If you want to shop you've come to the right place - if you can buy it, it's available in Hong Kong somewhere. Cramped living conditions and high disposable income have produced a shopping culture centred on the ubiquitous malls and markets.

The idea that Hong Kong is crammed with cheap goods and incredible deals, though, is a bit out of date and prices may not be all that lower than in other major shopping cities of the world.

Also, a caveat: the shopkeepers of Hong Kong have a reputation for ripping off tourists. Frankly, the reputation isn't deserved, as they don't limit themselves to tourists. In areas like Nathan Road, taking advantage of the gullible is considered a career. The only way to be sure that you're getting a good deal is to shop around. If any shopkeepers start getting a touch defensive or coy, just walk away. There are thousands of shops and thousands of shopkeepers: This is a buyer's market.

Hong Kong - Central Hong Kong is a chaotic place to shop. Almost every street seems to contain either designer outlets, smaller Chinese food and clothing shops or vast malls. Prices are expensive though.

Central and Admiralty are home to the best malls in the city, including: Pacific Place, the Landmark and Prince's Arcade. Shanghai Tang, right by Central MTR station, is possibly the best place to shop for Chinese goods like ornaments, fabrics and furniture.

In contrast are the two parallel streets of Li Yuen St East and Li Yuen St West, popularly known as "The Lanes". Here you'll find more reasonably priced merchandise being enthusiastically hawked by smaller tradesmen. Everything from fake labels to craftwork can be found in this eclectic mixture of stalls.

Some maintain, though, that the best shopping is in Causeway Bay, including the Times Square shopping mall on Russell Road. Also have a look around Wan Chai if you're there, but it can't be recommended on the strength of its shopping alone.

Kowloon - Although the entirety of Hong Kong is a vast shopping palace Tsim Sha Tsui in Kowloon is its undoubted epicentre. Shopping here in the malls and large designer stores is easier than browsing in Central and you'll find even more variety in merchandise (and price).

Near the Star Ferry terminal is the Harbour City mall, which together with the huge Festival Walk mall (Kowloon Tong stop on the MTR) should keep the most ardent shoppers happy for hours. If you happen to tire of even this vast selection though, go specialist and head for Canton Road nearby for designer gear from all over the globe. Kowloon's most famous shopping street is Nathan Road, but shoppers are advised to avoid the overpriced shops here and head further north to the area of Mong Kok, and specifically Sai Yeung Choi Street, HK's electronics centre.

In Kowloon you'll also find two branches of DFS Galleria, the store chain found all over East Asia, and which sells designer merchandise from the likes of Chanel, Prada and Gucci under the one roof. The stores are located at ChinaChem Plaza and Sun Plaza.

Markets
Hong Kong's markets have a superb reputation, and the most famous of the markets is undoubtedly the Temple Street Night Market (open 20h00-22h30, cnr Temple and Shanghai Streets, Kowloon). A more colourful market, also in Kowloon, is the Yeun Po Bird Market (Yuen Po Street, Mong Kok), which, although you're unlikely to buy, is worthwhile checking out.

In Yau Ma Tei, you'll find the Jade Market, on the corner of Battery and Kansu Streets. There are literally hundreds of stores all selling various pieces of jewellery and ornaments made from the green semi-transparent stone. Jade has long been considered to have healing properties and the best pieces can be very expensive. Cheaper samples will be discoloured but the most expensive stones should be perfectly green without any colour variation or gritty marks. Don't buy if you're in doubt and you should really have a jade expert with you if you're planning on splashing out.

For cheap clothes head for Fa Yuen Street where you can pick up great bargains although clothes are typically one-size fits all. People don't bargain here as the prices are rock bottom as it is. Fa Yuen has become a bit of a tourist attraction as there are numerous incense shops and stalls selling exotic miscellaneous goods.

In the Western District of Hong Kong look out for the Central and Western Markets, both of which sell a range of goods from tourist souvenirs to everyday household items.

What to Buy - Everything you can imagine is available in this Aladdin's Cave of shopping but some of the more popular categories that visitors might want to specifically check out include:

The serious antiques collector will head straight up to mainland China - and save a bucket of money - but for the idly curious, head up to Hollywood Road in Central, where there is a plethora of dealers and galleries. You might also check out Antique Express in Horizon Plaza, Aberdeen or the various branches of Chinese Arts and Crafts around HK. Cat Street in the Western District is always worth a browse for any antique nick-nacks.

Jade jewellery is distinctively Chinese and an exploration of the Jade market in Kowloon should throw up a few items that you might fancy, although whether you can afford them or not is another thing entirely

Electronics are a popular buy in upwardly mobile Hong Kong. Because there is no duty charged in HK, there are plenty of bargains to be found - but you must shop around to find them. Unless you've a good deal of time to spare comparing prices, you're best to stick to Mong Kok or the various shopping malls. Beware pirated software in the markets, and always make sure that you're buying equipment that will work back home.

HK is still one of the shopping capitals of the world, and this means plenty of choice in fashion and accessories. Almost all the top brands and boutiques are represented, but the traditional option has always been to get your clothes tailored. The more time the tailor spends with you (the more fittings you have), the better the quality and the higher the price.

Opening Hours - Shops in Hong Kong open early and shut late. The main stores and malls will open for trading at 09h30 and close at around 19h30 or later every day (including Sundays). Smaller stores and street traders will open their doors much earlier than this.