow cookers to gold jewlrey or suitcases to pillows - this place probably has it and trading cards to spare. Probably best avoided on special 'festival' days (special shopping days for cardholders), but hard to know what those are until you rock up - and then can't move without jostling someone! The crush usually isn't so bad on the upper floors, ie away from the actual supermarket, so if you do get caught - my advice is 'in, up, out' as quickly as feasible.