What Asian cities have similar luxury shopping streets as 5th Ave or the Champs Elysées?

[pokistic]

Yes I am ignorant on to luxury shopping streets in Asia cities, if there are any. So sorry for not knowing enough. I want to see attractive streets or Avenues. Photos recommended. I notice that many Asian cities are becoming so modern with tons of new construction. But has is it developed a luxury shopping street like other world class cities such as NYC, London or Paris and among many others? Where do the Rich and tourist go to shop luxury goods? I hope is not in some mall and hope the streets are attractive enough to attract the rich. Honk Kong? Tokyo? Soul? Shanghai? Others? If not, why not? These cities seem safe enough (even safer than western cities) to have such attractive shopping streets for the rich.

Oh and photos please.

[dnobsemajdnob]

HK has a few nice shops at street level, but as I recall, the nice stores are in the mall. The same is true in KL, Bangkok, and Beijing.

[edubejar]

The Champs Elysées is not really an avenue of luxury shopping. That is a misconception. In Paris, luxury shopping is centered on Avenue Montaigne and Rue du Faubourg St-Honoré, as well as Avenue George V and Place Vendome.

[dlbritnot]

Shanghai's waterfront is poised to be a new pedestrian center with the CBD skyline right across the river...right now its a freeway that obstructs great pedestrian connection to the water's edge.

[Skybean]

Originally Posted by pokistic

Honk Kong? Tokyo? Soul? Shanghai?

Hong Kong and Seoul.

In Hong Kong there are shops in the podiums of highrise buildings. Virtually every highrise has retail at base level.

High end retail can be found in Causeway Bay, Central and Tsim Sha Tsui districts.

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[teddybear]

I think Ginza and Omotesando in Tokyo; and Orchard Rd. in Singapore are famous too.

[Skybean]

This is how it's done in Tokyo. From street level it looks awesome.

Originally Posted by japanese001

[hkskyline]

Ginza is quite good.

[_00_deathscar]

Originally Posted by pokistic

Others? If not, why not? These cities seem safe enough (even safer than western cities) to have such attractive shopping streets for the rich.

I think Skybean has covered Hong Kong and Tokyo quite well, so I'll stick to answering this question.

I've heard several reasons, including (this may be a half-truth ~ I certainly don't feel this way...others might) Asians feel street-shopping is 'lowly' (as in it is comparable to street-markets, (which don't exactly sell high-end goods), and that malls are posh and new and represent the nouveau-riche.

I think the real reason is far simpler however - weather. Especially in South East Asian cities and Hong Kong, the weather all year round (summer in Hong Kong) is hot and humid. Not exactly ideal for street-shopping for high-end (or any for that matter) goods. You don't want to be walking into a Giorgio Armani boutique asking to try on a US$2,000 suit when you're sweating like a pig. In fact, you probably don't even want to be walking into any of these stores when this is the case.

From the pictures shown in Hong Kong (and this applies to Singapore as well), although these stores have street level entrances and may be considered avenues, they are also all linked on the 'inside' with internal walkways and through air conditioned shopping malls that ensure the best or ideal choice for the customer - you can pick to walk outside or inside if you wish.

In Hong Kong, you can find 'street-level' shops in Causeway Bay (Lee Gardens), Central (flagship stores of most top-end brands) and Tsim Sha Tsui (also has several flagship stores).

Aside from this, Pacific Place in Admiralty and Sogo in Causeway Bay are malls/department stores with a few base-level entrances.

[_00_deathscar]

Oh Skybean - you missed out the gorgeous Armani Ginza.



[img]http://*************************/tokyo/jpgs/armani_ginza_tower_mfa071008_ramonprat_14.jpg[/img]

[pokistic]

Wow! The luxury retail scene looks amazing! And Tokyo just looks awesome! Hong Kong is getting some nice stores too.

[pokistic]

Originally Posted by _00_deathscar

I think Skybean has covered Hong Kong and Tokyo quite well, so I'll stick to answering this question.

I've heard several reasons, including (this may be a half-truth ~ I certainly don't feel this way...others might) Asians feel street-shopping is 'lowly' (as in it is comparable to street-markets, (which don't exactly sell high-end goods), and that malls are posh and new and represent the nouveau-riche.

I think the real reason is far simpler however - weather. Especially in South East Asian cities and Hong Kong, the weather all year round (summer in Hong Kong) is hot and humid. Not exactly ideal for street-shopping for high-end (or any for that matter) goods. You don't want to be walking into a Giorgio Armani boutique asking to try on a US$2,000 suit when you're sweating like a pig. In fact, you probably don't even want to be walking into any of these stores when this is the case.

From the pictures shown in Hong Kong (and this applies to Singapore as well), although these stores have street level entrances and may be considered avenues, they are also all linked on the 'inside' with internal walkways and through air conditioned shopping malls that ensure the best or ideal choice for the customer - you can pick to walk outside or inside if you wish.

In Hong Kong, you can find 'street-level' shops in Causeway Bay (Lee Gardens), Central (flagship stores of most top-end brands) and Tsim Sha Tsui (also has several flagship stores).

Aside from this, Pacific Place in Admiralty and Sogo in Causeway Bay are malls/department stores with a few base-level entrances.

Thanks for the explanation. That could make total sense.

[el_norte]

What about the Bund in Shanghai?

[BarbaricManchurian]

These are not exactly "luxury" shopping streets, but Binjiang Dao and Heping Lu in Tianjin are pedestrianized shopping streets with a mix of all different levels of shopping: downmarket street venders and street markets off to the side, middle market Wal-Mart, local department stores, and small clothing stores (foreign and domestic), and luxury Parkson (no other luxury stores yet). Here are some of my pics:

[goschio]

Hong Kong is the most impressive IMO. Really want to go there to have a look.

[The Chemist]

Originally Posted by el_norte

What about the Bund in Shanghai?

The Bund isn't really a shopping street.

The real high class street shopping in Shanghai is found on West Nanjing Road and on Central Huaihai Road.

[teddybear]

^oh that photos of tokyo are just so cool!

[Kensingtonian]

the area of Taipei i lived in had a bunch of high-end retail shops on the street. there was Valantino, Gucci, Dior, Luis Vuitton, and others... i didn't pay that much attention because i didn't really care.

anyway, it's just as humid there as it is in Hong Kong. also, every season seemed to be some type of wet season, so the weather can't be much worse than it is in Taipei. come to think of it, i don't think there were any malls in Taipei. even the new shopping area around Taipei 101 had a lot more interaction with the outside than a typical mall does.

but yeah, if i can just make a sweeping generalization: they love their designer labels over there.

[Juan Pilgrim]

Ginza in Tokyo is unbelievable.

[manila_eye]

orchard road of singapore.