Hong Kong Shopping Sprees

There’s no shortage of places to splurge in a city teeming with retail outlets, and shopping in Hong Kong is a popular pastime for both locals and visitors alike. Products range from simple Chinese teas to top-of-the-line brand-name watches, and given that Hong Kong is home to some of Asia’s wealthiest residents, it’s no surprise that luxury items abound in this glittering modern metropolis. From Central to Causeway Bay, Mong Kok to Tsim Sha Tsu and countless locations in between, Hong Kong is home to some of the best shopping in Asia. Harvey Nichols is here, as is luxury mall Landmark, while the presence of dozens more shopping centres and boutique outlets ensures you’ll never leave empty-handed from a holiday in Hong Kong.

Supersized Shopping Malls

While Hong Kong boasts fabulous street shopping and plenty of bargain bazaars, what this bustling metropolis arguably does best is high-end shopping centres. There are plenty of them dotted around Hong Kong Island, Kowloon and even Lantau, making shopping under one roof a breeze in this dedicated retail hotspot.

Landmark

Upscale accommodation, fine dining and fashionable shopping all rolled into one, Landmark is practically a one-stop shop for all things high end. Landmark’s multi-storey shopping complex boasts numerous luxury brands, including Giorgio Armani, Prada, Chanel and Tiffany and Co. Even if you’re not in the mood – or the market – to spend thousands of dollars on souvenirs, Landmark is still a great place to engage in some window shopping and ponder exactly how the other half lives.

Harvey Nichols

Hong Kong’s long-standing links to Britain are on show for all to see in the flagship Harvey Nichols store at Pacific Place. The upmarket department store is a veritable British institution and its Hong Kong outlet does a brisk trade at its chic Central location, with men’s and women’s wear, handbags and purses and boutique beauty products particular favourites with the Hong Kong shopping crowd.

Harbour City

The sprawling Harbour City complex gives new meaning to the idea of getting lost in your shopping. So staggeringly vast is the complex – which is actually three distinct malls in one – you almost need a map to negotiate it! Best to wear some comfortable shoes if it’s bargains you’re after, because Harbour City boasts more than 450 retail outlets spread over four distinct shopping ‘zones’.

Langham Place

A familiar Mong Kok landmark, Langham Place is as renowned for its diverse range of shopping as it is for its unique architecture. Featuring a spectacular light-filled atrium, as well as an innovative corkscrew design which allows shoppers to ascend its various floors without the use of an escalator, Langham Place is geared towards a stylish young crowd which makes the most of the more than 200 outlets on offer.

What To Buy

Jade Jewellery

Highly valued in Chinese culture, jade is an ornamental stone widely available throughout Hong Kong. Adorning the jewellery of many a fashionable local, you too can buy your own eye-catching piece at the aptly-named Jade Market in Kowloon. With more than 400 stalls selling everything from simple earrings to extravagantly decorated bracelets and necklaces, an authentic piece of jade jewellery makes for an ideal Hong Kong souvenir.

Computers and Electronics

The Chinese are among the most voracious consumers of technology anywhere in the world, so it should come as no surprise that electronics stores abound in high-tech Hong Kong. Sham Shui Po in Kowloon is renowned for its staggering array of street market electronics, with savvy shoppers searching out some of the cheapest electronics prices in Asia – from spare parts to top-of-the-line PCs, all sold at rock-bottom prices.

Handbags

When Louis Vuitton is as ubiquitous as umbrellas on a rainy Hong Kong afternoon, it’s safe to say that the city is a great place to buy handbags. Many self-respecting Hong Kong women won’t be seen without one, and with fashion icons like Prada, Jimmy Choo and the aforementioned Louis Vuitton all setting up shop in the city, there’s no excuse to leave empty-handed when it comes to shopping for handbags.

Cosmetics

Ever wondered what keeps Hong Kong residents looking so spry and youthful? Look no further than the row upon row of beauty cosmetics lining the shelves of major department stores, which make Hong Kong a great place to replenish dwindling beauty supplies. Stock up on creams and powders and perhaps indulge in a luxuriant facial, in a city renowned for its enthusiastic dedication to beauty.

Shoes

With so much pavement to pound, it’s important to don appropriate footwear. That’s not a problem in Hong Kong, where the abundance of outlet stores, well-stocked shopping centres and boutique showrooms makes shoe shopping a breeze. Whether you're after a stylish set of sneakers or some high-end heels, Hong Kong shopping is barely complete without a new pair of shoes to call your own.