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The Old Western Market building

First be clear that when most tourists are talking about "Western Market" they mean the old building which is now a tourist attraction and now the actual wet market in the nearby Sheung Wan Municipal Services Building where you buy fish and fresh meat.

The Edwardian styled public market building was originally built as an extension to then existing Western Market, now demolished and replaced by the Municipal services bldg, and operated as a fresh food market until the 1980's when it was closed.

Due to the very good condition of the building it was declared a monument and preserved, which is great and unusual for Hong Kong!  The first floor area which used to be food stalls was converted into fabric and cloth stalls to house the stall holders who previously had worked out of the lanes in Central.

The lower floor now has a small cafe, a bakery, some antique and curio shops.  The upper floors are use for wedding receptions and balls.

One of the more unusual shops on the ground floor is one dedicated to fans of busses, particularly Hong Kong busses.  you can buy exact scale models of HK bus there as well as taxi and some other forms of transport.  Not to be missed if you are a "bus spotter".

Opening hours

Doors open by 9AM but some shops may not really be gonig until later.  Closes at 7PM though so not an evening place.  There are no fees to go into the market.

Getting there

• Take a tram for the best view.  Any tram going West, will do, you don't have to wait for one that says Western Market.  The other trams all go past it as well.  Get off at the Western Market stop,  you can see it clearly if you sit at the top front of the tram.
• Take the MTR to Sheung Wan station on the Island Line.

Nearby

The dried seafood sellers in Sheung Wan are quite something to see

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