Shopping in China
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Jade Market
The Jade Market, near the Gascoigne Rd overpass just west of Nathan Rd, has some 400 stalls selling all varieties and grades of jade from inside two covered markets. Unless you really know your nephrite from your jadeite, it’s probably not wise to buy any expensive pieces here, but there are plenty of cheap and cheerful trinkets on offer as well. Shanghai Street on the other side of Kansu St will take you back to a time long past. Once Kowloon’s main drag before Nathan Rd, Shanghai St is still flanked by stores selling embroidered Chinese wedding gowns, sandalwood incense, professional kitchenware and Buddha statues. There’s also a pawn shop at the junction of Saigon…
reviewed
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Stanley Market
No big bargains or big stings, just reasonably priced casual clothes (plenty of large sizes), bric-a-brac, toys and formulaic art, all in a nicely confusing maze of alleys running down to Stanley Bay. It’s best to go during the week; on the weekend the market is bursting at the seams with tourists and locals alike.
reviewed
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IFC Mall
Hong Kong’s most luxurious shopping mall boasts 200 high-fashion boutiques linking the One and Two IFC towers and the Four Seasons Hotel. Outlets include Patrick Cox, Geiger, Longchamp, Kenzo, Vivienne Tam, Zegna…we could go on. The Hong Kong Airport Express Station is downstairs.
reviewed
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D
Panjiayuan Antique Market
Beijing’s most beloved flea market sells almost every Chinese knick-knack imaginable. It’s a great spot for souvenirs, but bargain hard and treat any claims of antiquity with scepticism. Not much goes on here during the week. Instead, get here early on the weekends for one of the most fun shopping experiences in Beijing.
reviewed
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Sogo
This Japanese-owned store, in the hub of Causeway Bay, has 12 well-organised floors and more than 37,000 sq metres of retail space. The range is mind-boggling: over 20 brands of ties just for starters. Eclectic departments include the Barbie Counter and the Character’s Shop.
reviewed
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Picture This
The vintage posters, photographs, prints and antiques maps of Hong Kong and Asia on sale here will appeal to collectors or anyone seeking an unusual gift or souvenir. There’s also an assortment of antiquarian books related to Hong Kong. Prices are not cheap but they guarantee all maps and prints to be originals. Sunday opening hours are noon to five.
reviewed
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Temple St Night Market
Temple St, which extends from Man Ming Lane in the north to Nanking St in the south and is cut in two by the Tin Hau temple complex, is the place to go for cheap clothes, dai pai dong (open-air street stalls) food, Chinese memorabilia, watches, pirate CDs and DVDs, fake labels, footwear, cookware and everyday items. Any marked prices should be considered mere suggestions - this is definitely a place to bargain. It’s also a place to catch some entertainment.
reviewed
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Flower & Bird Market
The Flower & Bird Market has long been one of the more enjoyable and relaxing strolls in the city. It's also known as lǎo jiē (old street) and comprises several downtown blocks surrounded by buildings of immense, gleaming modernity and bustle. Flowers and birds most certainly aren't the main draw here anymore, though on weekends the chirping, yawping and cawing can still be heard a block or more away.
Instead, strollers pack this surreal hawkers' ghetto and its mazy neighbourhood walk of stalls chock-full of flora and fauna (well, again, not so much of these anymore, endless curios, knick-knacks, and doo-dahs, the contents of someone's back hall on more than one…
reviewed
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I
Maliandao Tea Market
South of Beijing West Train Station is Maliandao, the largest tea market in northern China. The four-storey building is home to if not all the tea in China, then an awful lot of it. There are brews from all over the country here, including pu’er and oolong. Although it’s mostly for wholesalers, the market is a great place to wander for anyone interested in tea and the vendors are normally happy to let you sample some. Maliandao Lu itself has hundreds of tea shops, where prices for tea and tea sets are lower than in the tea shops in tourist areas. To find the tea market, look for the statue of Lu Yu, the 8th-century sage who wrote the first book on growing, preparing and…
reviewed
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J
Granville Rd
If you want to hunt for bargains and have the time and inclination to riffle through racks and piles of factory seconds, the dozen or so factory outlet stores along Granville Rd should reward you with items at a fraction of store prices.
