Chinese Sydney beyond Chinatown - from temples to a war memorial and centres of cultural exchange
- The Chinese influence is visible across Sydney, Australia, in places that reflect and explain the relationship between the city and its diaspora residents
- Downtown, a steel monument remembers Chinese soldiers who fought for Australia, while respite can be taken at the Chinese Garden of Friendship
Sydney is Australia’s most Chinese city. The capital of New South Wales is home to nearly 500,000 people of Chinese descent and, beyond its Chinatown, a variety of locations highlight this cultural connection.
The following places reflect and explain the deep relationship that exists between Sydney and its Chinese residents.
Australian-Chinese Ex-Services Monument
In downtown Sydney, a short walk from the city’s harbour, a tall steel monument glows each evening, lights lining its modern, swirling form.
Less eye-catching, yet hugely significant, are the many Chinese names – there are 13 Chins, 14 Wongs and 14 Youngs, among many others – etched into the stone slab that flanks this memorial.
Being at war is a terrifying and confusing experience. Now imagine being on a blood-soaked battlefield while representing a country that doesn’t appear to even want you.