Must-see shopping in Asia
Ulaanbaatar
Also known as the Black Market (Khar Zakh), this is a must-see spot for those wanting to pick up traditional Mongolian clothing, carpets, horse-riding…
Hong Kong
This elegant four-level shop is a local institution, and one of the few places in Central that specialises in luxury Chinese style. It's the place to go…
Myeong-dong & Jung-gu
Wrap yourself in luxury inside the Seoul equivalent of Harrods. It’s split over two buildings, the older part based in a gorgeous 1930 colonial building…
Banglamphu
The main guesthouse strip in Banglamphu is a day-and-night shopping bazaar peddling all the backpacker 'essentials': profane T-shirts, bootleg DVDs of…
Ebisu, Meguro & Around
Tokyo's most famous bookstore, spread out over three buildings (with a cool basket-weave facade designed by KDa), has a dazzling collection of books on…
Little India & Kampong Glam
What was once an area known for its risqué nightlife – packed with foreign servicemen on R&R, gambling dens and sex workers – is now its most famous undercover…
Osaka
This long arcade sells just about anything related to the preparation, consumption and selling of Osaka's principal passion: food. There's everything from…
Manila
Somewhat like an indoor/outdoor flea market, Greenhills has stall after stall selling DVDs and brand-named clothing of questionable legitimacy. But snoop…
Phuket Town
An elegant antiques gallery and boutique featuring antiquated Buddha statues and sculptures, organic textiles, and ambitious, exquisite high-fashion women…
Kuang Chin Sheng Paper Umbrella
Southern Taiwan
This shop in a courtyard house is the Louis Vuitton of Taiwanese oil-paper umbrellas. It was founded during Japanese rule and appeared on the cover of an…
Ulaanbaatar
Established in 1921, the State Department Store, known as ikh delguur (big shop), is a local institution and virtually a tourist attraction in itself…
Wan Chai & Northeast Hong Kong Island
The hyperkinetic buzz at the heart of Causeway Bay, Times Square is retail nirvana for Hong Kong's shoppers, with mainstream brands over 13 floors (it was…
Shanghai Old City
This old building with more than 100 stalls is one of the best and easiest fabric markets for tourists as many of the stallholders speak a little English…
Anhui
Old St is lined with tea shops but Xie Yu Da Tea is the real deal, founded by Xie Zhengan (1838–1910), the man who first marketed Huangshan's now famous…
Varanasi
If the deluge of traveller enthusiasm is anything to go by, this is one of the most trustworthy, nonpushy shops in India. Indeed it is one of the best…
Beijing
Home of the last remaining traditional kite crafters in Beijing, this cluttered little cave is piled high with hand-painted fēng zhēng (kites) in the…
Macau
This four-storey shop on the corner of Taipa Village's Rua do Cunha pedestrian street has the mother lode of made-in-Macau gifts, T-shirts, candies and…
Gwanghwamun & Jongno-gu
Around 60 different Korean designer shops selling crafts, fashion and homewares are gathered at this slick complex. Spread over several levels, the…
Taipei
Taipei's liveliest night market, and all the better for being local and less touristy. Food-wise there are steaks, sushi, animal-shaped biscuits,…
Phuket
Fashionistas will adore this sparkly, sophisticated Ko Samui–born boutique that captures all that's young and glam about Phuket. Flick through gorgeous,…
Naha
This amusement-park-esque, American-themed shopping mall is as kitsch as they come, but if you can resist your instinctive resistance, closer exploration…
Hong Kong
The shop (c 1917) for artisanal, naturally fermented soy sauce, premier cru yellow-bean sauce (Chinese miso) and other high-quality condiments; it also…
Seoul
Seoul’s shopping malls hardly come any more stylish than this one in the previously industrial hub of Guro. The interior spaces surround a waterfall that…
Mataram
There are no tourists at this vast market near the Mandalika bus terminal in Bertais, but it has everything else: fruit and veggies, fish (fresh and dried…
Nanjing
Housed in a disused parking lot under Wutaishan Stadium, this astonishingly vast indie bookshop has very few foreign-language books, but the left-field…
Shenzhen
Miniscule spy cameras, jiving robots, e-skateboards and air-conditioned jackets (yep!) – for a sea of innovative, cut-price kidult toys, head to this…
Mumbai (Bombay)
Worth a visit as much for the spectacle if not to buy, this near-century-old traditional oil shop still hand-presses its medicinal, cooking and massage…
Outlying Islands
Chiu Kee (c 1970s) is one of the precious few places around that still makes hand-painted pottery. You'll see the works of its founders, the late Mr Lam…
Hoi An
This initiative focuses attention on Ð Phan Boi Chau, east of Ð Hoang Dieu, as a dedicated arts street with galleries, museums and cafes housed mainly in…
Tainan
An airy bookshop-cafe with large windows framing the sky, trees and canal outside. The books are mostly in Chinese, and lean towards the arts and…
Darjeeling
The Darjeeling area produces arguably the world's finest teas and Nathmulls is one of the best retailers, with more than 50 varieties. Expect to pay ₹200…
Iloilo
This beautifully restored Spanish home (1865) offers private tours of the upstairs living area (P150, minimum five people) and a downstairs shop where the…
Tainan
The elegant Hayashi Department Store sells attractive homewares and fashion created by Taiwanese designers, as well as gorgeously packaged Taiwanese cakes…
Mandalay
The most sophisticated of Mandalay's gold-leaf workshops, King Galon offers patient explanations of the gold-pounding process, including the physically…
Siam Square, Pratunam, Phloen Chit & Ratchathewi
This open-air shopping zone is ground zero for teenage culture in Bangkok. Pop music blares out of tinny speakers, and gangs of youngsters in various…
Beppu
Opened in 1948 and recently renovated, this gallery feels like an intimate museum of Japanese bamboo art. Many of the works were made by well-known…
Gangtok
This boutique tea store stocks a fine selection of beautifully packaged teas, notably Temi (Sikkimese) and various flushes of premium Darjeeling. A calm,…
Osaka
Tower Knives has a fantastic selection of kitchen knives – both carbon steel and stainless steel; some are hand-forged by Osaka artisans. The English…
Puerto Princesa
This colourful pasalubong (gift) shop employs local weavers to make baskets, clothing, place mats and other products using indigenous materials. The…
