Flea Markets Guide for Expats
Flea markets in the traditional sense are not hugely popular in Hong Kong though street markets, are an everyday part of life in the city and are a great place to grab a bargain. Bustling with life and color, each of these markets has its own charm and are popular with locals and tourists alike. Whether it’s clothing, antiques or simply cheap knick-knacks you’re looking for, there’s almost nothing you can’t find in these markets.
Street markets in Hong Kong are usually open on all days of the week from 9am to 6pm though markets like the Temple Street Night market and the Ladies Market stay open until later.
Flea Markets
Cat Street
A treasure trove for second-hand goods and antiques, Cat Street is a pedestrians-only lane lined with numerous stalls selling ornaments, old coins, posters, kitschy Mao paraphernalia and assorted trinkets and artifacts.
Where: Upper Lascar Row, Sheung Wan
Getting There: Take the MTR to Central (Exit D2). Turn right to Theatre Lane and walk along Queen’s Road Central towards The Centre. Then take the Mid-Levels Escalator to Hollywood Road.
Opening Hours: 10:00-19:00 daily
Ap Liu Street Flea Market
This improvised flea market comes to life during the weekends. It is a great place to shop for cheap second-hand electronic goods and components, with small shops stocking everything from the latest mobile phones and gadgets to cameras, AV equipment, stereo systems, cables and transformers.
Where: Ap Liu Street, Sham Shui Po
Getting There: Take the MTR to Sham Shui Po (Exit C2)
Opening Hours: noon-midnight daily
FARM Flea Market
Organized by the Chinese YMCA of Hong Kong, this flea market is the largest of its kind in Hong Kong. Held every Sunday at Victoria Park, the bustling, busy market offers an array of goods including CDs, clothing, jewelry and carvings.
Where: Victoria Park, Causeway Bay
Getting There: Take the MTR to Causeway Bay (Exit E)
Opening Hours: Every Sunday 11:00-18:00
Street Markets
Lok On Pai Siu Lam Market
This market has more than 100 stalls selling potted plants, toys, handbags and T-shirts. There’s a popular children’s playground here for the kids to entertain themselves while you enjoy some retail therapy.
Where: 59 Tsing Fat St, Siu Lam, Tuen Mun
Getting There: Take the MTR to Central, then hop on bus 962 which will take you to the market in half an hour.
Opening Hours: Sat-Sun 11:00-20:00
Flower Market
Hong Kong’s most colorful street market, the Flower Market is the place to go to for exotic blooms and traditional luck-bringing houseplants, from jade green bamboo shoots to delicate orchids and vivid birds of paradise. Go in the morning when the flowers are freshest.
Where: Flower Market Rd, Mongkok
Getting There: Take the MTR to Prince Edward (Exit B2), then walk along Prince Edward Road West towards the direction of the railway station for about 15 minutes.
Opening Hours: 07:00-19:00 daily
Goldfish Market
As the name implies, you can find goldfish of every shape and hue here, but also all sorts of exotic fish. Stalls lined along two streets display tank after tank of colorful aquatic specimens that will keep you entertained for hours.
Where: Tung Choi St, Mongkok
Getting There: Take the MTR to Prince Edward (Exit B2). Head east on Prince Edward Road West then turn right on Tung Choi Street.
Opening Hours: 10:30-22:00 daily
Ladies’ Market
Probably Hong Kong’s most famous market, and one of the best for visitors to soak up the hustle and bustle of a Chinese market. Despite its name, the market sells everything and anything, from children’s clothes and football jerseys to kitschy souvenirs such as Bruce Lee figurines and Chairman Mao magnets. The market also does a buzzing trade in fakes and copies of designer handbags, watches and T-shirts.
Where: Tung Choi St, Mongkok
Getting There: Take the MTR to Mong Kok (Exit E2). Head east for two blocks on Nelson Street.
Opening Hours: noon-23:30 daily
Temple Street Night Market
The liveliest night market in Hong Kong, Temple Street is a chaotic mix of brightly lit stalls hawking an unbelievable variety of inexpensive clothing, pens, watches, sunglasses, gadgets and luggage. The busy food stalls along the sidewalk offer a wide range of local delicacies, including hotpot and fresh seafood dishes. You can also get your palm read at one of the many fortune-tellers at the Yau Ma Tei end of the street, or catch the occasional impromptu Cantonese opera performance for free.
Where: Temple Street, Yau Ma Tei
Getting There: Take the MTR to Jordan (Exit A). Turn right into Jordan Road, then right into Temple Street.
Opening Hours: 16:00-midnight daily
Jade Market
Some 400 stalls in this Kowloon market sell jade in every imaginable shade of green, and in all sorts of varieties and grades. Unless you know your jade as well as the vendors do, it’s probably wise not to buy any expensive pieces here and to stick to the many inexpensive trinkets on offer.
Where: Junction of Kansu and Battery streets, Yau Ma Tei
Getting There: MTR Yau Ma Tei Station Exit C, walk along Nathan Road to Public Square Street. Walk along Public Square Street to Canton Road for 10 to 15 minutes.
Opening Hours: Mon-Sat 10:00-16:00
Stanley Street Market
Once a sleepy seaside village, Stanley has grown into a sizable residential community popular with Western expatriates. A maze of alleys at a covered market are lined with vendors, selling everything from Chinese artwork and chopstick holders to embroidered linen and plus-size clothing. Prices are on the whole reasonable, although you shouldn’t expect any of the bargains at other Hong Kong markets. After shopping, rest your feet at the many waterfront bars and restaurants.
