The Ladies Market is probably the most famous, visited and popular street market in Hong Kong. Many visitors to Hong Kong consider the street market a must-do in their itinerary as one of the best ways to experience the hustle and bustle of local life.
Hong Kong Ladies Market
The combination of a wide variety of inexpensive, affordable and trendy fashion products as well as being located right in the heart of one of local’s major shopping and dining districts, make this colourful street market a must-go for every shopping lover, fashion addict and fashionista.
Content Summery
- Worthwhile:
- Location:
- Highlights: The most popular and famous Hong Kong street market where you can find almost everything from souvenirs, cheap clothing, handbags, accessories, electronics to toys in all shapes, sizes and colours, etc.
Plan to Stay: 30 – 60 minutes (up to half day)
What is the Ladies Market?
Hong Kong Ladies Market is one of the most famous and popular street markets and as an example of the typical local street market. It stretches 1km on Tung Choi Street with over 100 outdoor stalls.
Also known as the Women’s Street, it is ranked on top of many bucket and must-do attraction lists. Don’t be misled by its name. It actually offers a wide variety of products, bargains and souvenirs for everybody.
It is the most visited street market, not only because it’s a great bargain hunt spot but also the neighbourhood area also represents a typical urban lifestyle.
Items on the street market
Did You Know
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“In case you wonder how the Ladies Market got its name, it is because stalls, shops and hawkers catered primarily to the female customers and sold everything fashion related (clothes, accessories, shoes, handbags and stockings) at the beginning.”
Highlights of the Ladies Market
There is something for everyone on this street market. From cheap clothing, fashion trends and bargains to inexpensive accessories, typical souvenirs or latest gadgets, you will find a lot of options here.
Stalls on Ladies Market
Where else can you explore the local culture while enjoying affordable shopping and sampling some local street food delicacies along the way?
What can you buy at the Ladies Market?
There are all kinds of products ranging from cell phone accessories to toys, shoes, handbags, belts and tourist souvenirs on Ladies Market. No matter you want to pick up the mandatory ‘I love Hong Kong’ or ‘I got lost in HK’ T-Shirt, or magnets and key chains in every form and shape, here you will find something.
Cheap clothing and fashion trend
For those who are hunting for cheap clothing and fashion trend, take a look at cute dresses, stylish shirts, jeans and denims, footwear, socks, coats and accessories.
You also can find Chinese dresses, silk and pashmina scarfs, pyjamas, sleeping masks as well as sexy lingerie and underwear.
Chinese Silk dresses
Inexpensive accessories
In case you are looking for some inexpensive accessories, there are plenty of stalls selling different charms, crystal bracelets, earrings, necklaces, umbrellas, fashion accessories (e.g. such as wigs, hair extensions, toupees).
Hair pins, clips, claws and accessories
Charms, necklaces, bracelets, earrings and other accessories
Other must-have items such as wallets, coin purses, mirrors, backpacks, tote bags, handbags and even suitcases are also available.
Handbags
Toys
For the kids, you can find all sorts of toys and plush, clothing and costumes.
Toys
Guy’s paradise
Ladies Market also carries plenty of options for men, from stylish watches, sunglasses, to hats, caps, belts, shirts.
This includes Formula 1 racing jackets (e.g. from Mercedes, Ferrari, McLaren or BMW), soccer and football jerseys (Beckham, Bayern Munich or German world champion edition) as well as electronic gadgets.
Soccer Jerseys
Wide range of unique wallets
Electronic gadgets
Another large category on this market is the electronic gadgets. Popular items include DVDs, external batteries (Powerbanks), headphones or wireless mobile blue-tooth speakers, battery-powered drones and helicopters, USB sticks, selfie sticks as well as screen protectors, cases and covers for iPods, iPhones, iPads and other mobile devices and tablets.
Some cute Flash Drives in various shapes and forms (such as popular cartoon characters of Minions, Hulk, Iron Man, Superman, Simpson or Coke Can and camera) attract many visitors’ attention.
Cell phone cases and protectors
Other souvenirs related to local and Chinese culture
If you would like to have something culture related, Ladies Market can satisfy you.
The most popular option is the T-shirt printed with Hong Kong logo or name.
Classic Souvenir T-Shirts
Magnet collectors will find many cute magnets of local food, top attractions, road signs.
Magnets of local food
Unique souvenirs
Traditional Chinese Masks souvenirs
Fake and counterfeit products
Be aware that there are lots of replicas, fake and counterfeit products. If the prices are too good to be true, it probably is.
In fact for many visitors, Ladies Market is the first address to hunt for replicas, cheap knock-offs, copies of designer brands and products such as handbags, leather goods and watches. The market is well-known as the fake designer market place.
When walking through the narrow aisles, you also can find watches (such as Rolex, Breitling, Omega, Cartier, Panerai, etc.), wallets, shirts (Ed Hardy, Diesel, Ralph Lauren, etc.), or other branded and hot products (such as Dr. Beats headphones, earphones mobile blue-tooth speakers, backpacks from Fjällräven, Kanken, Anello bags, etc.) on their tables.
Fake Dr. Beats Headphones
Some high-quality counterfeit products are not displayed on the stalls to avoid the raid. You may notice that some stalls have a catalog of luxury brands of handbags (such as LV, Gucci, Miu Miu, Prada, Chanel, Hermes, Marc Jacobs Mulberry, etc.). Some shop owners get cautious and even replace the printed catalogs with an electronic version of iPads and tablets.
