Hello Kitty is everywhere
Kitty in Causeway Bay
Causeway Bay features the most diverse shops and is especially known for the Japanese wares sold there. For instance, the Sogo department store is all about Hello Kitty and sushi. The Retrostone shop around the corner is filled with faux vintage items, a bizarre fad that came over from Japan. Timepiece fans should check out the shopping centre WTC More, where Good Old Days ticks with the sound of over 1,000 watches brought from all over the world by store owner Szeto. Further down on Leighton Road is a branch of Goods of Desire. This shop focuses on all things Hong Kong, albeit with a difference – for example, a handbag with a print of countless ancient balconies. For timeless Chinese dresses and gowns, take the double-decker tram to Pedder Street, where you’ll find both famous haute couture and traditional clothes in Chinese warehouses.
Antiques market
Looking for antiques
Antique shops are hiding in the quieter streets of Central. Visit Hollywood Road and you’ll have your pick of Chinese porcelain, Buddha statuettes and lacquered folding screens. While many of these are genuine antiques, you could also end up with a pig in a poke. The same applies to the antiques market held every day in the same neighbourhood between Upper Lascar Row and Hollywood Road.
Bargaining is expected
The art of barter
The Chinese are not averse to haggling, especially on street markets. Locals pay the lowest price, as they can always come back or recommend a shop to friends. As a foreign visitor, you can greatly increase your chances of getting a good price if you know how things work here. For instance, there is a belief that an early-morning sale is a sign of a good day for the merchant. This superstition means that you get a better price in the morning. In addition, patience, courtesy or even a sad story are often also helpful. Good luck!
