Chinatown, Sydney

Recognized as Australia’s largest Chinatown, Sydney’s Chinatown serves as a center for Asian cuisine, retail, cultural celebrations, and everyday life infused with Chinese and broader Asian influences. Its neon-lit alleys, aromatic street food stalls, and bustling markets create an immersive atmosphere that draws locals and visitors alike.

The precinct’s roots date to the mid-19th century, when waves of Chinese immigrants arrived during the gold rush era. As trade, commerce and immigration evolved, early Chinese enclaves shifted—from The Rocks and wharf areas toward the Haymarket district in the early 20th century. The relocation was partly driven by economic change: the move of wholesale fruit and vegetable markets to Haymarket attracted Chinese merchants, growers, and vendors who established shops, cookhouses and boarding houses nearby.

Today, Chinatown is far more than a culinary destination—although food remains its cornerstone. Each Friday evening, Dixon Street comes alive with a night market, featuring more than 30 stalls of Asian street food and crafts. Through its laneways you’ll spot bubble tea bars, dessert shops, herbal medicine stores, Asian grocers, and storefronts showcasing everything from herbs to modern Asian fashion.

Culturally, Chinatown is anchored by landmarks such as the Chinese Garden of Friendship, just west of the precinct in Darling Harbour, a refuge and community center for Chinese Australians, especially in eras of discrimination and economic challenge.