Darling Harbour: the Charms of Chinatown

If you’re on holiday in Sydney, a visit toand dried mushrooms.
Darling Harbour is a must. After all, it's Sydney'sChinatown's largest shopping complex is Market
most happening place for tourists withCity which houses boutiques, restaurants, cinema
restaurants, museums, the Aquarium, shopping,and a flea and produce market known as Paddy's
dining and great nightlife. But while you're there,Market from Fridays to Sundays.
take time to explore some of the surroundingPaddy’s Market houses Sydney’s biggest
areas, especially the colourful welter of ChinatownAsian supermarket selling all kinds of gifts, home
which borders Darling Harbour to the south. Herewares, jewellery, and clothing from factory
in this area of oriental architecture, street lanternsoutlets.
and ornate doorways, you can get away fromMarket City itself is a glitzy place more
the mainstream tourist mode and find some greatreminiscent of Singapore than old Shianghai. It's
shopping and eating.the shopping place of choice for local Asia youth in
Sydney's Chinatown is located in Haymarket,search of the latest fashions.
between Central Station and Darling Harbour.The other main reason for visiting Chinatown is
Chinatown has stood at this location since thefor eating with most of the restaurants located
1920s. Previously, it was located in the Rocks andalong Dixon Street. All together, there are more
later shifted to near Market Street in Darlingthan 60 restaurants and food court stalls around
Harbour.Chinatown. Other than cuisines from all regions of
Chinatown comprises 13 streets with DixonChina, they also serve Vietnamese, Thai, Korean,
Street, a pedestrian street mall with numerousJapanese, Taiwanese and Malaysian dishes.
Chinese restaurants, being the hub. At the easternA special treat in Chinatown is yum cha (dim
side is George Street, one of the city's majorsum). These are collections of steamed dumplings
thoroughfares. On the corner of George Streetserved with tea. Yum cha are served in baskets
and Hay Street stands a sculpture formed from awheeled around on trolleys. They make a fine
dead tree trunk. Named Golden Water Mouth, it'sbreakfast or lunch.
a symbol of luck for the community.Chinatown is an especially good place to visit till
Other interesting sights are the Chinese places oflate at night as its restaurants tend to stay open
worship. These are located away from thelate. A bowl of Chinese rice porridge makes a
commercial Haymarket area and include the Newwonderfully sustaining supper.
South Wales Evergreen Taoist Church and theBasing your Sydney holiday in Darling Harbour
Sze Yup Temple on Edward Street.makes great sense. It's right at the centre of
There are many interesting sights in Sydney'sthings, is packed with places to see and things to
Chinatown, but the main draws here are thedo, and is just a hop from many of Sydney's
shopping and eating.beguiling districts like Chinatown. You'll find a wide
Chinatown is a real shopping treat with manyrange Darling Harbour hotels to choose from
ethnic stores selling imported clothing and homeincluding the Star City Hotel and Apartments
wares, fragrant Chinese herbs, and exoticSydney and the Ibis Hotel Darling Harbour.
foodstuffs including duck, goose, Asian vegetables,