Chinatown Brisbane: Shopping in Fortitude Valley
Chinatown Brisbane, while small, is still bursting with culture and festivity. On any warm day the cafes and al fresco dining areas are packed with people enjoying the weather and scenery as well as outdoor markets on the weekends.
The car-free area of Duncan Street in Fortitude Valley allows pedestrians to mingle and shop in a relaxed atmosphere. Since 1987 the outdoor mall has been open as an official cultural centre and incorporates both new and old traditions within its boundaries.
At the entrances off Wickham and Ann St stand a pair of stone lions, a gift from the People’s Republic of China, protecting the area from evil spirits. Inside these gates each day of the week finds a different activity taking place. On the weekends there are markets selling clothes, food, toys, and Chinese herbs and crafts. On Sunday there are also Tai Chi classes held outside. Often you will be entertained as you shop by touring Asian musicians and dance groups. Within the boundaries of Chinatown you will also find Thai, Vietnamese, Indonesian, Malaysian and other restaurants and supermarkets. Traditional peices from each country can be bought along the length of the mall as well as some of the surrounding streets.
If you're planning to visit China Town, you may also want to visit our
restaurants
pages, particularly those of the area and
city.
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There are also trendy up and coming designers in the TCB building, which connects the outdoor mall on Brunswick Street to the Chinatown mall and throughout the Choptix Arcade. Along Wickham St you will also find more specialty design stores.
Each year on Chinese New Year the street is packed with partiers celebrating and finding a place to eat becomes tough. However, while waiting for a table you will be entertained by various performers from the local stores. Other major Asian festivals are also celebrated here as the area has truly become Pan-Asian.
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