This is part 2 of a 2 part blog. I have so many photos to post that I might slow down the loading time!
On Yen Chow Street is the Dragon Centre. This is a 9 level multi storey shopping centre with a roller coaster on its top floor. You will be disappointed though because it’s been decommissioned many years ago. I have been here for the past 17 years and have never seen it in operation. Inside you will find a few department stores, Wellcome supermarket, Mc Donald’s, a few independent boutiques, restaurants, cashpoint, and small vendors selling traditional candy such as Dragon Beard Candy, Peanut Candy Snaps, and Mochi. I love coming here only because of the 2 floors I am about to show you. Level 5 and Level 7 is all you need to know.
There’s a Jumping Gym close to the top floor. Jumping Gym is where my husband’s nieces like to hang out. They can spend hours here playing with the slot, and claw machines while I go shopping for supplies.
There are toilets near by but they are usually not clean, massive queues, or no toilet paper. Better luck in the other toilets on the lower floors. I have stopped using public toilets in SSP unless I am very, very desperate!
This is a great place for children and adults to come for stationery. Probably the best place in SSP since there are also handicraft stores in an indoor air-con complex. All the other shops require you to step into the heat.
You need to pop into the Apple Mall, located on the 5th floor and 7th floor. These stalls are separated into tiny independent units. Each unit selling products or services. I usually come to the 5th floor for stationery and crafts but for the kids there’s toys, anime, squishy, food, candy, clothing, hair appliances, make-up, small craft section, packaging for gifts, gifts, nail and hair parlours. I find the 7th floor has more specialised craft supplies. You could tell the difference between the 2 floors by the flooring. 5th has multi woodgrain coloured laminates. The 7th floor has lighter wood laminates.
Don’t be fooled by these photos. During peak hours this place is so packed, you will not see the floor! The 5th floor seems to be the worse since vendors try to put their stock in the aisles. Try to avoid the weekends and after school hours at all cost. Some of these photos were taken around 9pm and it’s on the 7th floor where there seems to be more space.
On the 7th floor in the Apple Mall you will find a few craft shops, a nice coffee shop tucked away in the corner. Some baking equipment if you walk straight in and turn right when you get to the end. This stall also sells random products such as stationery, and toys.
You will just have to go to every store to explore because there are just so much stuff in here. Around the corner and a few aisles down you should find a stall called Cutie Creative No………………….. They sell all things squishy! They have a huge selection of moulds for making UV resin jewellery. A good selection Fimo clay is sold but do check to see if it has gone too hard. A small collection of MT tape, fleece for making felt crafts, modelling cream, coloured glue sticks, candy canes are a few items I have seen in this stall.
Cutie Creative also has a huge collection of Japanese candy kits in the back aisle. The first time I saw these kits were on YouTube, many years ago. I used wonder where I could get my hands on some of these candy kits. Voila!
Do shop about if you really want to get your hands of some of these Japanese candy kits. I have seen some on the 5th floor, in the first aisle next to the escalators. The price could be cheaper. I have bought these kits before but from another shop. The nieces like to make their own candy, and they seem to love eating it as well as making it. I have yet to try them so I can’t tell you how good they are.
On the 5th but mostly on the 7th floor, there are a few washi tape stores dotted about. You will also find a lot of stores selling a random selection of products.
If you walk along the aisles, you will see plenty of stores selling items from stationery to the latest MT or Making Tapes. They are everywhere. Toy figurines to plush soft toys adorn shelves. I even found a stall that they can custom make figurines to your face/photo. These are great for gifts or wedding toppers. Prices aren’t too cheap either. They start from around HKD$900+ for a single figure and depending on the size and what is being made.
If you walk along the back you will come to a really cool shop that sells journal/diary products including tons of washi tape. They also have a new shop around the corner that just opened in 2017 selling their own branded washi tape. There is a huge variety but it is a shame I don’t find many use for. They also sell diary inserts, notebooks, fancy paperclips and stationery.
As for woodcraft personalised products, I have found 2 locations. 1 at a stand, on the 1st floor near the elevators at the back. The second location is next door to Cutie Creative on the 7th floor.
This is a great stand to have your own personalised stickers made. They do it on the spot. The stickers are even waterproof. Great for labelling children’s clothing, accessories, books and stationery.
Please note when visiting the Dragon Centre, these units keep relocating and vendors are on short term leases. They might be here this week and gone another. If you can’t find the stall just walk around and you might find a similar one selling similar products.
I hope this has given you some relief when coming to SSP, or to avoid! The hubs and the kids now have places to keep themselves occupied while you shop in peace. There is so much to do here. There is no way you can do all this shopping and browsing in SSP in 6 hours. You are going to be coming back!
Just don’t get me started on the craft shops just a tube ride away!
I tend to take my time in the Dragon Centre, have a break, and look around some more. Every time I come here I always find something new to share on my blogs.
See you in my next blog.
Shan x
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