Sheung Wan

Above: a streetful of bird's nest and shark's fin shops in Sheung Wan.

Sheung Wan on Hong Kong Island is a colorful area rich with history and local flavors. In fact you can smell it - it is known for its bird's nest and shark's fin shops, both wholesale and retail, and dried seafood. It's also one of the few places where there're still some old style stores that sell rice by the catty (1 catty = 1.33 lbs.).

The historical landmark Western Market, converted from a wet market where the locals used to shop for live fish and poultry and other groceries, is now a small shopping center. But unfortunately, it does not really capture the flavor of the area - though the building is worth a few photos.