Where to start? Wow I was not expecting to see a market every few blocks, but that is exactly what I encounter exploring these gritty old streets of Kowloon. From raw food to souvenirs, antiques, jade and clothes, let me show you what I discover amongst this chaotic and lively metropolis. There are so many amazing markets in Hong Kong!
Ladies Market
Located on Tung Choi Street in Mongkok, this one-kilometre stretch is full of everything a tourist might want or need. So why is it called Ladies Market? In 1975 the government stepped in to try and regulate street vendors. Instead of having them hawk their wares at random locations, a centralized area was created. Originally this market sold primarily ladies clothing, hence the name.
Today however, it has turned into a tourist destination and in reality, only caters to visitors. Find every type of souvenir here, from sports jerseys, to knock-off bags and accessories, suitcases to fridge magnets, and t-shirts to jewelry. I will say there are some excellent and hilarious souvenirs to be found, just have a look at these.
Reclamation Street Market
Visitors will find this authentic food market at Reclamation and Nanking Streets. It is one of Hong Kong’s longest open-air bazaars and absolutely filled with all thing’s food. Packed with locals doing their regular shopping, this is my kind of market. Raw meat, dried meat, fresh fish, seafood, fruits, vegetables, plants, nuts, seeds, anything and everything is here.
Dodging the pigs faces hanging from a wall, the next stall will be slicing pieces of bright pink pork belly. Down from there, vendors are cutting live fish and displaying these across a table. Heads of eels still slithering back and forth, missing their bodies. The gallbladder of fish, expanded and white with duress.
Rambutans, durian, lychees, every type of tropical fruit. Vegetables and roots I have never seen before. And people, hordes of people shopping in this humid, thick and damp environment. Definitely come for a visit and have an airconditioned coffee shop ready to dash into when you are finished. 😂
Yua Ma Tei Jade Hawker Bazaar
Located on 261號 Shanghai St, this market is completely inside and undercover. There are at least two entrances that can’t be missed with the large red pagoda overtop the massive steel doors. As soon as you walk through the entrance, you will be hounded, so be prepared. This large space is filled with individual sellers, trying to get you to purchase their jade jewellery, gem stones and other related products. This is a place where you need some prior knowledge of real jade, what it feels and looks like, and how to discern it from fake jade.
Temple Street Market
Over 100 years old, this market gets its name from the colourful Tin Hau Temple close by (link here). It is predominately active and busy in the evenings and night, when most people are visiting for the food. Yes, one street is entirely dedicated to food carts serving everything from snake soup to dumplings and Hong Kong noodles.
Another street has kiosks full of souvenirs and some will be open during the day. Because this was an area where people congregated in the evenings, it is often referred to as the ‘people’s nightclub’. Walk along the sidewalks beside the market and you realize you are in one of Hong Kong’s red light districts, where ‘massage parlours’, gambling dens and fortune tellers await clientele. Early evening and later at night, sidewalks just around the corner fill with vendors selling a huge variety of drug paraphernalia and adult novelties.
The Kowloon part of Hong Kong is absolutely bursting with markets and bazaars. One of the most densely populated areas of the world is right here and all of these people need to eat, shop and live. While some of these historical markets seem to be catering to tourists unfortunately, they are still amazing places to experience the essence of Mongkok and Kowloon.
