Chinatown Highlights Asian dining Historical buildings

Situated between Swanston and Spring streets, Chinatown fills Little Bourke Street with spicy and aromatic scents and the sound of rattling woks. Two grand red arches herald your arrival at either end of this fascinating street, which is lined with nineteenth century buildings housing renowned Chinese and Asian restaurants like Dragon Boat, where yum cha is the word for lunch, especially on Sundays.

At night when the decorative streetlights are illuminated and restaurant windows are ablaze with lanterns, wind chimes and neon lights, this stretch of acclaimed eating is especially colourful and enchanting.

But Chinatown is not just about food. Shops in the thriving arcades of Little Bourke Street sell everything from chinoiserie to fungi. Buy paper lanterns, try ancient herbal medicines or even take part in a Feng Shui tour.

Since the heady gold rush days of the nineteenth century, Chinatown has been a meeting place for the Chinese community, and the Chinese Museum in Cohen Place, marked by the Dai Loong and Millennium dragons at its entrance, tells the Chinese-Australia story over five levels of exhibition space.

Throughout the year, Chinatown also hosts many traditional Chinese festivals and activities, such as the Asia Food Festival and the Chinese New Year.

Visit the Chinatown Website

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