Toy Shopping, HONG KONG
Airing Date: May 29th, 2006
Hong Kong still hasn't lost its title as the capital of world shopping.
From markets to malls, shopping is more than a pastime here - it's a religion. And if you're serious about your consumerism, you'll love the huge range of toys. You can even find a hotel for the true shop-a-holic - the Marriott is directly on top of one of HK's biggest shopping malls, Pacific Place. So you can duck down the lift any old time for a quick bargain before bed. Shopping is more than the buying of goods in Hong Kong. In a city where few stay in their homes except to sleep, shopping is a form of entertainment and is done 7 days a week, especially after work on weekdays till late at night, and all weekend. The quietest a shopping centre is in Hong Kong is on Sunday morning, when most shops don't open till 12 noon - only because there's only one thing a Hong Kong resident likes more than shopping, and that's staying out late with friends! Yet the busiest time is Sunday night, when many shops stay open late.
One of the swankier and best-loved of the shopping malls in Hong Kong is Pacific Place with the Marriott Hotel just above. Take the hotel lift down to the bottom and walk through some glass doors and you're in shopping heaven. Pacific Place has a bit of everything - from Loewe and Armani to tailors and electronics. Pacific Place also has an excellent food hall on the first floor, with yummy and cheap food available. The Temple Street Night Market is ordered chaos in action and the perfect place to pick up a few bargains. Temple Street is awash with rows of brightly lit stalls hawking an astonishing variety of clothing, pens, watches, CDs, cassettes, electronic gadgets, hardware and luggage. The busy food stalls offer a range of delicacies including fresh seafood and hotpot dishes to tempt your appetite.
Fortune-tellers cluster at the Yau Ma Tei end of the street, and so do Chinese opera enthusiasts seeking kindred spirits for impromptu performances. Simply absorbing the Temple Street is a memorable experience. Temple Street (Yau Ma Tei Kowloon) operates from 4pm to 11pm. Geographically, Tsim Sha Tsui is a cape on the tip of the Kowloon Peninsula. TST, as it's known by local ex-pats, was then added to by massive land reclamation, and much of the tourist area and the famous Golden Mile is on this reclaimed land. Tsim Sha Tsui is now a major tourist hub in Hong Kong, with many shops and restaurants that cater to tourists.
dditionally, the Hong Kong government has declared a small section of a pedestrianised street in Tsim Sha Tsui a duty-free zone (though this has no effect on the prices of anything but tobacco and alcohol, since Hong Kong does not have sales tax or tariff). Tai Yuen Street is the toy shop capital of Hong Kong! You'll find plenty of shops jam-packed with everything from traditional toys to the latest electronic playthings. Tai Yuen Street is a paradise for kids who love toys and it houses many toy shops and stalls that offer appealing and often inexpensive children's toys. With these low prices, you can buy a lot for yourself and your friends.
Further Information
Return flights to Hong Kong, 4 nights at JW Marriott, Island tour & transfers from $1977 ex Melbourne, $1980 ex Brisbane, $1981 ex Perth, $1997 ex Sydney and $2096 ex Adelaide. Based on twin share. Includes surcharges, fees & taxes, subject to fluctuation. Conditions apply. Travel by 03/9/06
Qantas Holidays
13 14 15
Prices correct at 28/4/06
