Central is the island's westernmost business district.
Dominated mostly by modern skyscrapers that houses the Asia-Pacific headquarters of international corporations, alongside bank managements, government agencies and foreign consulates, this area concentrates most of Hong Kong's business activity.
On the west side of Central is Sheung Wan area, characterized by historic streets with many traditional Chinese shops.
Most of the modern shopping malls can be found around MTR-Central, while authentic shops are located along the streets of Sheung Wan:
♦ Two parallel lanes (Li Yuen Street West & Li Yuen Street East), commonly known as "the lanes", form a bustling and colorful market where everything can be found. From inexpensive clothing, watches and costume jewelry to luggage and shoes. Sandwiched between Queen's Road Central and Des Voeux Road Central, the market is open daily from 10am to 7pm.
From MTR-Central: Take exit C to Des Voeux Road Central and walk along it for less than two minutes, till you see the market on your left hand side.
♦ On 48 Queens Road Central, between MTR-Central and "The lanes", is Manning Shopping Arcade (located in Manning house). There are some good electrical-goods shops here. Stereo Ltd. (shop No. 1) is particularly popular.
♦ Stanley Street, just above "The lanes", is well-known for its photographic equipment shops. Wide range at reasonable prices. From "the lanes": cross Queens Road Central to the other side, walk a few steps up along Pottinger Street (Stone Street) and turn left to Stanley Street.
♦ If you'll continue for a few more meters, up on Pottinger, and turn right, you will enter Lyndhurst Terrace where you can find some shops that specialize in antique maps, photographs and prints. Good antique shops can also be found here. The end of Lyndhurst Terrace connects with Hollywood Road.
♦ Hollywood Road is filled with trinket and antique shops of all sorts: from Chinese furniture to porcelain ware, from Buddha sculptures to Tibetan rugs, from Japanese netsukes to Coromandel screens and from Ming dynasty ceramic horsemen to kitsch Maoist memorabilia... Visiting some of these shops is truly an authentic experience so, even if you don't really plan to buy anything, you should make a point to visit both Hollywood Rd. and Upper Lascar Row (Cat Street) underneath it. To get there: walk along Queens Road Central, past "the lanes", till you see the escalator on your left and climb with it up to Hollywood Road (The western part of the street boasts more authentic shops - It's on your right hand side when going up with the escalator).
♦ Another option to get to Hollywood Road and the lanes that surround it is from MTR - Sheung Wan: Take exit A-2 , turn right to Wing Lok Street and walk a few steps along it. Turn Left to Morrison Street and climb with it to Lok Ku Road and Upper Lascar Row (Cat Street), right under Hollywood Road. When you are there, don't miss a visit to Ladder Street, which is entirely composed of stone steps.
F.Y.I : Most shops on Hollywood Rd. and neighboring streets don't open before 11 am and stay closed on Sundays.
♦ The streets of Sheung Wan is where you can visit a variety of authentic Chinese shops, specializing in traditional products, such as Ginseng, Bird's nests, Herbal medicines, Dried Seafood, Spices and what have you... Wandering about those streets is recommended, even if you are not particularly interested in all those "exotic products", as this is a chance for you to feel the atmosphere of the old days, when the city was a shop-window, displaying China's products to the world.
The most obvious spot to start the tour from is, probably, MTR-Sheung Wan. You can get there either by MTR or with the tramway (get off at Western Market station).
If coming by MTR, take exit B and walk two minutes (along Des Voeux Road Central) to Western Market (If coming by tram, the stop is right next to the market). Housed in a beautiful Edwardian style structure, highlighted with "bandaged" brickwork on its four corner towers, this is the oldest surviving market building in Hong Kong. It comprises quite a few traditional Chinese shops that sell everything, from souvenirs and cheap fakes to jade stones, handcrafts, fabrics and more... The restaurant on the 3rd floor (Treasure Inn) is very popular during lunch time. The market is open daily, from 10 am to 7 pm
From the market, you can take either Morrison Street or Ontai Street : Walk a few steps and turn right to Wing Lok St., also known as the Ginseng and bird's nest street. Here you can start your "windows shopping safari", exploring traditional shops that sell all sorts of exotic products like shark's fins, birds nests, dried seafoods, Chinese herbal medicines and what have you... Pop into Man Wa Lane,also known as Chop Alley, where there are many stalls of chop-makers. The chops are traditional Chinese stamps and seals, engraved on various materials like wood, bamboo, stone, bone and the likes... Continue walking along Wing Lok to its end and turn left to Des Voeux Road West, known also as Dried Seafood Street.
From Des Voeux Road West, you can turn left to Ko Shing Street, which is known as the Herbal Medicine Street. From there, turn right to Queen Street and right again to Queen's Road West, and left, to Hollywood Road.
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Glittering, modern air-con shopping malls can be found, as already mentioned, in the close vicinity of MTR-Central. The following are considered as the best:
♦ IFC Mall is right next to Hong Kong Station (Airport Express Terminus) and within a short walking distance from both MTR-Central and the Star Ferry Pier. The tramway and the bus terminus are also a minute walk away.
From MTR-Central: take exits A or B and walk along the walkway till you see the entrance to the complex on your left. Dwarfed by the gigantic One IFC skyscraper, this mall houses over 200 international brands and a unique new cinema, alongside some excellent restaurants and cafés.
The mall is open daily from 10 am to 10 pm but the cinema and some of the restaurants stay open later.
♦ The Landmark is a popular shopping mall and the gathering place of well-heeled shoppers, located within a business development that carry the same name. The Landmark Atrium is home to the flagship boutiques of many famous international fashion names, having one of the highest concentration of world-leading fashion, jewelry and lifestyle names as well as dining outlets. The open space on the ground floor is the venue for various fashion shows. The mall is open daily from 10 am to 7:30 pm. From MTR-Central: take exit G (the entrance to the mall is right next to it).
♦ Other great malls in this area include : Prince's Building (MTR-Central exit H or with the walkway from the Landmark) and Chater House (MTR-Central exits E / F or with the walkway from the Landmark)
F.Y.I : There are about ten shopping malls and centers around MTR-Central. All are connected with walkways.
