Sydney Chinatown
The Basics
With so many stalls, shops, and vendors calling for your attention, the best way to explore Sydney’s Chinatown is on foot, so that you can stop and browse at your leisure. Admire the wares on offer on Dixon Street, go souvenir shopping at Paddy’s Market, and see the Golden Water Mouth sculpture on the corner of Hay and Sussex streets—its design incorporates Australian materials and Feng Shui principles.
Walking tours that focus Sydney’s history often cover Chinatown, as do food tours, which typically include stops at both Chinese restaurants and the Asian-Australian establishments neighboring Thai Town.
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Things to Know Before You Go
Thanks to an abundance of reasonably-priced restaurants and street vendors, Sydney’s Chinatown is a must for food-loving travelers on a budget.
Bring along cash as some stalls do not accept cards, but be mindful of your belongings among the crowds.
Restrooms can be found at Central station, and at Paddy’s Market on Hay Street.
How to Get There
Sydney Chinatown is situated in Haymarket, with most of the action centered in and around Dixon Street. To get there, ride the T4 train, light rail line 2, or bus to Central station, from which Chinatown is a 10-minute walk.
Trip ideas
When to Get There
Go on a Friday evening, when Dixon Street hosts a lively night market selling everything from savory and sweet foods to clothes, accessories, and trinkets. The area also hosts a Chinese New Year Festival in late January or early February.
What to Eat in Sydney’s Chinatown
Sydney’s Chinatown is renowned for its edible offerings. Popular options include yum cha (dim sum), takoyaki (Japanese octopus balls), and dragon beard candy, a shell of fine sugary strands enclosing a filling of peanuts, coconut, and sesame.
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