by Julia Hebaiter (aka Julia Svoice) (
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Owns 'FoodLit'. Highly qualified, established food & lifestyle writer, former restaurateur, founder professional writing business, Articul8. Long, diverse writing history, passion for food culture, the land & inspired food language.www.foodlit.com.au
Published January 20th 2010

If you've been honing your skills as a couch potato, a venture into the sensory delights of
Melbourne's Chinatown will definitely sparkle things up.
The bright lights and sights, sizzling sounds of rattling woks, and enticing aromas beckon you to sink into one of the world’s most-loved cuisines – or maybe a little Thai, Japanese, Malaysian, Vietnamese or the fabulous
Flower Drum for Cantonese fine dining at its best.
Wander about with all your senses switched on. Be dazzled by golden, roasted ducks and glistening, crispy pork. Salivate over sushi-adorned shopfronts. Suck up some noodles and lick your fingers over crayfish or some
Yum Cha.
Of course, Chinatown isn't just all about food. Its
history celebrates early immigrant settlement and dates back to the gold rush days of the 1950s. Explore the ancient healing arts, take a tour of all things Feng Shui, or dabble in a spot of shopping at wonderful Asian grocery stores, bookstores and fashion boutiques.
Keep an eye open for the many traditional festivals and celebrations that run throughout the year, like the Asian Food Festival and Chinese New Year Celebrations, featuring the
Millennium Dai Loong Dragon, which takes a well-earned rest at
The Chinese Museum in between social engagements!