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The Mid Levels Escalator, at 800m is
longest covered outdoor escalator system in world. It carries commuters between prestigious Mid Levels residential area and heart of Central Hong Kong.
Travel along it is free but beware it operates in one direction (down) during morning rush hour then is switched to up thereafter.
Nathan Road, Yau Ma Tei on Kowloon peninsular is home to street hawkers eager to sell tourists anything from custom-made suits to copy Rolex watches.
At Yau Ma Tei, Jade Market has plenty of cool green stone carved into a myriad of shapes.
Man Mo Temple in Sheung Wan on Hong Kong Island. Spirals of insense burn to fill temple with scented smoke that clings to your skin and clothes long after you have left.
Nearby is famous Chop Alley (Man Wa Lane) which is lined with small green-painted huts where chop makers sell chops. A chop is a Chinese seal typically carved from jade, soapstone, bone or ivory. You can get carvers to translate your name into Chinese for a custom-made seal. For a soapstone custom-made chop expect to pay around £15.
Shopping in Hong Kong
Central, Admiralty, and Causeway Bay on Hong Kong Island, along with Tsim Tsa Tsui and Mong Kok in Kowloon are main shopping areas. Shopping hours vary, but most shops are open until late at night, seven days a week. Shops are also open on public holidays, except during Lunar New Year. However, shops in Central close earlier at around 6 p.m., but other main areas stay open until 9:30 p.m.
Main shopping malls on Hong Kong Island include Landmark in Central, Pacific Place in Admiralty, Times Square in Causeway Bay, and City Plaza in Taikoo Shing. Kowloon also has its share of malls, which includes linked Ocean Terminal and Harbour Centre complexes.
Kowloon
Bird Market Yuen Po Street, Mong Kok, 10 minutes walk from Prince Edward MTR station. Hundreds of song birds in cages of all shapes and sizes combine to make a noise
Nathan Road Not a market, but there's a definte market-feel to many shops that are crammed along lower end of this street in Tsim Sha Tsui with their neon signs jutting out into street from buildings. Here there is everything from cameras, electronic goods, tailors to jewellery shops. Street hawkers will offer "Custom suit", "Copy watch", "Jade rings", anything and everything is available here.
Night Market Shanghai Street, Yau Ma Tei After dusk into late night a browse through this market is fascinating. There's everything from fortune-tellers to open air restaurants.
Ladies' Market Tung Choi Street, Mong Kok Open daily from noon to 10:30pm sells everything from fake designer accessories and clothing to cheap cosmetics and toys. It is also popular for late night snacks.
Jade Market Kansu & Battery Streets, Yau Ma Tei Open daily 10am to 3:30pm this market has jade objects in many different shapes and sizes. Beware though, not all of objects are genuine jade, but if you're not too bothered you can get a reasonably priced souvenir.
Hong Kong Island Cat Street (Upper Lascar Row) Shops along this street are filled with a mixture of bric-a-brac, real and fake antiques and hundreds of stalls.
Western Market Morrison Street Opened in 1906 this red brick built building was a food market for more than 80 years. Today it has been restored and in 1991 became a shopping complex. It offers handcrafts, fabric and souvenir stalls.
Stanley Market Stanley Market Road, Stanley, Hong Kong Island Stanley Market is perfect place to buy something special for friends or relatives. The historic fishing lanes are jam-packed with vendors selling Chinese artwork, silk collectibles and curios.
Tony works for Strathlorn Travel who specialise in travel for the independent traveller to destinations that are more 'off the beaten track'.
