Ten of the best street markets in Hong Kong

There's more to Cat Street than just antiques. During the colonial period, the street was a market for stolen items – referred to as 'rat goods' in Cantonese. Cats search out rats, and therefore it's the customers that Cat Street market is named after. The stalls are clustered together along the street. Chairman Mao figurines, brass Buddha statues, old coins and ceramic vases conjure up images of Hong Kong's past. Not somewhere to look for Antiques Roadshow-style undervalued heirlooms, rather a place for tourists in search of an exotic souvenir, you can still bag a decent trinket if you know what you're after. 

Hollywood Rd and Upper Lascar Rd, Sheung Wan.

This colourful, highly fragrant flower market feels like a lush garden, decked out with flowers of every kind. In the build-up to Lunar New Year, the place fills with the varietals of plant that promise good luck, and families squeeze in looking to make a purchase that will guarantee their fortune for the next lunar cycle.

Flower Market Rd, Prince Edward.

Unlike Bangkok or Taiwan, it’s rare to find a night market in Hong Kong, a situation that gives instant fame to Temple Street. After the sun goes down, the stalls pop up. The tourists come for the 'I Heart HK' T-shirts and watches of dubious provenance, the locals to consult the fortune tellers.

Temple St, Yau Ma Tei.

What it says on the tin. Goldfish are a symbol of good luck in Chinese culture, since the first character means 'gold' while the second sounds like 'jade'. Typically, the fish are displayed in either immense aquariums or little plastic bags hung at the entrance to stores. Besides these repositories of luck, colourful tropical species as well as full-on saltwater aquarium setups are also available.

Tung Choi St North, Mongkok.