(din seria O alta China: Hong Kong)

Desigur! Se spune chiar ca este unul dintre cele mai potrivite orase din lume pentru acest scop!

Mallul ifc, Central, Hong Kong

Mallul Elements, Kowloon, Hong Kong

Si asta pentru ca exista cate ceva pentru fiecare buzunar. Pentru cei cu bani putini sunt pietele stradale, precum Fa Yuen, pe care vi-am aratat-o deja si inca multe altele de acest gen

Pentru cei cu bani mai multi, mallurile elegante etaleaza marfuri pe masura. Reclamele, unele imense, te atrag spre diverse marci, cunoscute sau nu. Magazinele raman deschise pana tarziu si strazile respective sunt mereu aglomerate.

Pentru ca shoppingul nu intra printre obiectivele mele la Hong Kong, le-am privit doar pe dinafara, in drum spre diverse obiective, dar fiindca unele statii de metrou aveau iesire prin malluri, am privit mai atenta unul dintre ele: Mallul ifc (International Financial Centre). Aici se gaseste statia finala a Expresului care vine de la aeroport. Cateva pasarele suspendate leaga mallul de Sheung Wan (zona in care am locuit noi), Central si debarcaderul pentru ferry care merge in Macao. Peste 200 de branduri sunt prezente in mall. Mi-a atras atentia felul deosebit in care era decorat, pentru a atrage clientii si a-i face sa se simta bine. Florile naturale si obiectele de decoratiuni interioare respirau, toate, bunastare. La mall poti ajunge de la statia MTR Hong Kong, iesirea A.

Pe celalalt mal al Portului Victoria, mi-a atras atentia Mallul Elements. Si aici se afla o statie a Expresului de aeroport. Cladirea este legata de International Commerce Centre, unde poti urca la sky100 pentru o privire panoramica asupra portului. Ce m-a atras aici este stilul minimalist de decorare dar si impartirea in cinci zone distincte, reprezentand cele cinci elemente chinezesti: apa, aer, foc, lemn, pamant, metal. Ele sunt simbolizate prin culori si prin materialele folosite in zona respectiva. Mallul adaposteste si un supermarket imbietor, cu alimente organice, despre care voi mai vorbi mai tarziu. Sus, la etaj, pe o terasa larga, se afla o multime de restaurante, cu bucatarii diverse, asiatice si europene. Terasa poarta numele inspirat de Piata Civica. La acest mall poti ajunge cu metroul, statia Kowloon, iesirea C.

Voi vi-ati face cumparaturile la un asemenea mall?

12. Shopping in Hong Kong? (from the series A Different China: Hong Kong)

Why not? Sure! It is said Hong Kong is one of the best place for shopping, in the world. It offers something for everybody. Those with small money shop at the street markets like Fu Yuen, which I already showed you. Those with big money have a lot of elegant malls at disposal.

As my target in HK was not the shopping, I also saw them when passing by. But because MTR has stations in some of them, my attention was drawn by two malls.

The ifc Mall is located in Central (MTR Hong Kong Station, exit A). Over 200 international and local brands are represented here. Elevated walking passages connect the mall with the Sheung Wan area, Central and Macau ferry pier. I paid special attention to the way they decorated the mall, in order to attract customers. A lot of natural flowers (orchids), and objects for interior design are pleasant for the eyes and, meantime, express the wellbeing and opulence.

The Elements Mall, in Kowloon is connected with the International Commerce Centre building, where one may climb to sky100 for an amazing view over the harbor. I loved the minimalist style of the interior design, and the fact that this is based on the five Chinese elements: water, air, wood, earth, metal. These are represented by colors and the used.materials. On a large terrase upstairs, named The Civic Square, there are a lot of cafes and restaurants with cuisine from different countries, both European and Asian. You will find the mall traveling by subway, Kowloon Station, exit C.

There stations for the Airport Express in both malls .

Would you shop in such a mall?