Jade Market
One of the fun stops for tourists in Hong Kong is the Jade Market.
You aren't going to find incredible bargains on priceless jade, but it can be a fun shopping day.
I gave Myles two HK$10 coins to buy what he liked, and he found two bracelets that were HK$10 a piece, one of which looked to him like it came from Jiangxi province. In fact, any time he saw blue and white ceramic beads he would ask the hawker, "Shi bu shi Jiangxi zuo de?" Was this made in Jiangxi? Don't be terribly impressed by our knowledge of regional ceramics; my friend Hai Xia is Jiangxiren and gave us a little present from her hometown of typical Jiangxi pottery. A few times since we been in markets where they have highlighted a few Jiangxi artisans, always of a blue and white pottery.
Normally we don't speak Mandarin when we are in Hong Kong, or rather, we don't expect to. But it seemed that most of the hawkers understood it when they couldn't speak English. A few times they quoted me a price for something, and even though I hate to bargain, I couldn't help but point out that the price at my local Ren Ren Le over in Shenzhen was easily half of what they initially asked. Tourists usually have fun with the whole idea of bargaining, so I know the merchants start high for that game, but I just don't have the patience for it. My mom got herself a bracelet and my dad a little zodiac token for hundreds less than they originally quoted, and at least I saved time by cutting to the chase.
You aren't going to find incredible bargains on priceless jade, but it can be a fun shopping day.
I gave Myles two HK$10 coins to buy what he liked, and he found two bracelets that were HK$10 a piece, one of which looked to him like it came from Jiangxi province. In fact, any time he saw blue and white ceramic beads he would ask the hawker, "Shi bu shi Jiangxi zuo de?" Was this made in Jiangxi? Don't be terribly impressed by our knowledge of regional ceramics; my friend Hai Xia is Jiangxiren and gave us a little present from her hometown of typical Jiangxi pottery. A few times since we been in markets where they have highlighted a few Jiangxi artisans, always of a blue and white pottery.
Normally we don't speak Mandarin when we are in Hong Kong, or rather, we don't expect to. But it seemed that most of the hawkers understood it when they couldn't speak English. A few times they quoted me a price for something, and even though I hate to bargain, I couldn't help but point out that the price at my local Ren Ren Le over in Shenzhen was easily half of what they initially asked. Tourists usually have fun with the whole idea of bargaining, so I know the merchants start high for that game, but I just don't have the patience for it. My mom got herself a bracelet and my dad a little zodiac token for hundreds less than they originally quoted, and at least I saved time by cutting to the chase.
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