Temple Street
|
|
Many gangster-type Hong Kong movies describe Temple Street as a street of crime. In fact, like most of the all-night markets that exist in nearly every Asian city, Temple Street is merely one of the markets selling special but inexpensive things in Hong Kong. It is an ideal place to witness Hong Kong's nighttime culture.
| Contents |
Location
Temple Street is located in the Yau Ma Tei area of Kowloon in Hong Kong. It is the Night Market which is a perfect place to pick up a few bargains as well as to have a large meal.
History
It is named "Temple Street" because a temple to Tin Hau was built there. It was built during the Qing Dynasty. It settled at banyan at the middle of the street (the place is called jung syu tau). Contrast that with the Ladies’ Market in Tung Choi Street, Mong Kok.
Attractions
Temple Street is known as "Men's Street" because it is very popular for men's clothing. Temple Street comes to life at dusk each day. Traffic stops going into the street and people begin to swarm there. Nearly a hundred little stalls appear with colourful lights along the street. Carts bulge with goods, from clothing to mobile phones and watches. Merchants sell inexpensive items mostly for men, from jeans and t-shirts to lighters and shoes. There are also pirated items, old cassettes, video tapes, old newspapers, antiques and nearly any kind of cheap merchandise one can imagine. Shoppers can bargain for cheaper prices there. There are also Chinese street opera singers, fortune tellers, and food stalls. In the past, Anita Mui sang on stage on Temple Street, starting her fantastic career. Her performances are a legend of Temple Street.
Missing image
Hktemple.jpg
Image:Hktemple.jpg
This down-to-earth open bazaar usually opens at 2 p.m. It is not uncommon to see the street gradually become crowded with foreign visitors and locals in the evening. Unlike many other cities' flea markets, Temple Street is busiest at night. During weekends or on public holidays, it is extremely crowded with people.
One reason why Temple Street is so popular for men is because of the sexual activities inside the tentament houses. It is not difficult to see prostitutes wearing few clothes exchanging glances with the passers-by. Some hustlers on the street bring men upstairs, where there are lots of simple rooms with no more than a bed. There are lots of light boxes on the street that advertise those activities at night.
Thanks to its unique characteristics, Temple Street is often chosen as a location for films made in Hong Kong such as Queen of Temple Street in 1990. The street was used as a symbol for public life in Hong Kong at that time.
Clinics
There are old clinics using the traditional Chinese method for curing illnesses and diseases in this street. Instead of doctors, the practitioners are usually called 'Masters'. They have run the clinics for many years and their ability to cure patients is very reliable.
Food and necessities
Unlike Soho, Temple Street doesn't have Thai, Cajun, Nepalese, Italian fast-food cafes and pubs, but it is famous for its midnight snacks and its street-side dining, featuring local cuisine. The busy food stalls offer a wide range of delicacies to tempt appetites.
There are also lots of restaurants selling seafood. These "hot pots" can be perfect for an intimate dinner. They are delicious as well as cheap. All of these culinary delicacies represent Hong Kong's traditional and unique food culture.
Missing image
Hkalfresco1.jpg
Image:Hkalfresco1.jpg
Interestingly, to find out if one wants to buy clothes, shoes, leather, watches and everyday items in Temple Street, one has to hunt for the shops hidden in the streets behind the stalls rather than looking in the stalls themselves. This is one of the characteristics of Temple Street. Be aware that many products may be fake if they are being sold at a suspiciously low price.
Entertainment
In addition to the food and clothes collections available in Temple Street, bands of traditional Cantonese opera singers can also be found. These bands seem to be competing with the pop music bands, and they set up their own corners for entertainment in Temple Street where they have mini-concerts every night. Temple Street is a treasure island for collectors. Very old CD collections or nice audio instruments can easily be purchased for a reasonable price. Majong shops can also be found.
There are a groups of fortune tellers who set up their stalls in Temple Street, key feature that makes the market feel typically Hong Kong. This group of people earns a living by telling the fortunes of people who want to know about their past and future. These fortune tellers charge HK$50-HK$500 depending on what subject people are willing to foresee. Apart from that, the jade market at Yau Ma Tei is a great place to find cheap jade stones for souvenirs.
Missing image
Fortuneteller.JPG
Image:Fortuneteller.JPG
Temple Street Festival
During September 2003, the first Temple Street Festival was organised and supported by local governmental authorities such as the Home Affairs Bureau and the Hong Kong Tourist Board.
Transportation
To visit the Temple Street in Yau Ma Tei, go from the Nathan Road MTR station exit and turn onto Nathan Road towards the Yue Hwa Chinese Products Emporium. Go north on Nathan and walk for two or three blocks. Temple Street can be found on the left. The best time to go is after 8:00 p.m. because you can experience the busy night market at its peak hour of the day.
Conclusion
Temple Street is an impressive place that attracts many tourists as well as local residents. This street is spiced up with the traditional culture of Hong Kong. Apart from the tourists, many locals go there for inexpensive items, such as T-shirts, jeans, luggage, etc. However, shoppers need to know how much they want to spend since the prices are negotiable, just as they are while shopping in Mainland China, such as in Shenzhen. Safety is also an issue here, so shoppers should be aware of their personal belongings. Girls should not hang out there alone.
Missing image
Bargain.jpg
Image:Bargain.jpg