Everyone knows Hong Kong as a place of neon-lit retail pilgrimage – all the international brand logos have outlets here, complemented by the city’s own retail trailblazers.
So what is worth shopping in Hong Kong? Clothing, accessories, jewellery, cameras and electronics are the city’s strong suits. There are also many excellent shops and galleries specializing in Asian art and antiques. That said, its reputation as a bargain hunter’s paradise is a thing of the past.
Bargaining
Sales assistants in department or chain stores rarely have a way to offer discounts, but you can try to bargain in owner-managed stores and certainly in markets.
Some visitors believe that you can always get goods at half the original price. But if you can bargain for something at this low price, buying it from this store may not be the best option. Remember, even though you’re getting that DSLR camera cheap, you may end up paying a higher markup for the memory card, or worse, missing components or an international warranty. do not have.
GUARANTEE AND WARRANTY
Some imported goods only have a Hong Kong guarantee. If it’s a reputable brand, you can return it to the Hong Kong importer to get a warranty card for your country. Gray market items imported by someone other than a government agent may have a warranty that is only valid in the country of manufacture, or not at all.
Defense procurement
Whatever you’re in the market for, always check prices at a few stores before buying. The most common way shopkeepers cheat tourists is simply to overcharge. In some electronic stores in the tourist shopping district of Tsim Sha Tsui, many items do not have price tags. The best way to avoid being overcharged is to check prices at several stores before you buy.
Antiquities
Hong Kong offers a rich and colorful array of Chinese antiques, but serious buyers will limit themselves to reputable antique shops and auction houses. Counterfeits and expert reproductions abound. Note that most quality pieces are sold by auction houses such as Christie’s, especially in its spring and fall auctions.
Most of Hong Kong’s antique shops are located along Wyndham St and Hollywood Rd in Central and Sheung Wan. At the western end of Hollywood Rd shops sell cheap wares, including Cultural Revolution propaganda posters and badges. For old-style Chinese handicrafts and other goods (ceramics, cloisonne, silk textiles), the main places to go are the large emporiums.
Art
Most of the commercial art galleries in Hong Kong are found along Wyndham St and Hollywood Rd, along with Central and Sheung Wan. Many sell paintings, sculptures, ceramic works and installations by local, mainland Chinese and other Asian artists. Annual events like Art Basel, Le French May Arts Festival, and Fotenin Open Studios provide great opportunities to acquire art or familiarize yourself with the city’s exciting visual arts scene.
clothing
Designer brands and boutiques
The best places to find global designer brands and luxury stores are in malls, such as IFC and Landmark in Central, Times Square in Causeway Bay, Pacific Place in Admiralty, and Harbor City in Tsim Sha Tsui. Some of these shops, such as Prada’s, have outlets at Horizon Plaza in Ap Lei Chau that sell off-season items at discounted prices.
There are also plenty of midrange malls showcasing second- or third-tier brands, fast fashion outlets and local retailers like Giordano.
For something more unique, Sheung Wan, Wan Chai and Sim Sha Tsui have great independent shops opened by local designers and retailers. You’ll find some great pieces, even though you might think the range of styles is limited, simply because these places are few and far between.
Street markets and mini malls
For a truly local shopping experience, Tsim Sha Tsui’s mini malls are full of everything young and trendy, both locally designed or imported from the mainland or Korea. You can usually negotiate a lower price when you buy more than one item. And if you have a good eye, you can look chic for very little.
The best hunting grounds for low-cost clothing are at the eastern end of Granville Rd in Tsim Sha Tsui and Cheung Sha Wan Rd in Sham Shui Po. In Mong Kok, there are cheap clothes in the street markets of Temple St. and Tung Choi St. in Yao Mati.
Computers
Hong Kong has an abundance of shops specializing in electronic and digital gadgets, but the product mix and prices vary. Similarly, vendors’ command of English can range from ‘enough to close the deal’ (Mong Kok, Sham Shui Po) to ‘adequate’ (Wan Chai, Sam Sha Sui). Vendors are generally honest, but some display or sell second-hand items as new. All things considered, Wan Chai is your safest bet, but malls and flea markets are also worth exploring in Shui Po.
Gems and ornaments
The jade market in Yau Ma Tei is turning heads, but unless you know about jade, it’s best to limit yourself to small purchases here as the prices and options can be overwhelming.
Hong Kong also offers a large range of pearls – cultured and freshwater. Retail prices of other gemstones are marginally lower than elsewhere. More popular chains of jewelery shops – and there are many in Tsim Sha Tsui and Mong Kok that cater mostly to tourists from the mainland – will issue a certificate stating what you’re buying. and guarantees that the shop will buy it back at the fair. market price.
Cameras
One of the best places in Hong Kong to buy photography equipment is Stanley St in Central. Everything sold here has a price tag (never buy without a camera), although some low-end bargains may be possible. There are two used camera shops on Kimberley Rd in Tsim Sha Tsui, but the rest of the area should be avoided. Mong Kok also has shops worth checking out on Sai Yeung Choi St and Tung Choi St, as well as a gadget mall, Sim City (47-51 Shantung St).
Clocks
Watch shops are common in Hong Kong and you can find everything from Rolex to Russian army timepieces and diving watches. Avoid shops without price tags. Big department stores and city chains are fine, but compare prices.
Leather goods and accessories
Brand names like Louis Vuitton, Samsonite and Rimowa are all sold in Hong Kong department stores, and you’ll also find some local vendors in the luggage business. The popularity of hiking and backpacking has stimulated the proliferation of outdoor products stores that carry high-quality backpacks.
This post was originally published in October 2012 and was updated by Piera Chen in May 2019. It was last updated in December 2019.