Hong Kong’s famed Temple Street Night Market, which has seen a slump in visitors despite anti-Covid measures being eased earlier this year, will get a new lease of life when it unveils 30 food stalls and live performances in November.
Temple Street, which was one of the city’s busiest flea markets, first gained popularity in the 1960s for its cheap shopping options, street food, and fortune-teller stalls. However, several media reports state that the once bustling tourist attraction is now quiet, with only 100 active stalls — half its usual number.
The market will get revitalised as part of the Night Vibes Hong Kong campaign, which aims to infuse new life into the territory’s after-hours economy. The Hong Kong Tourism Board earlier stated that the hotspot will host “food markets and festive events”, but did not announce further details.
And now, according to Raymond Chan, the chairman of the Yau Ma Tei Temple Street Association of Hawkers, the market’s new avatar will be inspired by the Shilin Night Market in Taiwan. Chan, who spoke with RTHK on Monday, said that there will be 30 stalls selling street food at the market — 12 of which will be run by restaurants on Temple Street, while the rest will be operated by establishments from neighbouring streets.
There will also be live street performances, but there is reportedly a debate about how long the market will remain open, according to a report in the Hong Kong Free Press, despite the official closing time of the market being 11pm at the earliest. In a Hong Kong Economic Journal article, Hong Kong Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism of Hong Kong Kevin Yeung said that the market’s closing time would also have to consider the needs of the residents who live in the areas surrounding the market.
Header image credits: Raymond Tam via Canva
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