Urban exploration can be a beautiful thing. You go to a new exotic destination where no one knows your name. You walk down the unfamiliar streets with strangers passing by, greeting you with strange looks (with a smile if you are lucky). That is when you realize you are no longer home; rather, you are free from the confinements of everyday life and everything you’ve known. You are in a whole new place, with its distinct culture, language and aroma pulsating through the city. For a moment, this sense of fear is subsided. Instead of feeling afraid, you feel electrified, curious, even liberated. You are ready to explore.

The Glowing Streets of Jordan

As a true urban explorer, we recommend all our guests to make a stop at the Temple Street Night Market in the Jordan district. Located near the centre of Kowloon, tucked conveniently between Jordan and Yau Ma Tei MTR stations, Temple Street thrives with energy emitting from the tourists and locals. As the sun begins to set, the city’s spirited market comes to life. From bustling market stalls selling trinkets and other glitzy souvenirs to open-air food stalls filled with authentic succulent dishes that can only be found in Hong Kong, the night market on Temple Street will truly open your eyes to Hong Kong’s local culture.

The Temple Street Night Market covers multiple city blocks, from Man Ming Lane in the north to Nanking Street in the south. Here, the market stalls serve quite a variety of goods that will allow you to bargain to your heart’s content. From cheap undergarments to playful souvenirs like the famous “I Love Hong Kong” t-shirts can be found in this sea of tents. If you veer away from the market stalls, you may stumble upon an array of eclectic individuals that make up its vibrant street: singers belting out classic Chinese tunes at Canton singing houses, fortune-tellers exchanging your fortunes for cash and herbalists bestowing upon you their Chinese medical practises that is said to cure all your body aches.  

The rich aroma of authentically local Hong Kong cuisines filling the air will lure you into one of the open-air food stalls, also known as “dai pai dongs”, where you are guaranteed a truly unique culinary experience. We suggest you try the classic Chinese Sweet and Sour Pork stir-fry dish made with juicy pieces of fried pork tenderloin, bell peppers, onions, and pineapples drenched in a tangy sweet and sour sauce. If you prefer something a little heavier, nothing warms the heart and body better during the cold winter nights than a bowl of Eggplant in a Minced Pork and Spicy Garlic Sauce. This is another delightful signature dish in Chinese cuisine that can be found right on Temple Street.

Without a doubt, the market is at its most vibrant between the times of 7pm to 10pm, so be sure to catch a glimpse of the action then. To reach the market, take the Jordan MTR station Exit C2 and walk along Bowring Street or Exit C from the Yau Ma Tei MTR station, then follow Man Ming Lane.

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