Chinatown Chinatown

Chinatown predominantly extends along Little Bourke Street between Spring Street and Swanston Street.

Colourful and buzzing, Chinatown is a sparkling jewel in Melbourne's cultural crown.

Eating houses and restaurants take their place with the streetscape and it's low- rise brick buildings, retaining historic character.

Throughout the year there are many traditional festivals and activities making Chinatown a popular destination in the city centre for local, interstate and international visitors.

Dining

Known as the finest Chinatown in Australia, Melbourne's Chinatown has been wooing diners for over 100 years.

Including Australia's most decorated Chinese restaurant, The Flower Drum and a host of fabulous Chinese Restaurants, Asian Cuisine and Yum Cha.

Dining & Restaurants in Chinatown

Melbourne's Chinese & Yum Cha Restaurants

Tianjin Garden Chinese Lion Guardians

In Cohen Place, just off the main artery of Chinatown, two marble lions stand sentry at the door to the Chinese Museum.

Often called Fu Lions (Lions of Buddha or Rui Shi), guardian lions first appeared during the Han Dynasty (206 BC-220 AD), after early travelers first saw them at Buddhist temples in India. The lions were thought to have mythic power and were stationed at temple doors to protect the dharma.

In China they were traditionally placed at the gates to imperial palaces and tombs, temples and government offices to ward off evil and misfortune. They most commonly appear in pairs, the male lion playing with a ball (representing the world) and positioned to the right of the doorway, and the female, depicted with a cub (representing the family), positioned to the left.

They were a gift from the city of Tianjin, in recognition of Melbourne as its sister city.

Chinese Museum

Located in the heart of Melbourne's Chinatown, the Chinese Museum comprises five floors of priceless artworks, artefacts, fashion, books, photographs and jade.

A living part of Melbourne's modern Chinatown, the Chinese Museum was established in 1985 to document, preserve and display the history of Australians of Chinese descent.

Chinese Museum

❊ Address ❊

 ℅ Naarm
 ⊜  Little Bourke Street  Melbourne 3001 View Map

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❊ Web Links ❊

➼ Chinatown 






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