iShop Jardine’s Crescent

Hong Kong’s original tourist market in a little lane

Hong Kong’s oldest open-air bazaar

You might feel a little confused when you’re roaming around inside Jardine’s Bazaar. Here, you won't find any street food stalls or curio sellers, only big restaurants and office buildings. Curiously, the bazaar is actually located in the neighbouring Jardine’s Crescent, which is named after its narrow alley entrance.This little lane is only 200 metres long, and both of its sides are lined with stalls, packed cheek-to-jowl selling fashion apparel, kids wear, plants and even incense paper.

Souvenirs and foodie paradise

The bazaar has been around since the 1850s, catering to the working-class residents and warehouse workers. Before World War II, merchant houses were dealing in timber, steel and western merchandise here, later it became Hong Kong’s first tourist market. Today, Jardine’s Bazaar is also known as a foodie’s paradise. The street is a living museum of cuisines from all over the world. Try one of the old-timey eateries — such as well-known cha chaan teng Glee Café and Yan Wo Dou Bun Chong, which specialises in bean curd desserts — for a traditional and unpretentious taste of Hong Kong cuisine.

Lantern Island

At one end of the bazaar is Tang Lung Chau Market, a government-run wet market. Its name refers to Lantern Island - also known as Kellett Island - which used to be visible from the bazaar before the 1950s. Today, the island is no longer an island, and the shoreline that was at Jardine’s Bazaar is now at Gloucester Road.

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