The 2024 Guangdong–Hong Kong–Macao Road cycling race and test event for the 15th National Games will take place on 24 November, and temporary control measures will be in place at the Hong Kong–Zhuhai–Macao Bridge. Click here for details.
Mong Kok may have the Ladies' Market (Tung Choi Street), but Sham Shui Po has ‘men’s heaven’ in Apliu Street, which gets its name from an old village nearby that was famous for raising ducks. Local residents would sell items at low prices to help out their families and the bazaar gradually became the stalls you see today. The street now attracts those who are hunting for electronics and second-hand goods.
The excited screams of people could be heard in the Dragon Centre when Hong Kong’s first indoor roller coaster, the ‘Sky Train’, was completed in the mall in 1994. It remained very popular until it stopped operating in 2003. However, the memories of Sky Train and the glory days of the Dragon Centre are kept alive, thanks to the photos and celebrity autographs on the mall’s eighth floor.
From the centre of the lower floor, take a low angle photo. The background spirals with colourful lights from each floor and you can see the roller coaster track at the highest point.
Go to the 9/F and hold your camera (or phone) up to capture the roller coaster’s winding track. It’s best to use a wide-angle lens (or phone function) here.
Sham Shui Po’s open-air street markets are a fantastic way to experience the lively local culture. And if you’re in the mood for treasure hunting, you have to check out these places of discovery for a maze-like shopping complex or hidden stores. Aside from these time-honoured stores attractions, the neighbourhood has also become a hub for a new wave of creativity, featuring hip and happening start-ups that are well-worth visiting.
This busy street {{title}} Address {{address}} Website {{website}} More info is lined with shops and stalls selling all sorts of electronic gadgets. You’ll never know what bargain you might find here, from the latest mobile phone accessories to vintage typewriters and home appliances.
Also known as Toy Street, this spot is a go-to for those looking for children’s toys, affordable stationery, knock-offs and party accessories. With more than 30 stores, kids and grown-ups alike can experience the joys of discovering hidden gems at any one of these treasure troves.
This bustling wet market is the perfect place to experience Sham Shui Po like a local. The street is lined with stores and stalls that sell fresh fruits and vegetables, meats and all sorts of daily necessities. The street also houses numerous snack stalls, so you can grab a quick bite to eat while you browse through all the goods on offer.
The only established mall in Sham Shui Po, Dragon Centre {{title}} Address {{address}} Website {{website}} More info is especially popular with local teenagers as well as families with kids. The labyrinthine complex boasts a lot of tiny boutiques, eateries and snack stores selling fun and quirky items. Aside from shopping and eating, Dragon Centre also boasts an ice-skating rink if you fancy a cool spin. There’s also an indoor rollercoaster which, although no longer in operation, is still a sight to behold.
Established in 1842, Sun Nga Shing is one of the last stores in Hong Kong that still offer umbrella repair services. Aside from getting your umbrella fixed, you can also admire the numerous handcrafted umbrellas that fifth-generation owner Yau Yiu-wai has made himself (although they’re unfortunately not for sale). Incredibly friendly, Mr Yau is always happy to have a chat about the art of making umbrellas and how best to maintain them.
Tucked away in a residential building on busy Cheung Sha Wan Road is the treasure trove that is Paul’s record collection. In a small, cosy space, owner Paul has boxes upon boxes of vinyl records from the 1960s-1980s. The prices are low and the records span all genres, making it a must-visit for music fans. Be sure to call ahead to make sure Paul is around to let you in.
Originally dedicated to fashion wholesale in the 1970s, the mall eventually morphed into the mecca for gamers that it is today. Occupying the first floor and basement, Golden Computer Centre {{title}} Address {{address}} Website {{website}} More info and Arcade is a maze of tightly packed stores that stocks the latest gear, games and gadgets. Prices vary from store to store, so be sure to visit multiple shops and compare prices before you make a purchase.
Bo Wah specialises in paper effigies that are burned in traditional Chinese rituals as offerings to honour the deceased. Aside from market-standard effigies such as clothes and houses, this museum-like store also offers more modern items and custom-made products such as smartphones, electric guitars and even a Darth Vader helmet inspired by the Star Wars films.
Opened in 1954, Wah Ngai is best known as the birthplace of the red, white and blue bag. The founder Lee Wah started hand-making these nylon carryalls in the 1960s. Cheap but durable, these bags became extremely popular, especially with those who wanted to bring gifts back to relatives in Mainland China. Still widely seen throughout the city, these bags have gone on to become an icon of Hong Kong culture. Today, you can pick up this classic bag at Wah Ngai Canvas {{title}} Address {{address}} Website {{website}} More info , Tsuen Kee Canvas (Address: 219 Yee Kuk Street, Sham Shui Po, Kowloon ; Tel: +852 2729 1054) or Sun Kee Canvas (Address: 37 Yen Chow Street, Sham Shui Po, Kowloon ; Tel: +852 2393 5073).
Get a completely different perspective of Sham Shui Po from the summit of Garden Hill {{title}} Address {{address}} Website {{website}} More info . A quiet escape from the hustle and bustle of the densely packed neighbourhood, this short urban hike also affords great views of the district below, especially during sunset and evening hours. To access, simply walk up the foot of the hill, which is the slope right by the YHA Mei Ho House Youth Hostel on Berwick Street.
This charming concept store is inspired by the people and stories that the owners have come across during their travels. The boutique stocks products and trinkets from all corners of the world. Feel free to browse through all the products on offer, and ask about the stories behind each of them.
This fragrant shop is a great spot to visit if you want a momentary escape from the hustle and bustle of the rest of Sham Shui Po. The store sells handmade bars of soap crafted from a range of all-natural ingredients such as lavender, rose and coffee. If you have some extra time, consider signing up for one of the classes or private workshops, where you can learn how to make your own bars of soap at home. Classes are available in Cantonese, Mandarin and English.
Fans of stationery, especially the Japanese-made variety, will surely be delighted by the remarkable selection offered at this hidden fifth-floor store. Aside from the standard supply of pens and paper, Siugreat stocks an array of lesser-seen Japanese fountain pens and more than 100 types of ink imported from Japan and Europe. Note that the shop only opens on weekends.
Founded and curated by Kim Lam, Parallel Space {{title}} Address {{address}} Website {{website}} More info is an independent art gallery-slash-exhibition venue that curates and organises all sorts of ’art-ivities’, including cultural workshops and artist talks. Past events include a pop-up show featuring only live plants and an Instagram photo exhibition curated by renowned photographer Wing Shya. There is simply no limit to what the gallery presents.
D2 Place {{title}} Address {{address}} Website {{website}} More info is more than just another shopping mall in Hong Kong. Instead of massive chain stores and cookie-cutter retail shops, it houses stylish boutiques and pop-up stores from indie local and regional brands. The popular weekend markets also shine a spotlight on local culture and businesses, offering shopaholics a more meaningful shopping experience than what they would otherwise find at mega malls. A world of retail therapy awaits from MTR Lai Chi Kok Station Exit D2.
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