Yau Ma Tei is an area in the Yau Tsim Mong district. It was one of the first areas to be developed after the British acquired Kowloon in 1860.
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One of the most famous street in Yau Ma Tei area is Shanghai Street, which is one of the oldest
streets in Hong Kong. Many of the buildings were built long ago and some of the shops have
existed for decades.
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Eatery in Yau Ma Tei |
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Yau Ma Tei is one of the older more colourful areas of Hong Kong. Busy, crowded, with a very Chinese urban feel with open-air markets, temples and lively activity.
Typical Hong Kong grocery shops are opening until very late in
the night.
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Grocery shop in Yau Ma Tei |
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Beggars are also more frequent in Tsim Sha Tsui than in
other parts of the town. Actually some people are controlled by a gang of beggars.
They recruited old people from China to come to Hong Kong with three month visas
in order to beg.
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Beggar |
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Yau Ma Tei is a mix of residential and retail construction.
It is a high density residential zone with many old stand-alone buildings.
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Yau Ma Tei buildings |
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As the night comes, brilliant lights from sauna bathrooms
filled out some streets in Yau Ma Tei.
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Red light neon |
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Yau Ma Tei district is old-style Hong Kong including a red-light aspect with
karaoke, disco...
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Red light neon |
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Hong Kong government tried to tackle the brothels by banning suggestive billboards and signs
that display advertisement over the streets. Operators are now using a system of colour fluorescent
lights to be more discreet.
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Red light neon |
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Many brothels in Yau Ma Tei and Mongkok are disguised as "karaoke bars".
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Red light neon |
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The most common types of gambling among youngsters were mahjong and card games
as well as Mark Six and soccer betting.
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Mahjong parlor |
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This area is famous for karaoke boxes, massage parlors, brothels, discos and bars where
young Chinese girls and boys hang around.
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Red light neon |
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Most famous Hong Kong Dispensaries are Watson's and
Mannings.
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Dispensary |
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Temple street market is a worldwide famous night market, open from 4pm to midnight daily.
Temple Street is featuring rows of brightly lit stalls hawking a variety of inexpensive items
for men and women.
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Temple Street Night Market |
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Stalls are selling goods including clothing, pens, watches, CDs, cassettes,
electronic gadgets, designer bag copies, hardware and luggage.
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Temple Street Night Market |
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Temple Street Night Market includes many goods from China.
Bargaining is mandatory.
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Temple Street Night Market |
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Selling designer bag copies or fake watches copies is forbidden in Hong Kong so
vendors may just show a catalogue for tourists to select.
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Temple Street Night Market |
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Temple Street Night Market is one of the liveliest night markets in Kowloon.
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Temple Street Night Market |
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Temple Street is named after the Tin Hau Temple.
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Temple Street Night Market |
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Around the square in front of Yau Ma Tei Tin Hau Temple, there is a night market.
Many stalls are selling traditional Chinese antiques, jade and toys.
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Street Market |
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Every night there is a market selling many different kinds of "made in china" products including clothes, bags, accessories, VCD and toys in Temple Street.
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Around the square in front of Yau Ma Tei Tin Hau Temple, there is a night market.
Every night there is a market selling many different kinds of products including antiquities,
jade, souvenirs, decorations, VCD and toys.
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Night Market |
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Many astrologers outdoor stalls can be found around Market Street in
Yau Ma Tei.
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Astrologer on Market Street |
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Around the Tin Hau temple, visitors can see fortune tellers and professional Chinese chess players.
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Fortunetellers lure passerby with the temptation to read their future.
This can be done by palm or face reading.
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Astrologer on Market Street |
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The public square in front of the Yau Ma Tei Tin Hau temple is always
busy day and night.
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Street hairdresser |
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Amateur Chinese Opera performers sing on every corner.
They performed most nights along the darkened alley south of the temple.
It is free to listen, but there is a charge to take a photograph.
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Amateur Chinese Opera performers |
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The public square in front of Tin Hau temple is a favorite gathering place for
Chinese chess players.
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Chinese chess players |
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Professional chess players can gather together until very late
beside their kerosene lamps.
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Chinese chess players |
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Every night there is a market on Temple Street selling many
different kinds of products targeted for tourists.
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Temple Street Market |
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During daytime, Temple Street is opened to cars. Stalls are closed and
it is quite quiet. Animation starts evening time.
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Temple Street Market |
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Click to see more pictures |
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