CHINATOWN NIGHT

Chinatown is a distinctive and well known area of Melbourne which dates back to the gold rush days of the 1850s. Chinatown Melbourne is the longest continuous Chinese settlement in the western world. Chinatown's essential character and main focus is along Little Bourke Street with alleys that link the area to Bourke Street and Lonsdale Street.

Since its inception in 1854 and the arrival of Chinese immigrants to Melbourne, the city's Chinatown has played an important role in establishing the history and culture of the ethnic Chinese immigrants in Australia. An increasing interest in an ethnic variety of food and culture peaked in the 1970s and 1980s, Chinatown fuelled the growth of many restaurants, cafes, businesses and places of worship. Today, Melbourne's Chinatown is a major tourist attraction.

This post is part of the Monday Mellow Yellows meme,
and also part of the Mandarin Orange Monday meme,

and also part of the Nature Footsteps Inspiring Photography meme.