reviewed
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The Village
Anchoring Sānlǐtún's expensive commercial facelift, this nifty multistorey mall drags in legions of snappy shoppers and diners to its shops, cafes and restaurants; the world's largest branch of Adidas is here.
reviewed
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Pacific Place
Pacific Place has a couple of hundred outlets, dominated by higher-end men’s and women’s fashion and accessories. There’s also a Lane Crawford department store and a Joyce boutique.
reviewed
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Yue Hwa Chinese Products Emporium
This enormous place, with seven floors of ceramics, furniture, souvenirs and clothing, has absolutely everything the souvenir-hunting tourist could possibly want, as well as bolts of silk, herbs, clothes, porcelain, luggage, umbrellas and kitchenware. There’s also a branch in Tsim Sha Tsui on Kowloon Park Dr that’s entered from Peking Rd.
reviewed
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Paramita
If you can’t make it to Tibet, at least swing by Paramita for its inspiring collection of souvenirs, including yak-bone amulets (Y90), masks, jewellery, framed mandalas and other Buddhist treasures from the Himalayas. It’s a nonprofit organisation, founded to help Tibetans with minimal education find employment.
reviewed
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O
Page One
A chain, yes, but a good one. Page One has Hong Kong’s best selection of art and design magazines and books; it’s also strong on photography, literature, film and children’s books. There’s a smaller branch in Tsim Sha Tsui.
reviewed
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P
Ba Yan Ka la
This well-conceived store offers a luxurious line of natural beauty products derived from Chinese herbal medicine. Goji berry (skin revitalisation), lotus seed (skin nourishment) and mulberry (detoxification) are the principal ingredients in the shampoos, bath salts, facial scrubs and scented candles.
reviewed
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Island Beverley Mall
Crammed into buildings, up escalators and in back lanes are Hong Kong’s malls of microshops selling local designer threads, garments from other parts of Asia and a kaleidoscope of kooky accessories.
reviewed
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Soho Wines & Spirits
Its name notwithstanding, this place’s forte is its large selection of beer and spirits. If it’s not here, it probably isn’t made or consumed any longer. Its prices tend to be keen, thanks to the shop’s hospitality-trade wholesaling business.
reviewed
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Shanghai Tang
Shanghai Tang has reopened in a four-floor ‘mansion’ near its old address. If you fancy a cheongsam (a body-hugging Chinese dress for women) with a modern twist, a Chinese-style clutch or a lime-green mandarin jacket, this is the place to go. Custom tailoring is available; it takes two weeks to a month and requires a fitting. Shanghai Tang also stocks a range of lifestyle objects – cushions, picture frames, teapots, even mah-jong tile sets, designed in a modern chinoiserie style.
reviewed
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Photo Scientific
This is the favourite of Hong Kong’s pro photographers. You’ll almost certainly find equipment elsewhere for less, but Photo Scientific has a rock-solid reputation with labelled prices, no bargaining, no arguing and no cheating.
reviewed
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Sam’s Tailor
It’s not certain that Sam’s is the best tailor in Hong Kong, but it’s the most aggressively marketed and best known. Sam’s has stitched up everyone – from royalty and rock stars to us.
reviewed
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Wan Chai Computer Centre
A safe bet for anything digital and electronic.
reviewed
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Grandview Shopping Mall
Those with modern tastes might want to head to the Tianhe area, with its fashionable shopping plazas. Grandview Shopping Mall - the largest in Asia - is Guǎngzhōu's newest shopping mall.
reviewed
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Guyi Antique Furniture
There aren’t many genuine antiques here, but there are a lot of good-quality reproductions and it’s especially strong on screens, cabinets and desks. They speak English.
reviewed
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Wing On
‘Forever Peaceful’ is notable for being locally owned. It carries a range of goods but is especially well known for inexpensive electronics and household appliances.
reviewed