Night markets in Hong Kong

The Night markets (Chinese: 夜市; Jyutping: je6 si5) are markets in Hong Kong usually at their peak during the night. They are usually located in older areas like Sham Shui Po, Mong Kok or Sheung Wan. Besides selling toys, clothes and food, some night markets in Hong Kong also provide divination to visitors, such as the Temple Street Night Market, which is popular among foreign visitors.

History

Central (Macau Ferry) Bus Terminus, which was originally Sheung Wan Gala Point.

Night markets in Hong Kong first began as night bazaar (大笪地), stands for vast public open spaces where people cluster. Like what was happening in other Asian countries,[1]Hong Kong people started to gather after work to chat and kill time in those open-air space, which gradually developed into more cultural and recreational activities such as singing, juggling performance , together with fortune-telling , local food stalls and flea market.[2] It provides Hong Kong’s grassroots back then the best place for costless entertainment in daily lives. Among all, Sheung Wan Gala Point was the most significant night bazaar known as the "poor man's nightclub", which emerged in 1840. Indeed, not only did it act as a notable and recreational spot among residents, it was one of the Hong Kong's most popular tourist attractions between the 1970s and 1980s. It was closed permanently in 1992 due to new towns development.

As society changes, some night markets no longer act as leisure places for locals. Instead, their cultural features appeal to foreigners and some have become remarkable tourist attractions and landmarks of Hong Kong.[3]

A breakthrough was made in Hong Kong night markets as PMQ Night Market emerged in 2014.[4] Contemporary artistic products are introduced to night markets, including handicrafts, fusion food, etc, adding brand-new elements to traditional night markets in Hong Kong. Bands were invited to give shows. It is a market designed mainly designed for Hong Kong youngsters.

Overview

Night markets in Hong Kong are usually opened during night time, some may be ready at noon. Most of the markets are closed in the first day of Chinese New Year.

List of night markets

This is a list of night markets in Hong Kong sorted by their locations and opening frequency.

Regularly open

Hong Kong Island:

Kowloon:

Irregularly held

Night Market PMQ Central

Hong Kong Island:

New Territories:

Kowloon:

Famous attractions

Those non-regularly opened night markets are usually famous for selling traditional Hong Kong cuisine such as egg puffs, egg waffles, and fishballs.

Ladies' Market (女人街) - It goes without saying that a great variety of products in Ladies' Market are for women, such as accessories and clothing.[5] Still, products for men are also provided. For instance, there are phone accessories, backpacks and furnishings etc.[6] What’s more, its reputation also come from its bargaining culture,[7] meaning that customers could have bargain with the shop owners for a cheaper price. Also, the market is also famous for its fake commodities.[8] The fake products resemble those from the renowned brands, hardly distinguishable in general. Customers can decide whether to purchase those products by their own preference regardless of the brand name. The above culture and commodities turn this market into one of the most popular landmarks for tourists.

Temple Street Night Market (廟街) - Temple Street Night Market embraces quite a number of diverse attractions. Like many night markets, this one is also clustered by stalls selling clothes.[9] Yet, they are more special and famous since stalls are providing mainly men’s wear.[10] The market is also known for plenty of fortune-tellers whose fortune-telling skills differ from one another. Some may look at the customer's’ lines on the face while some may read the customer’s palm of the hand so as to predict their future. The performance and shows at night also contribute to accumulating the fame of the market. Specifically, Cantonese opera would be occasionally performed which attract a lot of people, especially tourists to have a taste on the traditional Chinese culture.[11]

Yau Ma Tei Jade Hawker Bazaar (油麻地玉石市場) - Famous attractions in Yau Ma Tei Jade Hawker Bazaar are actually being indicated by its name.[12] Amid the market, there are lots of jade stalls selling jades ranging between dissimilar qualities, purities, colours and even thicknesses. Thousands and thousands of foreigners are fascinated by Jade, which is being highly prioritized by the Chinese.[7] Pearl is also another high reputation earned attractions in this night market as it is cheaper than jade.

