Chinatown Brisbane is a pedestrian mall in Fortitude Valley, covering all of Duncan Street, with Chinese restaurants and shops, red lanterns and a traditional gate. It is a short trip from the CBD and a good stop for lunch, dumplings or a walk after a Valley outing.
It is small enough to see in half an hour, so most people come to eat, then carry on to the Brunswick Street Mall one block over. The big day of the year is Lunar New Year, when the street fills with lion dances and stalls.
What to see in Chinatown Mall
Chinatown Mall runs along Duncan Street between Wickham Street and Ann Street, parallel to the Brunswick Street Mall one block over. Brisbane City Council says Brisbane’s Chinatown was officially opened in 1987.
Look for the traditional gate at the entrance, the red canopy over the middle of the mall and the stainless steel fish sculpture near the shopfronts (all visible in the photos here). The paving is a black and grey zig-zag pattern and the whole street is a pedestrian mall.
The large decorative building on the north side of the mall was the TC Beirne Department Store, built in 1902 with its frontage on Brunswick Street. It is stop 7 on council’s Fortitude Valley heritage trail, which also takes in the mall.
Where to eat in Chinatown Brisbane
Chinese restaurants are the core of the strip, including yum cha and seafood places on the covered footpath. Korean, Indonesian, Japanese, Thai and Vietnamese restaurants sit in the precinct too, so a group can usually find something each.
If you want a bigger spread of Asian food, Sunnybank on the south side is the other main Asian dining suburb. For food of every kind, the rest of Fortitude Valley is on your doorstep, and the street food and restaurants pages list more.
Lunar New Year in Chinatown
Brisbane City Council presents a free Lunar New Year festival in the mall each year with BrisAsia Festival. The program has included lion and dragon dances, live performances, family activities, a night market, martial arts and roving lions visiting businesses across the precinct. It is free, suitable for all ages and needs no booking.
The date moves with the lunar calendar, so check the council event page for the current year. Expect it to be crowded. For another Lunar New Year celebration on the northside, see Moreton Bay Lunar New Year in Caboolture.
Planning your visit
- How long: half an hour to walk the mall, one to two hours with a meal.
- Best time: lunchtime for yum cha and daytime browsing; Lunar New Year for the festival.
- Cost: free to walk through; you pay for food and shopping.
- Bikes and scooters: you cannot ride bicycles, e-scooters or skateboards in the Valley malls; dismount and walk, or face a fine (council’s Valley Malls page lists $345).
- Toilets: there are public toilets in the Brunswick Street Mall at 281 Brunswick Street Mall, next to Oporto at the Wickham Street end, and accessible toilets in the middle of that mall near McDonald’s.
- Accessibility: the mall is a flat, paved pedestrian street, and Fortitude Valley station is listed as accessible with lifts.
Getting to Chinatown Brisbane and parking
By car, Chinatown is about 5 minutes from the Brisbane CBD without traffic, about 2.5 km, so allow longer on Friday and Saturday nights and event days.
The easiest way is the train. Fortitude Valley station is underground on Brunswick Street, beneath the Valley Metro complex, and is in Translink fare zone 1. It is served by the Caboolture, Nambour/Gympie North, Kippa-Ring, Doomben, Shorncliffe, Airport and Ferny Grove lines. From the station, Chinatown is a short walk through the Valley malls. Plan your trip with the Translink Journey Planner or call 13 12 30.
If you drive, paid parking is at 31 Duncan Street (the Chinatown car park), McWhirters, Warner Street and Valley Metro. The Chinatown car park has rates and early bird parking listed by the operator. Street parking in nearby streets is limited and metered, so check the signs. The council’s Valley Malls page lists the options.
Nearby
- Fortitude Valley – Brunswick Street Mall, dining, live music and the heritage pool.
- Queen Street Mall – the CBD shopping mall, a short train or bus ride away.
- New Farm Park – jacarandas, a playground and picnic space for the afternoon.
- Howard Smith Wharves – riverside dining under Story Bridge.
- More options in the Brisbane area page.
You might also like
- Springfield Markets (Springfield Central)
- Caboolture Markets (Moreton Bay)
- Carrara Markets (Gold Coast)
Quick answers
Where is Chinatown in Brisbane?
Chinatown is in Fortitude Valley. It is Chinatown Mall, which covers all of Duncan Street between Wickham Street and Ann Street.
Is Chinatown Brisbane free to visit?
Yes. The mall is an open pedestrian street with no entry fee, and the Lunar New Year festival is free with no booking.
How do you get to Chinatown Brisbane by train?
Take a train to Fortitude Valley station on Brunswick Street, then walk to Duncan Street through the Valley malls.
Is there parking at Chinatown Brisbane?
Yes, the Chinatown car park is at 31 Duncan Street and is paid. Street parking nearby is limited and metered.
When is Lunar New Year in Chinatown?
The date follows the lunar calendar. Brisbane City Council lists each year’s date on its events page.
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