Shopping Guide
Antique Shopping

1. Arch Angel Antiques
One of Hong Kong’s biggest and most respected antique shops, Altfield Gallery is a multifoor showroom for the best antiques from Asia, particularly, Vietnam, Thailand and Burma. Alongside furniture and smaller jewellery pieces there is an emphasis on porcelain and larger stone items. Prices vary from the affordable for a small traveling mah-jong set to lottery winner prices for giant Buddha heads. Address: 58 Hollywood Road. MTR: Central

2. Altfield Gallery
Set up in 1980 Altfield Gallery is one of Hong Kong’s leading antique dealers and prime destination for shoppers looking to pick up Chinese furniture. Suppliers to boutiques, five star hotels and designer bars, the 18th and 19th furniture here is first class in both quality and price. Address: 248 Prince’s Building, 10 Chater Road. MTR: Central.

3. Honeychurch Antiques
One of the oldest dealers in the business, Honeychurch Antiques has been wheeling and dealing up on Hollywood Road since the 60s. There is a solid selection here of fine Chinese porcelain, jewellery and burial items from as early as the Han Dynasty. There are also antiques from Burma, Tibet and other further flung regions of the map and the gallery is able to source specific requests from around Asia. Address: 29 Hollywood Road. MTR: Central

4. Teresa Coleman Fine Arts
Amongst the usual vases and statues, Teresa Coleman’s specialises in rare chi fu - the formal, silk woven dress of ministers to the court of Chinese emperors. Alongside the full dress are also various accessories, such as fans, jewellery and leather wares. Wonderfully offbeat, fantastically expensive. Address: 79 Wyndham Street. MTR: Central.

5. Tai Sing
Part of the furniture on Hong Kong’s antiques scene, Tai Sing is one of the city and the world’s leading dealers in Chinese antiques. With more than half a century of experience this is a family business with an exhaustless knowledge of quality antiques and a stock room that is equally extensive. In their two shops you’ll find jade, ceramics, furniture, clothing and everything in between, running through all the major Chinese dynasties. Like a museum. Address: 12 Wyndham Street. MTR: Central

6. Wattis Fine Art
An encyclopaedic collection of photos, posters, paintings and maps from old Hong Kong, China and the near region, much of what Wattis does is unique but the collection of snaps and paintings from colonial era Hong Kong are rare and a fantastic insight into the city’s past. Prices are not fun but they do have a very decent line in reproductions and the Hong Kong travel and advertising posters make a fine present. Address: 20 Hollywood Road. MTR: Central.


Markets

1. Ladies Market
Probably Hong Kong's most famous market, and one of the best for visiting tourists to soak up the hustle and bustle of a Chinese market. Despite the name, the markets sells clothes for men and women and plenty of cheap Chinese curios, as well as being one of the locations for Hong Kong's buzzing trade in copies and fakes. Tung Choi Street, Mongkok. More » - China Photos/Getty Images Temple Street Market. China Photos/Getty Images

2. Temple Street Market
A night market selling mostly gadgets and small electronic items, including a wide-range of second-hand mobile phones. The streets surrounding the market are transformed at night into one big, open-air restaurant, as street food sellers set tables for hungry shoppers. Temple Street, Mongkok. More » - Rory Boland Stanley Market. Rory Boland

3. Stanley Market
Stanley market is Hong Kong market shopping for beginners. Geared towards tourists hunting for souvenirs, it doesn't have the rough and tumble of a real city market or the hardcore haggling. That's not to say it's not worth a visit, the Chinese styled gifts and I Love Hong Kong souvenirs are a good place to stock up for friends back home and it's a good place to test your bargaining skills before hitting a more intense market. Stanley Market Street, Stanley More » - Rory Boland Business Card Market. Rory Boland

4. Business Card Market
A fascinating single lane, clogged with sellers of business cards and company chops. Hong Kong's business card market must be one of the most vibrant in the world, as everybody in the city has one. Bring your CD, or USB flash drive, give the seller your design, or let them design one for you, and you can have your cards made in a day or two. Man Wah Lane, Sheung Wan. - Rory Boland Cat Street Market. Rory Boland

5. Cat Street
Some claim this is an antiques treasure trove, others that it's one big flea market. Stalls sell jade, coins, posters and lots of old looking Chinese bits and pieces, although for the most part they were probably made yesterday in Guangdong. Upper Lascar Row, Sheung Wan.

