Hong Kong is famously a shoppers paradise. Mongkok’s Markets are varied, interesting and provide a stark shopping contrast to the designer boutiques and glossy malls found nearby in Tsim Tsa Shui. There is a variety of markets all located conveniently close together in Mongkok and any or all can easily be worked into one of our walking tours. For more information about our various walking tours around Hong Kong, click here.
This friendly cockatoo came to say “hello” to Michelle on our tour of the Yuen Po bird garden Hong Kong today. The garden and market is located between Boundary Street to the north and the Flower Market to the south. It has many bird species and bird paraphernalia to purchase, including anti-depressant bird feed for when your bird is not in full song!
Even if you’re not looking to buy a bird, the bamboo cages are quite striking and could be repurposed to make unusual lighting features for example. If you are particularly interested in birds, do read our post about bird watching in Hong Kong.
This consists of approximately two blocks of flower shops. A fragrant riot of colour will meet you. If you want to enjoy this in peace, drop by in the morning. It gets busier as the day goes on and is busier yet at weekends. In the days leading up to Chinese New Year when it feels as if the entire population of Hong Kong comes to this small area to shop for plants and flowers for their homes. So depending on your point of view this can be the best or worst time to visit.
This doesn’t really get going until around midday. Mongkok’s Ladies Market is your one stop shopping street for cheap and cheerful souvenirs. It’s a bit of a misnomer as it certainly not ladies-only.
From magnets, to t-shirts, chopsticks to tea sets and all sorts of quirky items, you can surely find a little something suitable for your nieces and nephews or your parent and friends. Be sure to check the quality of glue, stitching etc as once bought you’ll struggle to find where you bought it. Friendly haggling is encouraged, especially if you are the first customer of the day.
Whether you just want a run of the mill goldfish or something more exotic, this is the place to come. Even if you’re not in the market for a fish, terrapin or crab, it’s a interesting sight. Small shops display their wares in clear water filled bags. There are also tanks, fish food and all manner of decorations (from plastic castles to small water plants) to customise your fishy friends’ home.
Okay, so this isn’t a market, but we thought it was worth a mention. It’s a ruler straight street just beyond Mongkok’s bird market, delineating the boundary of land ceded to the British 1860. South of the street was ceded in 1860 under British Colonial Rule, and land leases exist for up to 999 years. North of Boundary Street (what was termed New Kowloon and the New Territories), they will all expire on July 1, 2047, when the Basic Law’s “one country, two systems” arrangement is set to end. This seems to present a bit of a land crisis as this date draws nearer!!
So as you can see Mongkok’s markets offer a wide range of goods and all are family friendly.
