How to Shop Like a Hong Kong Local
If Washington, D.C. is all about politics and Nashville is all about country music, Hong Kong’s favorite pastime is easily shopping. We caught up with Jacquelyn Tryde, marketing assistant for the swank Four Seasons Hong Kong. (Photo above: Thinkstock)
If Washington, D.C. is all about politics and Nashville is all about country music, Hong Kong’s favorite pastime is easily shopping. We caught up with Jacquelyn Tryde, marketing assistant for the swank Four Seasons Hong Kong in the Central District — a chic native, and cultural ambassador for guests who want to learn more about regional cuisine and shopping.
The hotel is located in the Central District, a corporate area that’s home to banks, and yet—with its dead-sexy rooftop pool lined by curtained cabanas—it manages to feel as much about vacation as it does about business.
Jacquelyn likes to start her tours right in the neighborhood. “In some cities, the financial district is dead and there’s a lack of things to do. People work and then leave as soon as they get off. But in Hong Kong, this is the happening scene.”
In this town where shopping is king, she gets tired of hearing people recommend the Ladies’ Market, with its hard sells, and the Jade Market, with its “goods of questionable quality.” And she understands that, for real shoppers, the flower market and bird market aren’t terribly fruitful for travelers.
Jacquelyn loves mixing high-end pieces with cheap finds and bargain scores. Her own style is a unique blend of the cultures she embodies. “Mom’s Chinese, Dad’s from Denmark,” she explains. “When I am with my Mom we talk in Cantonese, and when Dad enters the room we switch to English.” (Photo above: Sherry Eisenberg)
Still, her unique mix of East and West isn’t out of place in Hong Kong, which is often described in just that way.
“Homegrown Hong Kong girl here,” she nods proudly when I ask her if shopping is her favorite hobby. Here, her favorite finds:
G.O.D.: The name of this local brand, which sells everything from clever flip flops to playful Zodiac mugs, Double Happiness frames, and colorful glass chopstick rests, is play on a Cantonese phrase that means to live better. The English translation: Goods of Desire, and there may be no better place to pick up unique little gifts before heading home.
PMQ: This former apartment building in the cool SoHo neighborhood now serves as a multi-use work/sell space for local crafters and entrepreneurs. The mix leans heavily toward designers, and you can catch the next generations of artisans on their way up. Mondavi’s glamorous nightgowns and robes, for example, combine lots of black lace and saturated colors in elegant designs and sumptuous fabrics. The building is also home to a variety of bakeries, ice cream shops, and lunch spots and the courtyard often hosts live musicians on the weekends. The ground floor is home to more established brands, including G.O.D and Vivienne Tam.
Written by Sherri Eisenberg, Yahoo Travel
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