Catalog of copy handbags
No matter what, remember to leave enough space in your suitcase. And in case you have done too much shopping there, there are several stores and stalls selling different luggage, bags, suitcases and backpacks in every imaginable size, colour and shape.
Prices and bargaining skills
Bargaining is a must
Shopping at the Ladies Market needs good bargaining skills. Most of the items hardly will have price tags. Prices are more of an idea than fixed. Make sure to bargain with the sellers. Even if they have a sign with “no bargaining”.
Strolling along the many stalls
Be aware that the prices are seen more as a suggestion and it is expected to negotiate the final price. In case you don’t know how to bargain, the Ladies Market is a great place to practice, rehearse and learn.
Did You Know
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Bargaining at the Ladies Market can be a little bit intimidating at first. Sometimes the stall owners and sellers can be very pushy, aggressive and even rude. If you are not happy with the offered price, simply stroll to the next stall. You will have a good chance to find another stall with the same products.
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Ladies Market is a very crowded place. Although Hong Kong is a very safe place, I would recommend taking very good care of your belongings and safeguarding them.”
Pay with cash and credit card
Besides HKD, many other foreign currencies are also accepted. Some stalls also take credit card payment with purchasing upon HK$ 300.
Is it worthwhile to visit this street market?
Shopping at the Ladies Market is like a one-stop shopping solution. It is one of the best places to buy typical travel souvenirs for friends and family. So, in case you are looking for some inexpensive gifts (such as e.g. magnets, key chains, T-Shirts, cups, chopsticks, lucky charms or cell phone cases), this is the place.
Even if you are not intended to purchase anything, it’s still a good option to immerse yourself into the hustle and bustle atmosphere. Ladies Market is in the heart of urban area. It is in close proximity to many other street markets, affordable shopping areas and streets of local restaurants.
For the foodies, the neighbourhood is a paradise for tasting local street food and authentic gourmet. Only around this street market, there are plenty of opportunities to sample some of the local and Chinese culinary delights.
What are the opening hours and when is it the best time to visit?
Opening hour
Although there are no “official” opening hours, most of the stalls will open for business around noontime and will last till late at night (10:00 pm – 11:00 pm). The actual closing time can vary depending on how busy the stalls are.
Usually the majority of the owners will start to build up their stalls around 9:30am – 10:00am.
Preparing and setting up the stalls in the early morning hours
Sellers start to prepare their little stalls
The nearby streets are closed for public traffic from 4:00 pm until 12:00 am (midnight) from Monday to Saturday as well as from 12:00 pm (noon) to 12:00 am (midnight) on Sundays and Public Holidays.
Best time to visit
However, the best time to visit Ladies Market is in the early afternoon and evening hours (usually between 4:00 pm and 8:00 pm). That’s about the time when the street market just comes alive and is not too crowded yet.
If you stay till late, there are plenty of restaurants and street food vendors along this street market for grabbing some midnight snacks.
In the evening hours and especially on weekends, this place gets quite crowded. It is a fun place to experience the atmosphere of haggling and bargaining.
The early afternoon hours are the best time to experience this street market
Where is the exact location and How to get to Ladies Market?
Ladies Market is located on Tung Choi Street, the part between Argyle Street and Dundas Street in Mongkok. It is parallel to Sai Yeung hoi Street which is famous as Electronic Street and to Fa Yuen Street as Sneakers Street.
Mongkok is the center of Kowloon area. One end of Ladies Market adjacent to Argyle Street is close to MTR Mongkok station Exit D3. You can use either MTR network, public bus or taxi to get there.
You also have the option to take a cab which may be a good alternative if you travel with 3 – 4 persons or if you are pressed for time.
The History of Hong Kong Ladies Market
This street market is better known under the original street name Tung Choi Street among locals. Taking a look at the busy streets of Mongkok, it is hard to imagine that here was once an area of market gardens. Nowadays, only the street name Tung Choi Street still reflects its heritage, which literally translates into Water Spinach Street.
The city’s most popular and famous street market is (among other reasons) a result of the international oil crisis in the early 1970s. Unemployed workers looked to generate some source of income. Setting up street stalls and hawker stands seemed a solution.
In 1975, the local government decided to create authorized hawking areas and zones mainly to control the many (illegal) hawkers. The first set-up hawking zone was the Ladies Market in Mongkok on the Kowloon side. Soon this new market developed a reputation for trading inexpensive, but fashionable items.
At the beginning, this Street Market only stretched from Argyle Street to Shantung Street. Due to the success and popularity, the government decided to extend it to Dundas Street.
Nearby popular attractions on/close to the Ladies Market
In close proximity, there are other popular and famous attractions and sightseeing highlights. These include the Jade Market, Bird Garden, and as well as the Electronic Street and Sneakers Street.
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General Info and Details
Locations: Tung Choi Street, Mongkok (Kowloon)
Opening Hours: Starting from 12:30 pm – 1:00 pm till 11:00pm – 12:00 am (midnight)
Fees: Free admission
How to get to the Ladies Market?
Depending on your starting location and budget, you can get to the this Street Market by subway, taxi or bus: See details above