°C
Uniquely HK

Feature Story

Walking Sham Shui Po

Join us on a walking tour of one of the city’s most colourful local neighbourhoods!

 

March weather is perfect for exploring the city on foot, and one of the best and more popular areas is Sham Shui Po, a colourful and authentically local neighbourhood in Kowloon, famous for its idiosyncratic flea markets, computer centres, old buildings, public housing estates, local eats and wet markets – all juxtaposed jarringly to create a vibrant microcosm of down-to-earth Hong Kong culture.
 

Join us on a walking tour that is a real sensory workout, discovering Sham Shui Po and its nearby areas, and immersing yourself in a fun-filled urban treasure hunt!

 

Shopping Galore

Don’t come to Sham Shui Po looking for designer branded products – rather the area is a treasure trove of electronic and electric devices, old and new gadgets, fabrics and fashion, antiques and old vinyl records – you name it! Ground zero for shopping is the Apliu Street flea markets and its adjacent blocks, plus the fashion outlet places in nearby Cheung Sha Wan.

Apliu Street Flea Market

Mostly known for electronics, including computers, mobile phones, cables and jacks, television sets and more, Apliu Street-and Kweilin Street, which it runs into-offer a delightful collection of outlets for trinkets, old collectibles and souvenirs of all sorts – the best thing is to look, explore, and, if you buy, bargain hard – it’s half the fun.

Fabrics, buttons and beads

Sham Shui Po used to be a major garment manufacturing district in the 1960s and 70s. The factories are long gone but it remains a thriving and bustling trading place for fabrics and accessories of all types. Most of the shops are congregated along Ki Kung Street, as well as Nam Cheong Street and Yu Chau Street.

Toys, party bags and seasonal decorations

For children's clothes and toys, check out Fu Wah Street and Kweilin Street. And if party decorations and fillers are your thing, then Fuk Wing Street has a vast selection of goodies for holiday parties.

Golden Computer Arcade and Golden Computer Plaza, Fuk Wa Street

Visitors from all over the world flock to this venerable block packed with small shops selling all things electronic – computers, tablets, mobile phones, video games, and especially hard-to-find accessories like batteries and cables.

Dragon Centre

One of Hong Kong’s earliest high-rise malls, this nine-level shopping centre offers cafés and rstaurants, local brands and high-tech products – a nice respite from walking the streets.

Cheung Sha Wan Fashion Street

For fashion clothes at jaw-dropping prices, visit the wholesale dealers that line the street of Sheung Sha Wan Road and shop to your heart’s delight. Fashions range from the latest Korean and Japanese styles to chic international wear.

Local wet market

To see how the locals buy their daily fresh groceries, you must visit a local produce market. The wet market at Pei Ho Street is lined with stalls selling fresh vegetables, fruit, meat and fish. And the upper floor is a typical cooked-food market where you can try out cheap and yummy local street food from various outlets in an indoor setting with shared tables – it’s a slice of local culture you shouldn’t miss.

Lei Cheung Uk Han Tomb

Though poorly recorded, Sham Shui Po’s history dates back almost 2000 years, to the Eastern Han Dynasty, AD 25 to 220, as revealed by this Han Dynasty era tomb, excavated in the 1950s. 41 Tonkin Street, Sham Hsui Po (admission free, closed Thursdays).

Shek Kip Mei Housing Estate

Just a ten-minute walk from Sham Shui Po is Hong Kong’s first public housing estate, built in the 1950s after an infamous fire that destroyed thousands of squatter huts on the hillside of Shek Kip Mei, leaving 53 thousand homeless. Today, one of the estate factory buildings has been converted into the Jockey Club Creative Arts Centre and Hong Kong’s last remaining Mark II H-Block type public housing building, Mei Ho House, is converted into a hostel, cited by UNESCO for its tangible and intangible value. Shek Kip Mei Estate, Pak Tin Street off Tai Po Road.

 

Neighbourhood Eats

Sham Shui Po is where you can try out authentic local Cantonese food, Hong Kong style. The shops will be small and unassuming, and usually crowded – but we promise you the food will be super deliciously yummy, and piping hot. Just point at other people’s food if you don’t know how to order.

Tim Ho Wan, the dim-sum specialists

Advertised as the cheapest Michelin-starred restaurant in the world, this famous shop is always crowded but well worth the wait. While it has branched out to other outlets in the city, this is one of the earliest outlets. And yes, you must try out the dim sum dishes! G/F, 9-11 Fuk Wing Street, Sham Shui Po.

Wai Kee Noodle Café

Many locals grew up with the fare of this beloved café. Their specialty is instant noodles with pork liver. You can try a combination of noodles with luncheon meat, egg, ham or sausages. Their Kaya French Toast is also a local favourite, especially for a quick afternoon tea, along with a cup of Hong Kong’s ubiquitous Milk Tea. G/F, 62&67 Fuk Wing Street/Shop D, G/F, 165-167 Pei Ho Street, Sham Shui Po

Luk Lam Dessert

Hugely popular – locals make a beeline for this place, especially for Luk Lam’s tofu pudding and other signature desserts. 77-79 Un Chau Street, Sham Shui Po.

 

 

(Edited on 12 Mar 2018)

 

Comments

Add your comment


Please enter the Verify Code