Christmas in Hong Kong (part 2)

The festive season is here, even in Hong Kong. Christmas songs are being played in the MTR (underground train) stations. Here are a few more snapshots of what Christmas is like in this part of the world! 

Reindeer display in IFC, Central

Not sure what I think of the display in our local shopping mall in Tai Koo. Let me know what you think! 

The stage where no doubt there'll be some 
sort of Christmas performance

And a blue one too!

Massive gold-dressed fairy

            

Christmas in Hong Kong (part 1)

British people celebrate Christmas in a big way! It's interesting to see to what extent Christmas is celebrated in places where Christmas is not part of a centuries-old tradition. I'm living in Hong Kong and obviously this part of the East was under British rule until 1997, so it's logical that Christmas is celebrated a little. Last year I stayed here for Christmas and went out for Christmas lunch and all the shops were still open and it seemed that on Christmas Day local Hong Kongers were mainly shopping! I thought you might be interested in some of the photos of Hong Kong around Christmas time, so here you are...

Display in Pacific Place (shopping mall), Admiralty

Marks & Spencer window display, Central

Taxis parked outside decorated trees & shopping mall, Central

Emperor Bookstore comes to Hong Kong

One of the most famous - and longest - roads in Hong  Kong!

Recently a new book shop has opened in Hong Kong and it's been the talk of the town! Eslite (Chinese: 誠品書店) is one of the largest bookstore chains in Taiwan. Eslite was established in 1989 and its first store was located in Daan District, Taipei. They were the first to offer a 24-hour bookstore in Taiwan, which attracted night-time readers. They are continuing with the trend here in Hong Kong; this store will open around the clock Thursdays - Saturdays. 






This new store in Hong Kong is Eslite's first venture abroad. It's positioned in a very prominent area: in Hysan Place, Causeway Bay. I went to check it out on Saturday afternoon. I'd never been to Hysan Place before and it is extremely plush. No great surprise that the high class book shop, offering far more than just books, has chosen this location. 

Eslite is situated on floors 8, 9 and 10 and in order to get there I took the lift to floor 12 (not possible to get out on floor 10!) and worked my way down.  

Trying to get into the shop!

I had not mentally prepared myself for the crowds that would be there! Not only do I never normally go shopping on a Saturday (I normally work on a Saturday), but this shop really was attracting the footfall that it was hoping for! 

One of the many packed bookshelves. 

Now the largest bookstore in town (41,000sq ft), Eslite carries more than 100,000 titles on its shelves and up to a third of those titles are English ones. 

An almost empty shelf of classics -
maybe they were proving to be the most popular titles? 

I had hoped to visit the tea room, but unfortunately there were no available tables. I'll have to go back on a weekday sometime soon to try again. Not only does Eslite sell copious amount of books, but there were also gifts, gadgets, leather wear and toiletries on sale.  

Directions: Causeway Bay MTR station, exit F. 8-10/F, Hysan Place, 500 Hennessy Road, 3419 6750. www.eslite.com