Seen in Hong Kong #13: Stanley Market

I played tourist today. For you. So I can show you one of my favorite places here in Hong Kong. I used to hang out here every day when Josh was in K1 --when I would drop him off at school, go over to Stanley with a couple of my mommy friends, stroll through the lanes (and almost always ending up with at least a couple of bags of purchases!) until it was time to go pick up Josh again. Every day, for 11 months. You’d think I’d tire of the place already.

I still go there three times a week now (kiddies’ activities and church), but I have more restraint now. I try not to venture into the lanes unless there is something I need to get. But today, we have a guest in town and that was as good an excuse as any to browse. I almost always take friends visiting from overseas to Stanley Market. It’s colorful, great value shopping, with lots of knick-knacks and good souvenir items, as well as a good variety of clothing items and accessories in prices that are good enough even for locals.

There are paintings and shops that do framing services…

These cards are Chinese names for common English names. Like, Oliver is 澳利崋, which, when pronounced in Chinese sounds close to how Oliver is pronounced in English.

Or you can get the key chains instead… more practical than the cards, I think.

You want bags? There are plenty. Cute and fun ones, like these…

and there are trendier ones like these. These are priced at 50% off –all the time. Some shops have Buy-2-Get-1-Free deals to encourage tourists to buy more.

Of course, you will find pandas…

and these knick-knacks. I’m not exactly sure what these are for… something to hang on your key chain or the end of your cell phone or a zipper pull, maybe?

And then you have these… really cute umbrellas in a container shaped like a wine bottle!

Speaking of wine bottles… wine bottle covers! How cute are these?

Scarves make nice presents for friends back home… light, does not take up much room in your luggage.

This is one of my favorite shops in Stanley. This shop sells linen clothing. Really nice. I love linen, but I hate that it gets creased very easily; but when it’s crisp and fresh, there’s nothing like it.

Check out these tees…

And these silk robes…

And these cute little girl clothes… The other wall has displays of cute little boy outfits, too. Most of these clothes are export overruns.

Onesies and baby clothes… There are quite a number of shops that sell children’s clothing. You get Gymboree, Ralph Lauren, Carter’s, Jacadi, Next, Janie & Jack, Oilily, etc.

This shop sells tablecloths, napkins, laundry bags, doilies, hankies…

Chops, anyone? Click on the link to find out what these are.

Pearls, pearls, pearls galore…

and other types of jewelry.

Silver compact mirrors…

Paper lanterns and miniature tees.

Pencil cases, tissue box covers, chopsticks, table runners, place mats, etc.

There are, of course, countless shops that sell souvenir tees. There’s a Salvation Army store, flower shops, a fruit stand, a book store, some shoe stores… Stanley Market is a shopper’s delight. If you ever find yourself in Hong Kong, make sure you find your way to Stanley Market. Make sure you do that. You will thank me. I know you will.