The Streets of Mong Kok

Mong Kok in English means “busy corner” and this tourist-favorite place located in the Yau Tsim Mong district of Kowloon is known for its street markets where bargains abound. From our hotel along Nathan Road in Tsim Sha Tsui, it’s a short MTR ride ($4) on the Tsuen Yuen line. The street markets here extend all the way to the Jordan district (Tsim Sha Tsui-Jordan-Mong Kok)

There’s the Temple Street night market in Jordan and Tung Choi (Ladies’ Market) and Fa Yuen Street (Sports Wear Market) in Mong Kok. We tried to go to Yuen Po, which is located on the other side of Nathan Road, but the afternoon was sweltering hot and we needed to go back to the hotel to get some rest before moving out again. Yuen Po is more popularly known as the Bird Market where you’ll find all sorts of feathery fowl sold on the street. Plenty colorful I must say. Haven’t been there in years though.

A word to the shopper though -- don’t just buy anything right away. Look around first. You might see something better even cheaper in the next stall. And haggle for a lower price.

And there are food stalls/hawkers abound selling congee, noodles, tofu, dimsum, fishballs, and Chinese delicacies. Again, always haggle for prices. If they see you’re a tourist they jack up the prices.