Follow Hong Kong immigration to experience, travel, and explore Hong Kong—all in our Hong Kong guide. Are you still worried about your travel route in Hong Kong? Are you still troubled by the high cost of living in the mainland? Are you still distressed by the high price tags on diamond rings? Then take a look at the comprehensive Hong Kong shopping guide we have compiled for you!
After clearing customs at the Lo Wu Control Point, there are currency exchange shops on the second floor of the arrival building that offer better rates than banks. Be sure to prepare an Octopus card before you arrive, as it is very convenient to use in Hong Kong.
Customs clearance time may be extended on weekends due to increased passenger flow. Then, take the MTR to the first stop, "Tsim Sha Tsui," which requires two transfers and takes about 45 minutes. It is recommended not to take a taxi, as the meters in Hong Kong run very quickly. In fact, the MTR is very convenient, and you do not need to buy a map in advance, as they are provided for free when you clear customs.
Upon arriving in the Tsim Sha Tsui area, first find "Lung Shing Dispensary," which has the cheapest cosmetics. "My Beauty Diary" masks are 43 HKD per box, which is 6 HKD cheaper than at Sasa. Clinique mascara samples and Estée Lauder lipstick samples are each 6 HKD cheaper than at other stores. In fact, this area is a favorite among locals. There is also the Rise Shopping Arcade nearby, which has many imported goods. 90% of the cosmetics in the store are not seen in the mainland, with only a few well-known brands such as Lancôme, Estée Lauder, and Clarins. Therefore, you can brush up on your brand knowledge online before you go to be more targeted in your purchases.
After leaving Lung Shing, head to the DFS Duty-Free store. Along the way, you will pass Bonjour, Sasa, and Colourmix cosmetics specialty stores. Before you come, you can check the prices of the brands you are interested in on Taobao and keep a record for easy comparison, so you can buy cosmetics at even better prices.
After comparing prices on the first floor of DFS, the Lancôme sets offer the best value after discounts, while Estée Lauder, L'Occitane, and Benefit are not cheaper than online prices after discounts. Armani and Bobbi Brown are priced similarly to online.
The second floor of DFS mainly sells leather bags. At the Burberry counter, some styles are 30% off, and if you have a discount card, you can get an additional 25% off.
Hong Kong has a wide variety of gold and diamond jewelry, though there are fewer pure platinum styles. However, the price difference for platinum compared to the mainland is the largest (613 RMB/gram in the mainland vs. 401 HKD/gram in Hong Kong). Finally, I chose this necklace at Chow Sang Sang. The photo does not do it justice; it weighs 9.71 grams and cost less than 4,000 RMB, whereas in the mainland, the craftsmanship fee alone would be at least 700 RMB. If you have a discount card number, the craftsmanship fees can also be discounted. As for gold jewelry, there are fewer baby styles, and the variety is not as extensive as in the mainland, but the gold price is very favorable.
Please note that there is a jewelry store in Hong Kong called "Yue Gang Ao Zhan Chow Sang Sang," which claims to be the "older brother" of the mainland's Chow Sang Sang. However, compared to Chow Tai Fook, the refinement of the craftsmanship is much better than that of Yue Gang Ao Zhan Chow Sang Sang.
When returning home from your trip, you can also browse the duty-free shops at the airport while waiting for your flight. They have both food and daily necessities, and the prices are significantly lower than in the mainland, with various discounts available.
Warm reminder: The air conditioning in Hong Kong shops and hotels is very strong. If you plan to take children to Hong Kong, it is recommended to bring a thin jacket and a small towel. When indoors, you can place the towel behind the child's back to prevent them from sweating and catching a cold.