Temple Street, Hong Kong

An entire street devoted to all the craps in the world, especially fake stuff. Fake Gucci, fake Prada, fake LV, fake Rolex, fake Tag Heuer....you get the "fake" picture. Unlike Ladies Street flea market though, there is a real food section here. Walk past the stalls selling souvenirs and fake couture, and you bump right into a labyrinth of street stalls and restaurants offering a universe of delicious local food. Look out or seek out the stalls selling Smelly Tofu (you can smell it from a distance) - a local delicacy - "Chinese Blue Cheese", sort of - smells like sewer, taste like heaven.

What to pay: BARGAIN IS THE ORDER OF THE NIGHT.

Locals and tourists alike love this market and it goes from sundown until about 11pm.

No trip to Hong Kong is complete without a visit to this market. You can even eat dinner here where many vendors set up to serve seafood, fresh juices and satay sticks.

What to buy: You can find everything from jade and umbrellas to flash lights and adult toys.

What to pay: All prices are open for negotiation so never pay the asking price!

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The Temple Street night markets were a lot of fun, and definitely worth a visit. Plus the added bonus of these markets, is that they are at night, so not quite so hot as day markets. Very easy to get to using the MTR, just take the Jordan exit, make sure you take exit A onto Jordan Road, turn right and keep walking, then turn right at the third intersection which is Temple Street. I think the markets dont start til about 6-7pm and sell all the usual market products, I bought some soccer stuff, mirrors, phone covers, leather bracelets, table runners, bags etc. all at great prices.

I was quite dissapointed when I arrived at Temple Street Night Market, all the books and website I'd read described it as a big night market with lots to see and do. It was ok but not as big as I thought, definitely worth a look. Watch out for the vendors selling "sexy movies" and "sexy magazines", there are some nice little stalls and plenty of places to eat. Quite a lot of restaurant owners in the street try to persuade you to come and eat at their place. I did eat at one and the food was FANTASTIC! There are also alot of fortune tellers there and some people playing old Chinese Instruments, you have to pay $10 to take a photo so just beware. Overall worth a look but not as good as I though it was going to be.

What to buy: Souvenirs, Dragon Beard Candy, other small local products.

What to pay: Bargain Bargain Bargain! Ha

When I'm in Hong Kong I always try to spend an hour or two at the Temple Street Night Market. Sometimes I leave with some good bargains, sometimes I leave with nothing. Its a bit of a lucky dip really.

What I like about the area is that as the evening wears on the streets surrounding the market become a focal meeting spot for both tourists and locals and it can be difficult to find a seat at your favourite street stall. I must admit at first glance, the hygiene standards at some of these dining establishments seems to be lacking but the food looks, smells and tastes good which is why the Temple Street precinct is one of the best places to go for authentic local street cuisine.

The market itself stocks a variety of goods and like other market areas in Hong Kong it is worthwhile also checking out the shops which line either side of the street. There are many stalls selling mens clothing and underwear (jocks and socks) and while pricing is normally similar throughout, its definitely worthwhile searching out the lowest price as the majority of the goods are the same make and quality. There is also a massive amount of of choice in mobile phone accessories and the mobile phone shops in the area also do pretty good deals on phone covers, screen protectors etc.

At the northern end of the market there are traditional Chinese medicine stalls and jade and trinket stalls. These are fascinating to browse through and its great when you can actually see what goes into the various medicines.

While not encouraged by the stall owners, who naturally want to get the best possible price, bartering for the lowest price is expected. Unless you particularly want an item and are prepared to pay full asking price, only offer half of what is asked. Stall workers will then either talk up the price or use a calculator to display what they want you to pay. This is generally a very entertaining and jovial experience but remember that its perfectly OK to say no and walk away. There will be another potential customer just behind you!

If you want to enjoy the best atmosphere head to Temple Street Market Stalls and Dai Pai Dong "restaurants" from 8pm onwards however stalls are set up by late afternoon.

What to buy: Mobile phone accessories, Calvin Klein underwear, toys, souvenirs, belts, wallets, t-shirts, CD's. Pirated DVD's are sometimes available, Mao memorabilia, jade.

What to pay: Obviously, as little as possible. Its a market and bartering is an important ritual when shopping in Hong Kong.

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Fairly similar to the Ladies Market, the Temple Street Night Market is the more famous and larger of the two. The market is located in Temple St which is just to the west of Jordan MTR station in Kowloon. The market is sometimes known as Men's Street as it is very popular for men's fashion. The market starts at 2pm in the afternoon, but is lively at dusk daily. Traffic is closed on the street at that time, and visitors swarm into the street. There are more than hundred stalls with colourful lights in the market. There are carts bulging with goods from clothing to mobile phones and watches. Stalls have items mainly for men, jeans, t-shirts, pants, lighters, shoes and men's accessories. Cheap merchandise is common in the night market. Cheap second hand goods such as cassettes, video tapes, old newspapers, antiques are also sold there. The night market is famous for its snacks and roadside dining, which serves local street cuisine. It sells a wide range of delicious local delicacies.

It's the only "monument" in Hong Kong that I had to see twice. Standing close to the hotel, it is a temptation to any woman, and I couldn't escape it.

Being critical I would say that it is only a street market; being honest I must admit that it has something special - richness, variety, and all the life that it brings to the area.

Being confession time, I must recognize that I - me - myself also bought a couple of cheap things.

The night market in Kowloon, just off Nathan Rd will have almost anything you fancy; music, t-shirts, bags, watches, silk products, inexpensive jewellery, shoes... Bargain hard, but to let a good thing go for a few HKdollars is not really worth it. Here you will find the very good bargains you are looking for.

Even if you are not looking for anything in particular, just enjoy the choice of products. Should you buy something, the bargaining itself will be a fun experience.

The stalls are starting to set up around 4 pm, so don't arrive too early!

What to buy: At the night market, you can buy anything you fancy, of course for that price it will not be the real McCoy (Boss, Gucci, prada, Rolex, North face....), and quality may vary.

Great place to shop for souvenirs, whether it be tshirts, toys, costume jewelry, fake name brand watches/clothes. Be sure to bargain!

Officially opens at 2:00 pm but really gets going in the later hours after dark

Nathan Road, Stanley Markets, Causeway Bay Malls and Temple Street shops. Enjoyed all four , but for value and atmosphere and big bargains, street cafes etc, Temple street markets at night is a treat. Up there with Nanjing Road ( Shanghai) for knockoffs. If you just like to hear serious bargaining, it's to be found here. Watching the peddlars and fortune tellers was fun.

What to buy: Anything and everything...600 metres of shops ....crammed with bargains...some glitzy and others good value. It's the atmosphere more than anything.Naturally you will be mindful of your belongings in such a crowded place.