Stop+5++Won't+you+take+me+to,+China+Town+-+Mere

===// Walking through the 'Facing Heaven' arches, I am immediately captivated by the intricacy and detail that was put into these towering arches. There are five arches in total and have been refurbished to become a wonderful opening aspect of China Town. The street is dotted with Chinese lantern inspires lamp posts that come alive at night. There is a bronze plaque, one of the reminders of the history of this precinct, that commemorates the plight that the Chinese gold prospectors faced during their arrival and duration of their settlement in the CBD. It's lunch time and the street is bustling with people finding a place to enjoy a delectable lunch. The Dragon Boat restaurant is brimming with people conversing over their famous Yum Cha menu. The smell of the carts pushing around those little delicacy's is overwhelming and I'm soon on my way. As a reminder that you're still in Melbourne's CBD, the street is lined with lane ways decorated with street art. China Town, apart from being a place to taste your way around Asia with the many different restaurants offering a variety of Asian cuisines and styles, is also home to the historical Chinese Museum. //=== ===// The museum was opened the 1950's and is spread over 5 floors. There are 3 set exhibitions these are a gold rush simulation instillation named "Finding Gold", a "Dragon Gallery" which displays the evolution of the Chinese dragon, spread over three generations. The museum had a gallery named "Chinese Australians" that contains gorgeous artifacts that illustrate the history of the Chinese settlers dating back 200 years. Breathtaking. The Chinese Museum also host changing exhibitions and a China Town visitor center. //=== ===// Wandering out of the Chinese Museum, I wander around and end up in the Tianjin Garden. It's a small but beautiful garden that gives you a break from the harshness of the city. The lion statues were produced as a gift from Tianjin in China, as a sign of Melbourne's relationship with that city and country. There is a twin garden in Tianjin, where the garden was designed, that serves the same purpose. As an escape from the city, and a meeting type place. //===