Enjoy strolling in the car-free, open-air zone that is the Chinatown Mall.
Brisbane's Chinatown Mall in Duncan Street, Fortitude Valley, has been a hub of Asian commercial and cultural activity since its official opening on 29 January 1987. Streets are signed in both Chinese characters and English.
Ancient traditions
Both the Mall's Wickham and Ann Street entrances are guarded by pairs of stone lions, presented as a gift from the People's Republic of China. The 320kg stone carvings stand as a symbol of friendship and cultural respect. They also function as sentinels - protectors whose mere presence is said to guard against evil spirits.
Tai Chi
Regular Sunday Tai Chi classes are held in the Chinatown Mall, which also hosts visits from touring musicians and dance troupes from Asia. It is also a place for festivities and celebrations during Chinese New Year and other major Asian festivals.
Shops and markets
Chinatown's traditional Chinese supermarkets are truly Pan-Asian; they also stock Thai, Vietnamese, Indonesian, Malaysian, Korean and Japanese products. Among the best known is Yuen's Chinese Supermarket, at 155 Wickham Street.
Chinatown Mall's weekend markets and their myriad curiosities are worth a browse, while weekday shoppers can visit the range of stores in Wickham Street, Chopstix Arcade and the newly refurbished TCB building (which connects the Chinatown and Brunswick Street Malls). The Valley’s new urban shopping mecca, TCB houses Brisbane’s hottest young designers under one roof. Revel in Chelsea de Luca’s chic accessories, Juli Grbac’s feminine dresses, George Wu’s couture gowns or Gail Sorronda’s classic black-and-white signature pieces. Blokes are also catered for with stylish menswear from Check and Subfusco.
Other fashion and beauty stores now installed in TCB include Barcode Squared, Size Design, Shades, Booyah Accessories and designer skincare range and beauty haven, Pure Lila.
Traditional oriental garments and napery can be found at the Silk Peacock (TCB), Yellow Gold Centre sells traditional Asian jewellery, and Chinatown Duty Free, on Wickham Street, caters for international visitors.
For further information about Brisbane Chinatown enquiries [at] brisbanemarketing [dot] com [dot] au or phone Brisbane Marketing on +61 7 3006 6200.
