Name(English): Goldfish Market
Name(Chinese): 金魚街
Category: Culture and History, Major Attractions
Address(English): Tung Choi Street North, Mong Kok, Kowloon
Address(Chinese): 九龍旺角通菜街的北段
Address Google Map Link: https://goo.gl/maps/h4Keo37QBQVdkx4Z8
Address longitude and latitude: 22.322627145419798, 114.16981676610789
Nearest MTR Station: Prince Edward Station Exit B2
Nearest MTR Station Google Map Link: https://goo.gl/maps/wP4qwNLNv99JqswSA
Nearest MTR Station longitude and latitude: 22.323939145422074, 114.16900262910862
How far from the nearest MTR Station: 5 mins from Prince Edward Station Exit B2
Opening Hours:
MON 11:00 – 20:00
TUE 11:00 – 20:00
WED 11:00 – 20:00
THU 11:00 – 20:00
FRI 11:00 – 20:00
SAT 11:00 – 20:00
SUN 11:00 – 20:00
Recommended Time of Visit: 11:00am – 5:00pm
Accessibility Note: Easy access
Goldfish Market, located at the center of Hong Kong, is full of different kinds of tropical freshwater and marine fish. Not just goldfish, reptiles, amphibians or other supplementary items like vivarium and water plants for petting a fish can also be found there.
Why goldfish? Indeed, It has been taking an important position in Chinese culture because of the feng shui, a traditional Chinese practice to harmonize human beings with their surrounding environment. Goldfish, origin from China, has been an auspicious symbol. Gold indicates money and wealth; while fish in Chinese sounds like yu, which means “abundance”. Therefore, Chinese not only loves to pet goldfish/fish at home but also has the practice of having a dish of fish during the Chinese New Year. This brings the blessing of “an abundance year” ahead.
When you get to the Goldfish Market, you may find fishes are either in the tank or in the plastic bags in the Goldfish Market. The number on plastic bag indicates the price of the fish(es) of that plastic bag. On average, one bag of goldfish(es) costs HKD 30 – 50. This is nothing, comparing to the rent the shop owner is paying to the property developer in Hong Kong.
Hong Kong, a well-known capitalist city, is getting harder to accommodate the “small business” like marine fish trading. In presence of the rising land and rental price, numerous fish stores are forced to leave and close their business. They need to sell around 4,000 bags goldfish just to pay off the rent which can be up to HKD 100,000 (or USD 13,000) every month.
To avoid the skyrocketing rent, a lot of stores have moved out from the group floor, and relocated to the upper floors or in the narrow alleys. You may want to check them out when visiting the Goldfish Market if you happen to fancy some special animals like reptiles and amphibians.
Please don’t feel weird when seeing many dogs and cats shops in Goldfish Market. Since a dog and cat can cost more than HKD 20,000, doing the dogs and cats business is definitely more sustainable than the goldfish business.
Here are some useful tips for you to visit the Goldfish market:
- You may not be able to find the price tag of some of the sea creatures in Goldfish Market. It is because those are rare and valuable species, like for example, a Golden Coin Turtle is priced at HKD 40,000 50,000.
- It is recommended not to take pictures inside the stores. The owners do not really like it and It is widely known that their service and temper are not very nice as well.
- If you happen to be in the Goldfish Market in the morning (~10am), you may see them dumping some fishes away. They are usually the low-priced unwanted fishes.
Apart from the Goldfish Market, Flower Market and Bird Market are also around the corner. You should visit them when going to the Goldfish Market.
Start your day in Hong Kong in Mong Kok!
#mongkong #goldfish #goldfishmarket #discoverhongkong #explorehongkong #visithongkong #hongkongtravel #ilovehongkong #attractions #hongkongattractions
