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. At TCB you can shop for trendy designs and accessories from the funky Tokidoki and Barcode stores, through to the feminine Paradiso and Gail Sorronda's classic black and white signature pieces. Each range is diverse and totally unique. Guys are also catered for with stylish menswear from Barcode, Daniel Alexander, Size and Subfusco. Completing the mix are new seasons men's and women's shoes from Vein and S-LaB as well as accessories from Booyah and Shades.
Other fashion, beauty and lifestyle stores at TCB include Optus, Urbanease Furniture & Décor, Fit 4 Life Gym, and Noble Hair.
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.
