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.

A historic police compound turned into a real-life Etsy market! Located in Central, PMQ 元創方 is…read morepacked with local artisan shops, unique design studios, and rich Hong Kong history. PMQ 元創方 stands for Police Married Quarters. It's a historic site turned vibrant creative hub in Central, Hong Kong. Rebuilt in 1951 as the Police Married Quarters, the compound reopened in 2014 for local designers. The architecture is beautiful, the vibe is incredibly artistic, and it is the perfect place to support independent creators. A truly unique spot for anyone looking for authentic local souvenirs.

This place is basically like a giant Etsy shop/Instagram photo opp…read more Came to take selfies in front of the koi staircase. Left with nearly a dozen pairs of cute and unique earrings crafted by HK-based jewelry maker @ashayatheone, for $8 to $15 (USD) a pair. Though I definitely spent more than I would have for souvenirs at the Ladies Market, it was worth it not to feel stressed out having to haggle on the streets of Mong Kok. Plus, I walked out with better quality stuff, supported a local business, and got to check out the current art exhibit ("LONG TIME NO SEE": a set of hand-drawn murals paying homage to the history of the PMQ building).

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".

Lee Tung Avenue is a beautiful pedestrian street in Wan Chai, Hong Kong, lined with charming cafés,…read morerestaurants, and boutique shops. It was once famous as "Wedding Card Street" because of its many printing and wedding invitation shops, but it has since been transformed into a modern lifestyle and leisure destination while still preserving its unique history. Visiting Lee Tung Avenue was especially meaningful to me because my mom lived here when she was a child. Walking along the street made me imagine what the neighborhood was like years ago, and it gave me a warm feeling. It was a wonderful place to explore and relax.

Randomly discovered 利東街 aka Lee Tung Avenue because the Wan Chai MTR station is conveniently…read morelocated right underneath lol. Like everyone said, this street is where the East meets West; it is definitely more luxurious, with many high end shops and restaurants, after a controversial redevelopment by the government since 2003. I was hoping to see the signature rows of red lanterns on this street, but they took it down for the winter holiday, and it's all Christmas decor right now! This street is usually filled with excitement; many come here to take selfies with the decor, and to check out the many restaurants and shops. There is Japanese ramen, Chinese noodles, French cuisine, egg tarts, coffee shops, and many more! Connecting to the MTR station right underneath Lee Tung Avenue, you will also find an underground pathway with a grocery store, and plenty of local shops for beauty, jewellery and baked goods! Psst, a NEW popcorn shop just grand opened, and it makes the pathway smells extra, extra sweet, and you just want to stop by to buy some lol ^^

Temple Street Market is a must-visit in Hong Kong. The vendors are incredibly friendly and clearly…read morelove to bargain, which makes the experience fun and engaging. There's an endless variety of merchandise to browse, along with plenty of food stalls offering tempting local eats. The area felt safe, lively, and was very easy to get to with a quick Grab ride. A great spot to soak in the energy of the city.

Temple Street Night Market / Kowloon (Hong Kong) -- By the time Jamie W and I made it here on our…read morevacation, we visited two legendary night markets in relatively quick succession, Raohe Street in Taipei (review: https://yelp.to/iQFcRkmz6h) and Jalan Alor in Kuala Lumpur (review: https://yelp.to/5ShCfX6Vhg). Both were bustling cultural microcosms full of a wide and diverse variety of culinary delights. My expectations were set high. This is my roundabout way of saying I found this market to be on the meh side. Even though Temple Street might be the most organized of night markets, it came down to a lack of enthusiastic energy on the part of the thirty-plus hawkers and purveyors here. They didn't help motivate us as much to try anything that looked appetizing beyond one grilled octopus skewer (photo: https://yelp.to/ZmGraLPefh). It was pretty good for what it was. The food stalls took up just the first block of Temple Street. The rest of the market consisted of tents and stalls where they sold gadgets, toys, electronics, cheap souvenirs, and T-shirts of which Jamie bought a couple from an enterprising senior (photo: https://yelp.to/caewEJ9-pR). I've read that lingering COVID restrictions may have caused a change in the dynamics of the market. If true, the impact apparently snuffed out much of the unique character it might have had. RELATED - Exploring Hong Kong? Here's my collection of places I've visited and reviewed: https://bit.ly/3AGgadg

