Markets such as the Mongkok Ladies Market and Wet Market in Kowloon are a part of every day culture in Hong Kong.
Take a walk down Mongkok Ladies market for bargains on everything from t-shirts, belts, souvenirs, toys, chopsticks and more (for both men and women). The market is open every day from 11AM to 11:30PM. Like much of Asia you can bargain here since no item has a fixed price, consider halving the price of whatever they offer you and go from there. Remember, don’t be afraid to stay firm on your price! It’s all part of the fun of buying negotiations in Asia. The area spans from Prince Edward Street to Dundas Street.
Why is it called Mongkok Ladies Market?Mongkok is the area in which the market is held. Back in the old days it was not easy to get a job, so peddlers would take to the streets selling goods. In 1975, Hong Kong created “authorized hawker zones” for people to street vendors to sell goods legally. Originally, the Mongkok market primarily sold Ladies goods, which is why the name Ladies Market came to be.
Personally, my favorite part came after the Ladies Market a bit further South towards central on Nelson Street. This was the more authentic and less touristy area. It was packed with locals in the morning buying their groceries for the day. I went from walking among clothes, electronics and souvenirs at the Ladies Market to fresh fruit and vegetable stalls.
The colors and smells of the fruits and veggies were super fresh. I had never seen colors this vivid. The size of the fruits were enormous. Pears, mangos, and tomatoes were double the size of anything I had ever seen. Cucumbers were the size of watermelons and I came across certain foods I had never seen before. It was beyond fascinating.
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4 comments
Hong kong looks amazing and so so interesting!
Yes, but my favorite place is still Seoul 🙂 Highly recommend it!