The liveliest night market in Hong Kong, Temple St extends from Man Ming Lane in the north to Nanking St in the south and is cut in two by the Tin Hau temple complex. While you may find better bargains further north in New Kowloon, and certainly over the border in Shenzhen, it is still a good place to go for the bustling atmosphere and the smells and tastes on offer from the dai pai dong (open-air street stall) food.
People shop here for cheap clothes, watches, pirated CDs, fake labels, footwear, cookware and everyday items. Any marked prices should be considered suggestions – this is definitely a place to bargain.
You’ll also find a surfeit of fortune-tellers, herbalists and, occasionally, some free, open-air Cantonese opera performances.
For street food, head for Woo Sung St , running parallel to the east, or to the section of Temple St north of the temple. You can get anything from a simple bowl of noodles to a full meal. There are also a few seafood and hotpot restaurants in the area.
The market officially opens in the afternoon, but most hawkers set up at about 6pm and start shutting up around 11pm. The market is at its best from about 7pm to 10pm, when it’s clogged with stalls and people. If you want to carry on, visit the colourful wholesale fruit market , which is always a hive of activity.
To reach Temple St market, take exit C2 from the Jordan MTR station and walk along Bowring St or exit C from the Yau Ma Tei MTR station and follow Man Ming Lane.
