Sham Shui Po is a melting pot of everything Hong Kong. From wholesale fashion to kids toys, electronics to fabric.
So get you big girl shoes on an discover this shabby, eclectic, down to earth area of Hong Kong.
Get your Craft on!
Getting there:
MTR: Sham Shui Po Exit C2
Taxi: Yu Chau Street, Sham Shui Po
This is the place for everything crafty. DIY heaven. Fabrics, buttons, ribbons, leather, patches. Something special for that home decor hack! This is the place.
Wander along the streets basically doing the square starting at the corner of Kweilin Street and Yu Chau Street. Walk left or right doing the block down Ki Lung Street, checking the cross roads walking as far down as Shek Kip Mei Street which has more retail shops rather than wholesale.
If you still can't find that special piece of fabric, and it's not too hot, head on over to the soon to be demolished Yen Chow Hawkers markets. Rows and rows of tiny stalls covered in tarps and plastic. Patience is a virtue here, is all I'm saying.
The Good Old Fuk Wa Street
Getting there:
MTR: Sham Shui Po Exit B2 D2
Taxi: Fuk Wa Street, Sham Shui Po
Love the Fuk Wa! Here you will find all sorts of bits and bobs. Kids clothes, old books, wares or all kinds. Wander this street starting at Yen Chow Street intersection. While you're there check out the Golden Computer Centre for awesome electronic geeky stuff.
Mind Blowing Fuk Wing Street
Birthday party hack? Toy overload? Ready to decorate your house for the next big event. Fuk Wing Street will have everything you need. From cheap toys to themed decorations, this street is the place to go.
One street over from Fuk Wa street is Fuk Wing Street. Have a browse while you're in the area.
Geekville = Ap Liu Street
Getting there:
MTR: Sham Shui Po Exit C2
Taxi: Ap Liu Street, Sham Shui Po
Apliu Street is geeks heaven. Everything electronic new and old lines this street.
Finish at the famous Golden Computer Arcade building back on Fuk Wa Street. Crammed packed with small shops selling everything computer.
Just be careful with your region and check things work prior to purchase. Wander through the flea market while you're there to check out the second hand good.
Fashion Anyone?
Getting there:
MTR: Sham Shui Po Exit C1
Taxi: Cheung Sha Wan Road, Sham Shui Po
Tricky little area. Professes as a fabulous place to buy clothing however I found the majority only cater for wholesale and shoo you away. Also, the quality and on trend fashion was hard to find. I found the styles old fashioned and poor quality. Mongkok was way better for womens fashion. However, while you're in the area, it's a great little haunt.
Dragon Centre
Getting there:
MTR: Sham Shui Po Exit C2
Taxi: Yen Chow Street, Sham Shui Po
The largest shopping mall in Sham Shui Po, may just be your saving grace after all these markets, Lots of stalls and shops selling all sorts of commercialised stuff. Take a break at this shopping mall. The odds are you won't leave empty handed.
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| Fa Yuen Street Markets |
A local market very close to the Ladies Markets and the Goldfish Markets. You can buy all sorts in knick knacks, phone cases, underwear, bags, towels, linen. Fabulous clothing shops are situated either side of the central markets. These are mainly fixed priced markets. You will not see a lot, if any copy items however there are a few shops selling copy Zara clothing. The prices in all shops are very reasonable. You can also purchase great snack foods, fruit etc.
Getting there
You can walk from here to the Ladies Markets or Goldfish Markets or Sneaker Street.
Taxi: Fa Yuen Street, Monkok
MTR: Monkok Station. Exit B3. Go up steep escalators to the walkover bridge. Exit to Fa Yuen Street markets on the left. You can see them on the left when you look down from the walkover bridge.
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| View from the walkover. |
The first lot of markets are wet markets with fish and food.
Cross over the road to the outdoor markets.
Open from 10:30 am to 10:30 pm. I did not see one tourist when I went here. Most stalls have fixed prices which is easy. Hardly need to bargain here as the prices are very low. The stalls are set up on the road.
Down each side on the footpath are row and rows of clothing and shoes shops. They are groovy and cheap.
The clothing shops have a wide variety of clothes for all ages. If you keep walking down Fa Yuen Street you will reach the sports shoes section of the street.
What to buy
The markets had very few copy items here. Lots of underwear, great bras, shirts, bags, umbrellas, toys, watches, non branded clothes, cashmere/pashmina shawls, shoes, food, camera cases, shoelaces.
Prices
Real Cashmere-pashminas 30HK ($3)
Beautiful lacy bras (the lady even measured me) 25-40HK ($3-$5)
Cath Kidston bags and wallets 40-50HK ($5-$6) (Ladies markets 60-80HK)
Camera bags-Golla brand 25HK ($3)
Cute fold bags 15HK ($2)
Nice Men's work bags 60-70HK ($9-$10)
Men's surf bracelets 30HK ($3)
Calvin Klein underwear (great fit) 3 for 15HK ($2)
Side Clothing Shops
Zara copy clothes ($15 and up)
Stunning jackets 70-150HK
Most other clothes 70-100HK
($8-$12)
Colette/Lovisa like accessories 20-50HK
Shoes (latest designs) 70-150HK (10-$20)
This would have to be the cutest markets in all of Hong Kong!
Getting there
Taxi 43-49 Bute Street, 175 Tung Choi St, Mong Kok, Hong Kong
MTR Prince Edward Station, Exit B2. Walk east along Prince Edward Road West until you reach the market; or,
MTR Mong Kok East Station, Exit C. Walk to Sai Yee Street via the footbridge and follow the signs.
Hints
See this markets as part of your self-guided Market walk.
Bags and bags of fish doing their little fish mouth thing at you.
Lots of other sorts of water pets as well. Fabulous photo opportunities here. Nothing to buy, which hubby is always happy about!!
Antique Street, Upper Lancaster Road
Antiques Street or Cat Street on Upper Lancaster road, Sheung Wan, got its name from thieves who stole antiques called "rats", the
"cats" being the shop owners is where you will find all sorts of
antique junk, curios, second hand goods and Mao memorabilia.
You bargain here too. The dudes don't really care, but have a good go!
Cat Street, Upper Lancaster Road
Clustered in a small area we found large expensive shops down to many, small, crowded garage sale type shops.
Lots of weird and wonderful trinkets and lots of junk too. Maybe find a vintage game or an old Hong Kong post card. Or just take fabulous pictures. A very cute area.
A lot of older dudes ran the shops, some interested in doing business with us, some couldn't care.
One guy, with one of the biggest collections of Mao figurines in the street, spent about 20 minutes with us explaining the history of the Mao propaganda figurines. What a morbid but interesting talk. Especially the murderess teacher, considering we three are teachers, it was very educational!
While they were produced in their 1000's back in the 1960's, I doubt very much that these were the real deal, even though the dudes said they were.
However, very interesting in a morbid kind of way! I ended up buying two, but not from the talking guy as they were just too expensive for concrete, possibly fake statues. A wandered down and found the same thing for a lot cheaper at Shop 32 Upper Lancaster Road.
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32 Upper Lancaster Road recommended dude!
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He even accepted credit card. I paid about $25 each for these. Be warned though. They are very heavy. (1.5kg each!) . But so worth it. Not that my friends thought so as I whinged all the way back to our apartment!
