If Hong Kong is the "City of Life", then life is a mall. From morning until late at night, shopping malls are open and filled with avid shop aphonics. Being a popular international port, Hong Kong is always abreast with the ever-changing fashion and trends. The region boasts a remarkable range of international department stores offering up-to-the-minute designer styles and off-the-peg fashions. Most of these department stores are strategically located in the same vicinity, thus enabling shoppers to find what they are looking for easily and quickly at a reasonable price. The prime shopping areas are bedlam at weekends, and merely chaotic during the rest of the week.

For many of the items that it was once famous: electronics, imitation brand-names etc, Hong Kong is just no longer as cheap as it was, and prices are closer to European or American averages. Shop selling Chinese art objects and souvenirs cluster around the escalator up to the Mid-Levels; however anyone planning to visit mainland China should do their research here but save their purchases for north of the border. Within Hong Kong, Shanghai Tang, right by Central MTR station, is probably the best venue for quality Chinese goods: silks, fabrics, ornaments and furniture. Hong Kong's temples to Mammon are plentiful Pacific Place in Admiralty has three floors of almost entirely luxury brands, while The Landmark and Prince's Arcade vie for the custom of chic Central. Festival Walk at Kowloon Tong MTR station in northern Kowloon is worth the long trip from Central for its variety and quality. Causeway Bay has the big Japanese department stores Sogo and Mitsukoshi, and the overwhelming Times Square, like a mall stood vertically.

There are computer superstores at Causeway Bay, Wanchai and Mongkok, full of tiny booths selling the cyber equivalent of Hong Kong tailor and teenage hustlers pushing pirated software; however, for most electrical goods, there are worse places than the many branches of the Fortress chain.

The districts of Hong Kong are all back dropped against a luscious green mountainside. Starting with the Western and Central Districts, these harbor districts are two of Hong Kong’s liveliest areas. The Central District of Hong Kong is a glittering modern business center; it features the stock exchange, deluxe hotels, and up market shops. The Western District is full of visitor delights such as bountiful markets, shopping, restaurants, and traditional shop houses. Rising high above downtown there is Victoria Peak, an exclusive residential area located on the highest (1,805 feet) range of hills in the island.

Practically the whole of Hong Kong Island is a shopper's paradise. With its many, many sales at Central, Western District and Admiralty, there are many, many bargains to be had.

Central
Quaint old traditional markets provide the vivid contrast to the shiny new skyscrapers which houses the many designer boutiques. Designer shops and exclusive labels are a dime a dozen here, and lots of foreign tourists usually come here to restock and update their wardrobe.

The many stalls at "The Lanes" peddle everything from cheap clothing, watches, and costume jewelry to luggage and shoes. Rain or shine, the markets stay open every day, from 10 a.m. until 7.00 p.m.

Photography enthusiasts inevitably make a beeline for Stanley Street, and little wonder, since there's such a wide array of equipment on sale there. For antiques, head for Hollywood Road. A little to the west, sidewalk hawkers take pride of place.

Western District
Interested in getting some lovely fabric or Chinese handicraft? Then Western Market is just the place to visit. The building itself is something of an attraction, with its Edwardian design and architecture. Move farther west and you'll find that Chinese-style shops dominate the view, with their dried seafood and medicinal herbs. Antiques canal so be had here, at the Cat Street Bazaar, where you'll find and a dazzling array of old coins, watches and stone carvings, sold at the shops and stalls.

Admiralty
Another area for branded luxury items with the Pacific Place topping the list of popular shopping destinations. It has more than 130outlets, including the famed Marks & Spencer, Lane Crawford and Seibu.

Wan Chai & Causeway Bay
Lovely rattan and Chinese furniture await you at Wan Chai and there are shops that sell products especially for export. Causeway Bay is locally known as "Little Japan" because of the major Japanese department stores that specialize in electrical goods, shoes and fashion for the young.

Standard opening hours are 9:30-19:00 Monday to Sunday, the shopping never stops. Hong Kongers bridle at the very idea of a sales tax, so visitors can forget about hoarding their receipts.

In Hong Kong, shopping is a different story. You can buy virtually any consumer item. There are bargains to be had, but keep in mind that not every purchase will be a fantastic deal. Prices vary greatly from store to store, so shop around. Bargaining can be done in smaller shops in the main tourist areas, especially if prices are not marked. Cash will usually get you a better price than credit cards. Stores displaying the Hong Kong Tourist Association sticker are generally considered to subscribe to higher ethics and to be of greater reliability than those that don't. If you expect a store to ship your goods for you, make sure it's an HKTA member or the goods may never arrive. Be sure to keep your receipts for customs declaration when you return home. Shop for Chinese-made goods even if you're going to other parts of China, as the quality of what is sold in Hong Kong is often higher than what's sold in the Friendship Stores.