Kowloon - Hong Kong - page 305

TOP SIGHT
TEMPLE STREET NIGHT MARKET
Hong Kong's liveliest night market, Temple St extends from Man Ming Lane in
the north to Nanking St in the south, and is cut in two by historic Tin Hau
Temple . It's a great place to go for the bustling atmosphere, the smells and
tastes on offer from the dai pai dong (food stalls), the free Cantonese opera
performances, and some fortune-telling. The market is at its best from about
7pm to 10pm, when it's clogged with stalls and people.
While you may find better bargains over the border in Shēnzhèn, people still shop here
for cheap clothes, watches and everyday items. Any marked prices should be considered
suggestions - this is definitely a place to bargain.
For alfresco dining, head for Woo Sung St, running parallel to the east, or to the section of
Temple St north of the temple. You can get anything from a bowl of wonton noodles to
oyster omelettes and Nepalese curries. There are also seafood and hotpot restaurants in the
area. For an unusual experience, take a seat at a singalong parlour and order delivery.
Every evening a gaggle of fortune-tellers sets up tents in the middle of the market where
they make predictions about your life (for HK$100 up) by reading your face and palm, or
based on your date of birth. Some keep birds that have been trained to pick out 'fortune'
cards. Most operators speak some English.
If you're in luck, you'll catch snippets of a Cantonese opera performed under the stars.
Some of the most famous stars of the opera stage began their careers in this humble fashion
- or so they say.
If you want to carry on, visit the charming Yau Ma Tei Wholesale Fruit Market which
comes alive from 4am.
To get here from Yau Ma Tei MTR station, follow Man Ming Lane.