6. Wan Chai Street Market
One of the biggest outdoor markets on Hong Kong Island, Wan Chai Street Market sells a variety of everything, from kids toys, to Chinese clothes, making it one big, low-cost department store. Locals still shop here and prices remain fair. Tai Yuen Street, Mongkok. - Martyna Szmytkowska Golden Shopping Arcade. Martyna Szmytkowska

7. Golden Shopping Arcade
Probably Hong Kong's best computer market, and there is plenty of competition, the Golden Arcade features hundreds of independent stores, flogging the best in computer technology at fairly low prices. Be prepared, the arcade is a maze and almost always packed, on top of that sellers can be aggressive. Check out our guide to buying electronics in Hong Kong, for some tips. Fuk Wa Street, Sham Shui Po

8. Costume Market
Hong Kong is a party town and this is its party market, featuring costumes for sale, masks, and various, more mundane, cheap accessories and jewelry. Packed during the run-up to Halloween. Wing-wo Street, Central.

9. Goldfish Market
Hong Kong Goldfish market is one of Hong Kong’s more offbeat markets. Shops that sell the same or similar products tend to cluster together in the same area – which is how the Goldfish Market came about. The area is home to several dozen stalls and shops selling fish – most notably goldfish – stacked up across one street. It’s like Seaworld – only free.

So what’s with all the fish? Well, Hong Kongers believe goldfish are auspicious and they are a popular pet believed to bring good luck. Most Hong Kongers don’t have room for a garden and a pond to put very auspicious carp so an aquarium and a goldfish is the next best thing. Buying fish for luck is especially popular during some festivals, such as Chinese New Year when hundreds flock to the market. Many of the sellers have been here decades and the market is one of the most popular in Hong Kong.

And these are not your garden variety goldfish; you’ll find hundreds of different varieties and different colors. More than a Goldfish Market

The Goldfish Market doesn’t just sell fish – also on display is an Indiana Jones like collection of exotic pets, from snakes and spiders to lizards and turtles as well as more mundane cats and dogs. Some of the rarer species – especially fish – can earn the sellers thousands of dollars.

It’s not a completely happy story as there are repeated cases of endangered species changing hands at the market and conditions for many of the animals is grim – although by and large it’s no worse than your average mall pet shop.

Unlike across the border in China, where markets like this are notorious for selling rare and unusual animals for food - and these are dying out - the Goldfish Market is only for pet purposes. Why visit?

The rows upon rows, hundreds and hundreds of ornate, tropical, fish hung outside each shop is a magnificent spectacle – especially when lit up at night – and the equal of any aquarium. The exotic animals are also of interest but as they’re generally inside the shop, stowed away in a dark box and can be difficult to sneak a glimpse of.

If you visit during the day, you should able to get a little closer to the aquariums, although the street is more impressive when dark. When taking a picture

Remember that not all of the sellers are delighted to have tourists filling up their store and taking pictures – they know you won’t buy anything. A few very grumpy sellers have even shouted at tourists reaching for their camera. Just be mindful that these are shops and don’t obstruct any customers trying to get at the merchandise and you should be fine.

Don't pay anyone for taking a picture, this is not normal practice. You can offer to delete the picture from your camera, if neccesary. Where is the Goldfish Market

The Goldfish market runs along Tung Choi street, between the intersections at Nullah and Mongkok Streets. The best way to reach the market by public transport is via MTR to nearby Mongkok station. It runs from around 11am until 8pm. If you can, try and visit when one of Hong Kong’s festivals is in full swing.

Also in the area is the bird market and Mongkok Ladies Market – famous for its clothes and bargains.