For most of the year, Tai Kiu Market in Yuen Long is a regular Hong Kong wet market at which residents in the area can pick up seafood, meat, fruits, vegetables, and household odds and ends. But in the run-up to the Mid-Autumn Festival, a part of the market transforms into what is popularly known as Lantern Street. Find out more about this hotspot, famous among locals and visitors for lanterns and great Instagram clicks!
What is Lantern Street?
Lantern Street is a section of Tai Kiu Market in Yuen Long, a neighbourhood in the northwestern part of Hong Kong’s New Territories. Every year, before the Mid-Autumn Festival, visitors flock to this part of the indoor market to check out the floor-to-ceiling displays of lanterns here, and even buy them for when they go moon-gazing, a practice usually observed on the first day of the festival. There are usually around 1,000 lanterns on sale at the market, and they come in an array of shapes and sizes — from the conventional variety to more modern designs — and are made by local merchants.
What kinds of lanterns will I find in Yuen Long?
The vendors at Lantern Market sell traditional white rabbits on wheels and accordion lanterns with Chinese designs, but the more popular ones are sequinned goldfish, cellophane aeroplanes, and animals like elephants, whales, owls, and dinosaurs. The market operates from 6am-8pm every day, but the lantern stalls may open a bit later. Since this spot is popular for Instagram reels and pics, we recommend going on a weekday, preferably during the first half of the day.
The lanterns cost anything from HK$60-HK$120, depending on the material they’re made of and how long they take to create. For instance, cellophane lanterns take longer to make as the material is more fragile and needs to be handled with care. Traditionally, people used candles to light their lanterns, but now they buy LED lights (HK$5 each) as they’re safer.
How do I get to Lantern Street?
Take the Tuen Ma Line to the Long Ping MTR Station (Exit D), from where the market a 6-minute walk via Yuen Long On Ning Road. You can also take the Light Rail to Hong Lok Road (Routes 761P, 615, 610 and 614) in Yuen Long, from where it’s a 3-minute-walk. Depending on when you go, the entrance can be hard to find, so keep your eyes peeled for lantern displays adorning a doorway on Kiu Tak Path. Head into the market and walk past seafood and vegetable stalls until you see the kaleidoscopic lantern displays.
| ADDRESS | Tai Kiu Market, G/F, 2 Kiu Lok Square, Yuen Long |
| OPENING HOURS | 6am-8pm |
| ENTRY FEE | Free |
Header image credits: Hong Kong Tourism Board
