Page 105 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Australia

CIT Y CENTRE AND D ARLING HARBOUR  103

filled with up to 800 stalls selling
everything from fresh produce
to electrical products, home­
wares, leather goods, and
pets such as rabbits and puppies.

pChinatown
Dixon St Plaza, Sydney. Map 4 D4.
@ George St routes.  Town Hall.
v Paddy’s Markets.

Originally concentrated
around Dixon and Hay streets,
Chinatown is now expanding
to fill Sydney’s Haymarket area,
stretching as far west as Harris
Street, south to Broadway and
east to Castlereagh Street. It is
home to a pulsating mix of
restaurants, noodle bars, hawker
food stalls and quirky gift shops
that stay open until late. It is the
Twin Pavilion in the Chinese Garden, decorated with carved flowers preferred destination of many of
the city’s top chefs in search of a
dragons, one representing in this area, on a number of sites, late­night meal long after their
Guangdong province and the since 1869 (with only one five­ own kitchens have closed.
other the state of New South year absence). The origin of For years, Chinatown was little
Wales. The lake is covered with the name is uncertain, but more than a run­down district at
lotus and water lilies for much is believed to have come the edge of the city’s produce
of the year and a rock monster from either the Chinese who markets, where many Chinese
guards against evil. On the other originally supplied much of its immigrants worked at traditional
side of the lake is the Twin produce, or the Irish who were businesses. Today, Dixon Street,
Pavilion. Waratahs (New South among their main customers. its main thoroughfare, features
Wales’ floral symbol) and flow­ Once the shopping centre spruced­up public spaces with
ering apricots are carved into its for the inner­city poor, Paddy’s more trees, seating, lighting and
woodwork in Chinese style, and Markets is now an integral part artworks, while still retaining its
are also planted at its base. of the Market City Shopping character and heritage.
A tea house at the top of the Centre, which includes cut­price Chinatown is a distinctive area
stairs in the Tea House Courtyard fashion outlet stores, an Asian that hosts vibrant festivals and
serves Chinese and Western food court and a cinema Friday night markets. There are
light refreshments. complex. Yet despite this many excellent greengrocers,
transformation, the familiar herbalists and butchers’ shops
clamour, smells and chaotic with wind­dried ducks hanging
iPowerhouse bargain­hunting atmosphere of in their windows. Asian jewellers,
Museum the original marketplace remain. clothes shops and confectioners
Every weekend the market is fill the lively arcades.
See pp106–7.

oPaddy’s Markets
Cnr Thomas & Hay sts, Haymarket. Map
4 D4. Tel 1300 361 589. @ Sydney
Explorer.  Town Hall. v Paddy’s
Markets. Open 9am–6pm Wed–Sun &
public hols Mon. Closed 25 Apr, 25
Dec. 7 See also Shopping pp136–41.
∑ paddysmarkets.com.au
The Haymarket district, near
Chinatown, is home to Paddy’s
Markets, Sydney’s oldest and
best­known market. It has been Traditional archway entrance to Chinatown in Dixon Street