Hong Kong is a fashion lover’s paradise with everything from luxury boutiques to budget outfitters. It’s a good idea to be aware of the two sale seasons and savvy shoppers can find bargains throughout the year. The summer sale season is from July to September and winter sales are in December to February (with additional discounts for the Spring Festival).
A shopping paradise for fashionistas and electronic junkies, Hong Kong has something for everyone. The huge malls are filled with designer and brand names that make it easy to update wardrobes and buy a new gadget. The street markets are a bargain hunter’s dream with inexpensive clothing, jewelry and housewares. It’s a great place to buy souvenirs and gifts for friends and family back home. Short-term visitors can save even more money in the large stores and malls by showing their passports to receive tax rebates.
The massive IFC mall is a luxury shopping destination in Hong Kong with designer brands, young brands, cosmetic brands, gourmet food shops, a city super grocery store, multiple restaurants and desserts, and a Lane Crawford department store. You can easily spend a whole day shopping and eating at this massive mall. Many of the Admiralty hotels are connected to this mall which makes it extremely convenient for hotel guests to shop without having to venture outside and can even grab their dinner, snacks, and a taxi from inside the hotel!
While you are shopping for clothes in Hong Kong, be sure to haggle – the marked prices are often suggested and not set in stone. Many of the street markets are full of tourists and locals who want to get a better deal for their hard-earned cash. Some people may be approached by touts or sellers who try to lure you into their backroom to sell fake handbags, bootlegged movies, and other shady goods – don’t fall for these traps and always shop at trusted stores.
If you are looking for a great bargain, visit the Ladies’ Market in Tung Choi Street in Mong Kok and the Temple Street Night Market in Kowloon for an array of bargain-priced garments and trinkets. You can also purchase silk products, Chinese artwork, and luggage.
Another great option is Stanley Market, where you can find the same types of items that you would find at IFC Mall except at a quieter and cleaner location. My favorite finds here include limited edition watercolors of Hong Kong that hang in my home and name chops, which are personalized Chinese characters with your name written in calligraphy.
Beauty lovers will love Hong Kong, as it has a wide range of cosmetics and skincare products from Western to Asian brands. You can also score some of the best deals in the world on beauty products thanks to the lack of sales tax. Many major departmental and chain stores carry makeup from Western and Asian brands. For shoe lovers, the Fa Yuen Street sneaker market is worth a trip to see the mind-blowing selection of sneakers spread out over 50 stores.