Harboring Secrets.docVIP

Harboring Secrets 　　Hong Kong has long been renowned for worldly cosmopolitanism and savvy shopping， evidenced by the forest of skyscrapers that make up its iconic skyline. Recent years have seen the city become one of the most expensive places to live in Asia， suffering from a cutthroat real-estate market that thrives on gentrification ?C and the cultural drought that often comes with it. 　　Not so fast. While the commercial tide is certainly still rising， a foray in between the glittering malls will quickly offer a glimpse of Hong Kong’s creative side. 　　Start with Prince Edward. This district is only a few subway stops north of the commercial crossroads of Central， and can be described as a loose-knit patchwork made up of the diverse fabrics of Hong Kong life. Even well into midday， this working-class neighborhood is alive with customers spilling out of noisy cha chaan teng teahouses and wholesale stores. While Prince Edward is famous for its tourist attractions such as Goldfish Street and the Flower Market， relatively affordable rents offer fertile ground for more creative endeavors. 　　The space around the Flower Market in particular offers delightful strolling： While people have been selling flowers here for over a century， the area is well on its way to becoming a full-blown retail destination. 　　Hidden among the blooms is the café Hay Fever， which offers great pulls of espresso and lattes in a shop concealed among the blooms. There’s no Internet， and the quiet space encourages visitors to linger and， quite literally， smell the roses. 　　Yet that quiet sensibility belies the offbeat spirit of the neighborhood. Around the corner is Zen in Five Seasons， a teahouse that skillfully utilizes the high ceilings of a restored art-deco building. The store sells bottled tea bearing a tag explaining how the various medicinal botanicals in the brew might treat what ails you ?C I enjoyed an excellent takeaway blend of red jujubes and brown sugar， intended to allevi