You can call it whatever you like…read more.. I am a tourist and this trap got me smiling...yass a shopping center! Who knew about this...not me but luckily we were guided by locals which are a friend of a friend and both Andrew and Cindy did an amazing job taking us around the island and choosing this stop not just to take a much needed break for restrooms and something to drink as well since it was a very hot day viewing the scenery. Parking is a challenge here though many seem to take the tram or bus getting here which I just can't imagine as it certainly is accessible but never imagine is a spot to be to get the "Peak" views which we were told is not necessary and is a tourist trap and instead to a short walk to the back of the mall to Lion's Pavilion down Findlay Path which offers a fantastic view at no cost which was fast and easier than what I understand going up The Peak Tower Sky Terrace. Lots of shops from Starbucks to Mcdonald's though it was grabbing a cup of fresh tea made gave me the happy moment reviving the exhaust in me and on this Sunday afternoon there were many families here to enjoy the various activities and can see why many to flock over here unless you're an introvert, it's a great place to relax, enjoy and just take in the lovely view for all ages. Thank you!

This is the ultimate tourist trap, however, if you're visiting Hong Kong, I think you should…read moredefinitely come up to Peak Galleria. We went in early Dec 2023 on a Sunday around 3 PM (1500) and the place was packed! We were hoping to catch a glimpse of the sunset while we were up there and I'm sure others were keen on that as well! Note: We did not have to wait in a long line to get the entry fare for the tram to the peak because we used our Octopus cards. I believe the tram cost was also discounted for Octopus card users. Anyway, the Peak Galleria is a beautiful modern mall situated at the top of Victoria Peak. There were plenty of eateries, cafes, restaurants, and stores to peruse from. The mall was clean, and bright.

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.

I've been coming to Hong Kong for OVER 23 years. Both Hong Kong side and Kowloon side are a couple…read moreof my favourite places on earth. Knutsford Terrace is atypical of Kowloon. Tons of unsavoury types from around the world hang out here, the sidewalks are filthy, littered with smelly garbage bins and you are badgered as you walk the "gauntlet" past restaurants by their staff outside badgering you for your patronage. Why this rates as highly as it does is a mystery to me. We take a short cut through here en route to our hotel. Although this is a row of several restaurant/bars, I have never seen anyone eating at any of these establishments. Grotty dive bars in Toronto are classy compared.

It is rather hard to believe that Hong Kong as such a tiny city, has so many big party districts…read more On the Hong Kong Island you may go to Wan Chai or Lan Kwai Fong; on the New Territories side you may go to Fo Tan; on the Kowloon side, it has got Knutsford Terrace. Thanks to the Miramar Shopping Centre, there is another way to go to Knutsford Terrace without hitting those horrendous stairs. While you may find seventy percent of people in LKF or Wan Chai are tourists or expats, here in Tsim Sha Tsui definitely has more locals hanging out here. On the entire street, if I remember correctly, there is only one bar that has a dance floor inside; as for the rest, they are mainly bars and strictly for people chilling and chatting. If you are not a fan of drinks, there are still quite a number of nice restaurants that offer great variety of cuisine including Spanish, Turkish, Indian and even Russian. Yet, the only thing I do not like about Knutsford Terrace is the transportation accessibility after mid night. Since it is located on Kowloon side instead of the Hong Kong side, people definitely have lesser options to go back to the same side (or that would take forever). Most people end up spending few hundreds on taxis in the end. Therefore, for me, I always try to leave before twelve, or else it might take me more than two hours to get back home.