The atmosphere alone is worth a visit to the Temple Street Night Market. Flashy banners, naked light bulbs, dramatic fortune-tellers and Cantonese opera tents make this one of Hong Kong’s strangest and most unique experiences. Tour the line of stalls arranged along a five-block stretch to see what was once referred to as “the poor man’s nightclub”.
As soon as you enter the market, the sights and sounds of loudly haggling merchants and Chinese chess-playing locals will surround you. Join in the haggling for some of the best bargains on souvenirs that you’ll find in Hong Kong.
In contrast to the Ladies’ Market just to the north, Temple Street Night Market is often described as the men’s market due to its wide selection of clothing and accessories for men. Shop here for electronics, antiques, watches and jade. If you’d like a larger selection of items, check out the Ladies’ Market or the bird and flower markets, which lie nearby.
Whether or not you believe in magic, consider getting your fortune told for the most quintessential Temple Street experience. Tarot readers, astrologists, palm readers and even prescient birds, which pick your fortune card out of a pack, line the street. The surreal lighting of the night market serves as the perfect surroundings to these occult performances.
Temple Street serves as a hub of Cantonese opera. Troupes and clubs have gathered here for years to rehearse and perform. Step into a tent to see a performance by a local troupe.
The night market is an excellent place to visit for a meal of authentic regional cuisine. Drop by a food stall and feast on a noodle dish or a claypot of rice. Visit the Tin Hau Temple nearby, which gave the street on which the night market lies its name.
Reach the Temple Street Night Market via the Yau Ma Tei or Jordan metro stops. Most of the market’s stalls open late in the afternoon and remain open late into the night.
