#85 of 1,009 · Things to do in Sydney New South Wales
Chinatown
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About
Chinatown is Australia’s largest Chinatown, an urban enclave of shops and Chinese restaurants in Haymarket, in Sydney’s southern CBD.
Why go
- Dixon Street’s pedestrian core, marked by a Chinese gateway at each end.
- Friday night markets bring Asian street food, desserts and confectionery stalls to the streets and alleys.
- Market City has food courts, shops, an indoor entertainment complex and Paddy’s Markets.
- Traditional Chinese decoration, shops and restaurants along Dixon Street.
Don't miss
- Golden Water MouthLin Li created this dead-tree-trunk sculpture in 1999, believing it would bring good fortune to the Chinese community.At the corner of George and Hay streets.
Tips for your visit
- Plan a Paddy’s Markets visit for Wednesday to Sunday.
Know before you go
- Dixon Street is pedestrianised. Intersecting streets also close to vehicles on Fridays from 4 pm for the night markets.
- Paddy’s Markets at Market City operate Wednesday to Sunday.
Interesting facts3
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History
- 1828Chinese migration to New South Wales began as early as 1828.
- 1848The first group of Chinese labourers from Amoy arrived in New South Wales.
- 1851–1855After gold was discovered in 1851, Chinese immigration grew to about 17,000 immigrants by 1855.
- 1861About 13,000 Chinese people lived in New South Wales, and Chinatown was then in The Rocks.
- 1892Amid anti-immigration feeling, a Royal Commission began investigating alleged Chinese gambling and immorality.
Show all
- 1920sBy the 1920s, Chinatown had moved to Campbell Street near the Capitol Theatre; during that decade, it began consolidating at its current Haymarket location.
- 1988The Chinese Garden of Friendship was built west of Chinatown as a gift marking Sydney’s bicentenary. Guangdong supplied its design, key materials, furniture and artworks.
- late 2017Darling Square was completed beside Market City, adding apartments, facilities and restaurants that integrated with Chinatown.
- 5 October 2018The Chinese Garden of Friendship entered the New South Wales State Heritage Register.
How to get there
- On footChinatown occupies most of Haymarket, between Central station and Darling Harbour; its traditional core is Dixon Street.
Sources: Chinatown, Sydney - Wikipedia · Sydney/City South - Wikivoyage (see) · checked 26 Sep 2026
Where
Sydney New South Wales
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Questions and answers
Is Sydney’s Chinatown its original Chinatown?
No. Chinatown in Haymarket is Sydney’s third known Chinatown area.
Which films feature Sydney’s Chinatown?
Parts of Chinatown appear in Two Hands (1999), and a scene for Dulcea’s compound in Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Movie (1995) was filmed here.
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