One of the top reasons people visit Hong Kong is to go shopping. There are several street markets and shopping centers in Hong Kong that it’s become one of its trademark symbols. But despite this reputation, only one traditional street night market remains and that is Temple Street Night Market. This specific market is unique in Hong Kong because of the culture and tradition behind it. Located within the vicinity of the Tin Hau Temple on Temple Street, the market stretches through several blocks, assuring shoppers and tourists of a wide stretch of vendor options. You can find anything from accessories, clothes, shoes, houseware, gifts and other items all at an affordable price. You can even find fortune tellers and traditional herbalists among the stalls. To find out more about the hidden gems of this spot, check out our guide to Temple Street Night Market, Hong Kong.
Things to do / highlights
Shop till you drop
It’s a no-brainer that your primary purpose of coming to Temple Street Night Market is to go shopping. Some of Hong Kong’s cheapest finds can be found here. Bargaining is definitely a skill that will come in handy around these parts. Sometimes, locals refer to Temple Street Night Market as Men’s Street because of the variety and popularity of men’s fashion and items sold in the market.
Visit fortune tellers
Aside from shopping, one of the most popular features of Temple Street Night Market is the presence of fortune tellers. Though note that they’re not located exactly in the market but are rather closer to the temple, where they originally hang out. There are some fortune tellers that offer readings in English, so check the signs outside their stalls before lining up. Whether you believe in it or not, it can be fun to go check out what your future possibly has in store for you.
Cantonese opera
While shopping, you can get the chance to see a traditional Cantonese opera. It’s not every day that you encounter such a piece of culture. After all, Temple Street Night Market is known to not only be a shopping district but to be a cultural hub as well. Cantonese opera is famous in many Southeast Asian countries with Chinese communities and it portrays Chinese music, acting and even martial arts.
What to eat
Food is one of the many things tourists love about Hong Kong. Wherever you go in the city, you will always find a gastronomic paradise in the form of either street food or fancy restaurants. As a top tourist hotspot, Temple Street Night Market is definitely no exception. Though there are several restaurants in the area, the real treasure is found in dai pai dong or small food stalls. This is where the best of street food can be found.
Seafood is the common favorite in both restaurants and in the dai pai dong, so expect to see a lot of fresh catch hanging by the aquarium of some restaurants. Some of the crowd favorites include chili crab, steamed fish, and deep-fried squid. On the other hand, at the dai pai dong, you can find snack favorites like hot noodles, prawn dumplings, won tons, sliced fish cakes, and fish meatballs.
Travelers tips
Go on a hunt for hidden gems
Or in this case, hidden vendors! Temple Street Market is so vast and has over a hundred different stalls lined up along the street that you will surely miss a lot of those hidden from the main busy area. As with any street market, to maximize your visit, you should do some exploring. Usually, the first ones to catch your eye are those along the pathway. But sometimes, with a little perseverance, you may find some treasures in the form of goods that you didn’t know they had or items that are at an incredibly cheaper price than the one outside.
Be mindful of your personal belongings
As with any public place, you should always be mindful of your belongings, especially important items like your cellphone, wallet, passport and other tourist identification. Hong Kong is rather safe but it’s always best to be aware. Keep in mind that this is a touristy place, so it can get really crowded especially at its peak hours at night. You can never be sure of minor pickpocketing incidents especially since many of the people coming here definitely have money in their pockets. You wouldn’t want your visit to this iconic street market to be ruined by an incident!
You might be interested in these Airbnbs!
How to get there
Getting around Hong Kong is fairly easy with their MTR system, especially if you know where to go. Best to have with you an Octopus card for a smoother journey.
There are two ways to get to Temple Street Night Market easily. You can take the Tsuen Wan Line and get off at either Jordan Station or Yau Ma Tei Station.
If you get off at Jordan Station, exit at Exit A, then turn right to Jordan Road and another right to Temple Street.
If you get off at Yau Ma Tei Station, exit at Exit C then make a turn towards Temple Street at Man Ming Lane. Yau Ma Tei Station is also reachable when you take the Kwun Tong Line.
Temple Street Night Market information (from USD 383.0)
Temple Street Night Market
Address: Temple Street, Yau Ma Tei, Kowloon, Hong Kong
Official Website: Temple Street Night Market
Department of Tourism website: Discover Hong Kong
Opening hours: 2pm - 11pm (daily)
Kowloon Backstreet Private Night Tour
Duration: 3 hours
History
Get Trip101 in your inbox
Unsubscribe in one click. See our Privacy Policy for more information on how we use your data
Create an account to