Events

Mong Kok unrest

The authorities tried again this year to crack down the unlicensed stalls in Mong Kok Night Market near Langham Place.[13] Local activists oppose to any moves that are seen as threats to local traditions. Dozens of people gathered to defend the vendors after watching a video of the night market on a local activists Facebook page, on Monday night.

As officials tried to shut down a night food market in Mong Kok, hundreds of people confronted with police on Monday night. It lasted for the entire midnight, until 8:00 a.m. in the morning.[14] At least 54 people were arrested and dozens of people injured. Meanwhile, a police officer fired two gunshots to the sky to warn the violent defenders of the vendors.

It is believed that the authorities tried to crack down the stalls this year, unlike before when they used to turn a blind eye to the situation, is the proximate cause for the conflict.

Leung King Estate Night Market conflict

See also: Link REIT

Food hawkers set up stalls outside of Leung King Plaza on the second day of Lunar New Year, 2 February.[15] A group of security guards with unknown identity (due to the problem of outsourcing)[16] confronted with the hawkers, saying that the area around is a location prohibited. Somehow, the food hawkers have been selling traditional foods there for over 20 years already.

The hawkers are forced to leave, some confronted which led to a serious conflict. One hawker’s stall was pushed over by the guards, adding more tension to the conflict. Meanwhile, some security guards put up metal barricades to drive out the hawkers and block the region. The residents are annoyed and discontented since the barricade were blocking the ways to home, which has caused inconvenience. The reckless and violent actions of the security also upset them. Until midnight, over 200 people surrounded the area, there were violent conflicts, even journalists were injured.[17]

References

  1. ↑ Baum, Julian (Sep 11, 1984). "Adding a little cha-cha to Peking night life". The Christian Science Monitor (The Christian Science Publishing Society (d/b/a "The Christian Science Monitor"), trusteeship under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts).
  2. ↑ 吳, 昊 (2001). 飲食香江 (in Chinese). 香港: SCMP Book Publishing Limited. pp. 103–104.
  3. ↑ "Top 10 Attractions". Discover Hong Kong. Hong Kong Tourism Board.
  4. ↑ Chan, Yannie (Apr 28, 2014). "PMQ Night Market A Success". HK Magazine. Retrieved 14 February 2016.
  5. ↑ "Ladies' Market". Discover Hong Kong. The Hong Kong Tourism Board.
  6. ↑ "Things to Buy at The Ladies Market". Ladies-Market.HK. WL Media.
  7. 1 2 O'Riordain, Aoife (Feb 16, 2002). "Hong Kong: the complete guide to Hong Kong's markets ; It's not just fruit and veg in Hong Kong and Kowloon. Here, there's a market to suit every taste, just as long as you're prepared to haggle.". The Independent (Independent Print Ltd).
  8. ↑ Crawford, Barclay (Feb 12, 2007). "Fake luxury goods still rife at Ladies Market". SCMP. Retrieved 1 March 2016.
  9. ↑ "Temple Street Night Market". Lonely Planet.
  10. ↑ "Temple Street Night Market". Discover Hong Kong. Hong Kong Tourism Board.
  11. ↑ "Temple Street Night Market". temple-street-night-market.hk. WL Media HK.
  12. ↑ "Jade Market and Jade Street". Discover Hong Kong. Hong Kong Tourism Board.
  13. ↑ "Hong Kong's Mong Kok clashes: More than fishballs". BBC News. 9 February 2016. Retrieved 12 March 2016.
  14. ↑ "【旺角騷亂】旺角黑夜11小時 衝突時序表". 蘋果日報 (in Chinese). February 9, 2016. Retrieved 4 March 2016.
  15. ↑ "良景邨「小販夜市」又衝突　4人受傷拉1人". 蘋果日報 (in Chinese). February 10, 2016. Retrieved 11 February 2016.
  16. ↑ "良景夜市連日爆衝突　「管理員」身分仍然成謎　警被指包庇". 立場新聞 (in Chinese). February 10, 2016. Retrieved 13 February 2016.
  17. ↑ "記者接連於屯門夜市遇襲 記協促警方徹查". Hong Kong Journalists Association (in Chinese). February 10, 2016.
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