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All About Shopping |
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When it comes to a serious shopping
experience, Hong Kong has everything in abundance. Hong Kong's
malls, department stores and designer boutiques offer an amazing
contrast to the bustling open-air markets nestled among the towering
skyscrapers. Save time and money with the latest shopping tips and
discover where to shop to get the best deals around.
Hong Kong during a sales period is a complete retail therapy course!
During the winter (late December to February) and the summer sale
(July to September) major discounts are available for the avid
shopper. In order to attract visitors, quality service is a must. The
Hong Kong Tourism Board rewards local enterprises that provide
exemplary service and help raise Hong Kong's profile as a world-class
city with the Hong Kong Awards for Services.
The annual
Hong Kong Awards for Services is a welcome opportunity to give
official recognition to organizations whose outstanding achievements
help raise Hong Kong's profile as a world-class city with a trademark
for excellence. Now in its sixth year, the Hong Kong Award for
Services: Tourism Services is organized by the Hong Kong Tourism Board
as part of the Awards scheme. This year, it attracted a record number
of 71 entries from large, medium and small-sized companies providing
services/facilities such as accommodation, food and beverage, retail,
inbound tour co-ordination and other tourism-related services. Each
and every entrant has made unfailing efforts to add fresh qualities to
Hong Kong's tourism product. The winners are recognised for their high
service standards, providing visitors with a consistent quality of
service and performance. |
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Shopping Malls |
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Hong Kong's well-designed
shopping mega-malls cater to every taste and budget. These vast
emporiums combine boutiques from a Who's Who of the international
designer scene with brand names from every corner of the world. Enjoy
the fine dining and gourmet food outlets in Hong Kong's malls,
offering everything you could ever desire under a single
air-conditioned roof. Hong Kong's biggest and brightest malls play
host to fashion shows, previewing the very latest trends from around
the world. |
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Department Stores |
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Every shopping area and
mall in Hong Kong has a trademark department store. World-class
department stores from many countries have carved out a niche in Hong
Kong. From the bastion of the British high street, Marks & Spencer, to
Sogo of Japan, everything is available. Also popular are hometown
favourites Wing On, Sincere and Lane Crawford. Visit the popular
Japanese-style emporiums, such as Seibu, Sogo or Mitsukoshi and be
enthralled by their gourmet food halls, exclusive boutiques and quirky
displays. The chain of China Products stores are the ideal place to
pick up a gift for a loved one. You can find traditional padded silk
jackets, embroidered cheongsams and even the latest electronic gear. |
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Highlight |
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A visit to the Jade Market
in Yau Ma Tai will provide an insight into something near and dear to
the heart's of Chinese people. Jade. The written character for jade
means a combination of beauty, nobility and purity. The green stone,
in all its many hues and colours is associated with long life and good
health. It is smooth and cooling to the touch. To this day some people
wear a jade bracelet - something next to the skin - to ward off all
sorts of health hazards. Grandmothers routinely buy a piece of jade
for newborns.
Located on Kansu and Battery streets in Yau Ma Tai, the Jade Market is
a collection of around 400 stalls selling a wide range of jade
pendants, rings, and bracelets, carvings and ornaments. The market is
also the main gathering place for buyers of this fine stone who today
still communicate with secret hand signals when making a purchase.
Buying jade is really an art. Jade is not just green but rather comes
in a great variety of colours and textures. The jade sold in Hong Kong
is mostly jadeite from Burma. In Hong Kong there are many kinds of
jade from natural pieces to ones which have been bleached and then
impregnated polymers. There is also jade which has been dyed to
enhance its colour.
Top quality jade is pure green and very expensive. Most pieces have a
yellow tinge but no brown or grey should be in the finished piece. The
best jadeite is semi-transparent. Opaque jadeite with cloudy patches
typically has less value. When shopping for jade, you should
bring someone who knows jade. You'll find the Jade Market at the
junction of Kansu and Battery streets. Take the MTR to Yau Ma Tai,
exit C. |
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Information provided by
Hong Kong Tourism Board. |
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