Have you heard about the Jade Market in the middle of Hong Kong? This is a retail street located in the Kowloon region. Jade Market is famous for its large number of stores stocking jade stones of all sizes and shapes. Jade Market is divided into two main sections: The Eastern part and the western part. But most of the stores are located in the eastern region. Do not be deceived by the name Jade Street- this is not an open street market. At Jade Street, the stores are actually indoors. Apart from jade, you'll find many other types of precious stones here. Indeed, you can get all kinds of jewelry; amulets, bangles, pendants, good luck charms, and bracelets. This place also goes by the name Jade Hawker Bazaar or Yau Ma Tei.
The story of Jade Market really starts in the early 1950s; the place was first developed by migrated jade traders from Guangzhou. Therefore, the Hong Kong Jade Market started at Guangzhou Street with a few stalls located on the ground. Later on, in 1984, the government opened up the area to the north of Gansu Street and constructed the current Jade Market with more than 400 stalls or shops. Jade Market primarily serves people who want to buy affordable jewelry or jade stones. This means we should keep in mind that there cannot be too many stores here that sell top-quality jade. This is because the most expensive jewelry are usually kept by private collectors.
Just like you'd find in any other street market, you need to master a specific art- negotiation. This is the key to making the most out of your money. Beware while visiting Jade Market- most sellers are adept at creating an artificial discount as you negotiate the price. This is how they inflate the jewelry prices way above the normal. So, you can deal with this by bringing down the price, making it as low as possible. At the same time, some sellers try to offer fake jade to buyers in an attempt to defraud them. Buyers, therefore, must know how to differentiate between what's genuine and what's fake. Just inspect the jade as closely as possible. Try to see whether there are bubbles inside the jade. If you see some bubbles, this means the jade has been made impure. Such fraudsters use silicone or plastic to manipulate the jade. It's easy to identify the natural jade stone- it usually feels cold and smooth on touch; it also takes a little time to warm up. If you carried genuine jade, try to clink it with the stone being sold. If you hear a sound much like what is usually generated when you tap plastic beads against each other- it means the stone you're trying to buy is actually fake.
At Jade Market, you can buy jade ware of all varieties and grades. It's not advisable to visit the Jade Market at night. At such times the stores are usually closed. Most of them open between 10 am and 4 pm. As soon as they open their doors, the store owners are generally keen to do business. They also try to close a deal as fast as possible immediately after opening. Why? It seems many store owners believe it's "lucky" to try and sell merchandise as early as possible- it doesn't matter how small it is. They believe this is the secret to inviting "good luck" throughout the day. For this reason, those who visit the stores early in the morning have a great chance of swaying negotiations favorably and cutting a deal real quick.
How do you get to the Jade Market? You can hop onto the Hong Kong subway MTR and proceed to the Yau Ma Tei station; at this point, take the Exit C. Other travelers use another route- they go all the way to the Jordan MTR station and use Exit A. It doesn't matter much whether you arrive at the Yau Ma Tei or the Jordan station-both of these are located just a few minutes' walk from the Jade Market.
As noted, since the locals believe jade brings good luck, you'll likely see many locals (especially the elderly) wearing rings, bangles, pendants, and earrings made from jade. If you get high-quality jade from some of the street's permanent shops, you might also receive a certificate that indicates the jewelry's grade. Jade Market is a beautiful place to buy various gifts and souvenirs. Many booths sell drawings, Chinese fans, trinkets, and swords. Yes, even those who may not be interested in purchasing jade stone might still find it worth their time to take a walk down Hong Kong's Jade Street Market.