Hong Kong reputedly has more shops and stalls per square foot than any other city on earth and is a renowned shopper’s paradise due to its duty free status.

Gold, jewellery, diamonds (Hong Kong is one of the world’s top four diamond trading centres), electronics, audio-visual, watches, antiques, art galleries – you name it, you’ll find it. However, living in the tax-free Gulf, prices are fairly similar; the difference is a wider choice, particularly for top fashion brands straight off the catwalk.
Hong Kong island’s top designer shops are mainly found in Central, accessed via endless covered walkways and the world's largest escalator. In Kowloon, the Peninsula Hotel has 110 top designer brand shops and Tsim Sha Tsui around the corner, is another major shopping area. Dotted around are quaint street markets where shoppers haggle for the cheapest price for fake designer bags, T-shirts, watches, leather and sportswear.
Dedicated shoppers head for Shanghai Tang (Pedder Street and the Peninsula). Founded by entrepreneur David Tang who created a new concept in Chinese designer products. Bringing New China to life. Basing his initial designs on Mao's uniform blue jacket, Tang introduced a similar men’s jacket using brilliant colours such as lime twinned with navy, shocking pink and orange, bright yellow with red and introduced ladies’ cheongsams and skirts. Ideal for gifts and unusual souvenirs, the range now includes coats, dressing gowns and accessories, sumptuous leather handbags, photo albums, cufflinks and silver objets d’art. On the south side of Hong Kong is the world-famous bargain hunter’s paradise. Rows of street stalls specialise in silks, satins, shoes and souvenirs, alongside antiques, faux fashion items and costume jewellery. 
By Maeve Kelynack Skinner