Hong Kong’s busiest strip is no place for the faint of heart, but if you can brave the crowds, a wonderful world of market stalls and shops awaits.

With an average of 130,000 people packed into each square kilometre (247.1 acres), Mong Kok is the densest place to live in the world. Jam-packed pedestrian strips and bustling market areas give this neighbourhood its name, which means “busy corner” in Cantonese.

Visitors and locals alike come to the area to buy, sell and haggle over all kinds of goods. Mong Kok is roughly structured according to the product on offer, which is a boon for competition. Market sellers who sell a particular product will generally group together, and so the neighbourhood is made up of clusters that specialise in anything from goldfish to wedding dresses and more.

Follow the charming nicknames of Mong Kok’s streets as a guide. Stop by Flower Market Road for fresh blooms, or try a change in tone on Photocopy Street, which is known for its numerous copy centres. On Ladies’ Street, you’ll find all kinds of women’s clothing and accessories. And on Goldfish Street, true to form, you will find tropical fish and aquarium accessories.

Browse the latest fashions on Dundas Street and Shantung Street, or duck into the crowded Argyle Centre for inexpensive clothes and CDs. A variety of malls stock well-known brand names, Langham Place among them, and the Mong Kok Computer Centre hosts dozens of stores selling all manner of computer goods. But alongside the shiny modern outlets, Mong Kok maintains its traditional charm thanks to countless small stores and stalls of the type you would rarely see in the rest of Hong Kong.

Recharge from your commercial exertions with a snack at one of Mong Kok’s many food stalls. Traditional finger foods such as dim sum and fish balls are common, but visitors can also opt for Japanese, Thai or Italian cuisine.

Mong Kok is best reached by using the MTR. Get off at the Mong Kok station, and walk boldly into the fray.