Sydney Chinatown - safe?
 

I've been hearing about recent incidents in Sydney's Chinatown of gang violence. We're going to visit in about 5 weeks and are staying in the lower CBD - Darling Harbor/Chinatown area. I'm not so worried about our choice of accomodations but I'm wondering if it's safe to visit Chinatown after dark. <BR><BR>Are there any Sydneysiders out there that can advise on the current situation?<BR><BR>Thanks,<BR>John in Miami

Hi John, I just got back last night from Sydney(raining and chilly at 8 degrees). We (wife and 4-yearold) stayed at Furama Darling Harbour(now called Holiday Inn). Chinatown is just behind our block. Dark at this time of the year is about 6pm. Its a packed area but in general quite safe. Stay with the lighted areas like Darling Harbour, Market City but try to avoid that stretch of George street.

Hi John in Miami!<BR>The recent incidents were distressing to all Sydneysiders, but far from typical.... like most extortion attempts, the action was directed at shopkeepers, not passers-by. Chinatown is so crowded all day and until about 11 p.m. that I can't imagine you'd feel in danger there. In addition, by the standards of places like San Francisco, our Chinatown is very small --only a couple of blocks -- and quite close to other well-travelled areas. I wouldn't let these reports put you off; but, that said, remember that wherever you are, even in a city as safe as Sydney, there are normal precautions to take to protect yourself against pickpockets and snatch-grabs. This might be especially prudent if you are walking from Chinatown through the Darling Harbour area, which hasn't got much going on after about 10 p.m. That would worry me far more than the reports of gang-based extortion, which is why I seldom recommend a Darling Harbour hotel to the inquirers on this forum.