The streets of Mong Kok are always crowded with the youth of Hong Kong. A concrete playground undeniably run by Generation Z - find loud music, fashion and culture taking over the busy streets.
Hong Kong is an incredibly complex organism, a vibrant cosmopolitan city, with a history deep-rooted in Chinese confucian culture and tradition. It is often referred to as the window into Asia, a financial hub that attracts people from all around the world. However, if you explore beyond the bright and seductive neon lights of Wan Chai, and the many tourist attractions in Hong Kong you’ll find the true faces of the city, with Mong Kok being one of our favourite spots. Browse the busy streets and spot the latest fashion trends, it’s time to talk Mong Kok pop culture.
Mong Kok: We love you!
Part of Kowloon, Mong Kok is located in the centre of Hong Kong, with train lines and buses readily available to transport you to the far corners of Tsuen Wan, Tseung Kwan O and directly to Central. The suburb is well-renowned for its many markets and streets where you can shop cheap clothes, shoes, fake designer bags, gadgets, and a wide range of knick knacks. At night, you’ll find musicians and street performers from various music genres including Chinese folk music, Cantonese-pop, Mandarin-pop and English-pop. And all of these things mixed together give the area its unique charm.
Mong Kok pop culture
The streets that were once dominated by the youth obsessed with Japanese pop culture in the early 90s and 2000s, has now been taken over by a new generation of teenagers who adore Korean everything; from fashion, to beauty and music. Local students and young adults gather with their friends to eat at street food corners, the many restaurants and Chinese dessert stores. Find them socialising and shopping for affordable fashion goods that express their individuality and sense of style.
Read all about our favourite shops at the Sino Centre.
The fashion in Mong Kok
You will find a wide range of fashion trends in Mong Kok, from vintage wear, to local designers to bold and unapologetic street style – nothing is off limits. Head over to the Trendy Zone for pieces that are reminiscent of classic Mong Kok style wear (MK style) including Japanese high fashion items and the latest limited edition sneakers. CTMA Centre is a student paradise offering everything you will ever want and need in the one place including technological gadgets, toy shops, figurines and beauty products.
A dark history
However, beneath the surface of this bright, vibrant, bold and fearless youth driven culture, lies multiple stories of a dark underbelly. As popularly portrayed in Cantonese films such as One Nite in Mong Kok and the Young and Dangerous series, the area is also known to locals as a place run by numerous triad groups with dealings in prostitution, drugs and gambling. The extent of these triad groups’ power are not publicly known in the modern day, however it does certainly add to Mong Kok’s allure.
