Chinatown

Melbourne's Chinatown is the oldest in Australia and boasts four grand arches to herald your arrival. Between Swanston and Spring streets, Chinatown fills Little Bourke Street with spicy aromas and the sound of rattling woks. This fascinating street is lined with 19th century buildings housing renowned Chinese and Asian restaurants such as Shark Fin, Supper Inn, Dragon Boat and Westlake where yum cha is the word for lunch and the fabulous Flower Drum, Cantonese fine dining at its best. Shops in the thriving arcades off Little Bourke Street sell everything from chinoiserie to fungi.

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

Galleries and bars
In and around Little Bourke Street there are some particularly Melbourne places to meet, such as the Croft Institute, spread over three floors with licensed bars and regular DJs, Fad Gallery, a bar with an art gallery presenting regular exhibitions, and the Eurotrash Cafeteria and Bar which specialises in cocktails and a range of European beers.

The Story of China in Australia
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. The museum helps visitors discover Chinatown's hidden history with a guided walk through Little Bourke Street's buildings and laneways.

Each year Chinatown hosts many traditional Chinese festivals and activities such as the Asian Food Festival and the Chinese New Year.

How to get there
By tram: Any tram along Swanston Street to Bourke or Lonsdale streets; the free City Circle Tram to Parliament House on Spring Street, then walk to Little Bourke Street.

Free Melbourne City Tourist Shuttle: Stop 4. The complete trip includes 13 stops and takes approximately an hour and a half. The bus runs every 30 minutes between 9.30am and 4.30pm daily (excluding Good Friday and Christmas Day) and includes an on-board commentary.

By foot: Two and a half blocks north from Federation Square (about 5 minutes).