Where: Stanley Market Road, Stanley
Getting There: Take the MTR to Hong Kong Station (Exit D), then take bus 6, 6A, 6X, 66 or 260 from the Exchange Square bus terminus (Grab front-row seats on the upper deck of the bus and enjoy a scenic ride along winding roads with green mountains and ocean views).
Opening Hours: 10:30-18:30
Jardine’s Crescent
A crammed, narrow roadside market great for inexpensive women’s apparel, bags and fashion accessories. Cut-rate clothing starts at HK$10, but don’t expect to find tailored silk here.
Where: Jardine’s Crescent, Causeway Bay
Getting There: Take the MTR to Causeway Bay (Exit F)
0pening Hours: 11:00-21:30
Bowring Street
This market specializes in fabric stores and clothing for both adults and children. The street market also has a few cooked food stalls located within its boundaries.
Where: Jordan Road, Kowloon
Getting there: MTR to Jordan Station exit C2.
Opening Hours: 11am until late
Cheung Sha Wan Road
This is another street market that specializes in clothing including the latest fashions trends. Prices are very low though many of the vendors here choose to sell on a wholesale basis.
Where: Yen Chow Street and Wong Chuk Street and Apilu Street, Sham Sui Po, Kowloon
Getting there: MTR to Sham Sui Po and exit C1 for Cheung Sha Wan Road and Exit C2 for Apilu Street
Opening Hours: 9am to 6pm for Cheung Sha Wan Road, the stores on Apilu Street stay open until much later.
Western Market
The Western Market which is housed in a historic building in Sheung Wan is often referred to as a tourist trap for it is a landmark on the tourist trail. This market which is made up of three storeys offers Chinese crafts, accessories and collectibles on the ground floor and a fabric market on the second floor. The market also hosts a bakery and food stalls as well as a restaurant on the third floor.
Where: 323 Des Voeux Road Central, Sheung Wan,
Getting there: MTR to Sheung Wan station exit A1 or C.
Opening Hours: 10 am to Midnight.
Bonham Strand West
This traditional dried sea food and birds nest market hosts several small local stores. The market is also known for its many low cost pharmacies.
Where: Queens Road Central near the Costco Tower and extends over Jervois Street, Mercer Street, Hillier Street, Clevery Street, Morris Street and Wing Lok Street, returns to another section of Queen’s Road Central in Possession Point.
Getting there: MTR Sheung Wan Station Exit A2
Opening Hours: 8am to 8pm
Shanghai Street
Shanghai Street specializes in kitchenware of all types. This 2.3 km street is packed with stores selling chopping boards, knives and cleavers, plates, pots and pans, dim sum steamers and other utensils. The Shanghai street market is hugely popular with locals.
Where: Extends from Austin Road to Lai Chi Kok Road in the Yau Ma Tei and Mongkok district of Kowloon.
Getting there: MTR to Yau Ma Tei station exit B2
Opening Hours: 10 am until late
Wan Chai Street Market
Wan Chai Street Market is located within the environs of its wet market and it hosts a wide assortment of vendors who sell all sorts of products like clothes, shoes, DVDs, CDs, cosmetics, stockings, stationary, toys, arti-facts, haberdashery, household items, accessories and more. This market usually stays open from 8am to 7pm on all days of the week.
Where: Between Johnston Road and Queens Road East, Wan Chai
Getting there: Wan Chai MTR station exit A3.
Opening Hours: 8am to 7pm
Fuk Wah Street
The street market at Fuk Wah Street offers a wide variety of goods like clothes, luggage, used books and much more. Prices at this market are some of the lowest in Hong Kong.
Where: Extends from Castle Peak Road to Tai Po Road, Sham Sui Po, Kowloon
Getting there: MTR Sham Shui Po station exit B1
Opening Hours:10 am until late
Second Hand Stores
Hong Kong is known to be a leading market for luxury goods. However it is not only brand new luxury goods but even second hand luxury goods find custom here. There a several stores in Hong Kong that specialize in selling second hand, gently used designer bags, jewelry and watches.
Brand-off Tokyo
This chain which deals in second hand designer handbags, jewelry and watches has five stores in Hong Kong which are chock a block with this highly desirable inventory.
http://www.brandoff.com.hk/
Milan Station
Milan Station is another retailer that specializes in the sale of second-hand designer hand bags in Hong Kong. Milan Station operates ten stores throughout Hong Kong. Milan Station also buys good condition designer bags for cash.
http://www.milanstation.com.hk
Second Hand Watches
Like second-hand designer handbags, second-hand and vintage watches have a huge market in Hong Kong. Some of the best known dealers for second hand watches in Hong Kong are located within the shopping arcade at the Holiday Inn Golden Mile Hotel located on 50 Nathan Road, Tsim Sha Tsui in Kowloon and in the shopping arcade on 16 Kimberley Road in Kowloon. However like all vintage goods, you need to do your own research before you venture out to buy any of these products. Yet another good source for vintage watches Ken Watches (http://www.kenwatches.com) which operates three stores in Hong Kong.
Vintage Clothing
Vintage HK
This store offers vintage clothes and accessories sourced from all over the world.
57-59 Hollywood Road
Central
Tel:2545 9932
Eco Mama
Eco Mama offers second hand, gently used baby goods from clothes to furniture and other new born paraphenalia.
653-655 King’s Road
North Point
Tel :2189 7236
Old Bits and Bobs
Flea and Cents
This small store in Wan Chai offers a huge selection of antiquities and other bric a brac and is considered to be a treasure trove for bargain hunters.
First Floor, 34-44 Queens Road East,
Wanchai
Tel:2528 0808
