Australian Sojourn

The ancient steam train at Victoria's Belgrave takes passengers through lush woods.[Photo by Yang Feiyue/ China Daily]

The museum at the entrance of the town presents the culture and history of the first Chinese immigrants and their descendants in Australia. There are also many Chinese restaurants for those who long for home food in this foreign land.

If time permits, the ancient steam train can take you through the lush woods and you can hang onto the window frame and stick your legs out.

The Queen Victoria Market and Direct Factory Outlets entice shoppers with good bargains.

Locals half-jokingly tell us that they have to be extra careful driving back to their suburban homes to avoid running over the wild animals, which are big enough to overturn their vehicles if angered. Joking or not, it is proof positive of Victoria's harmony with nature.

There were 490,000 Chinese visitors to Victoria in the year ending December 2015, a 25.5 percent increase over the previous year, according to the local tourism authority.

A total of 952,000 Chinese visited Australia during the same year. The number of visitors from China increased at an average rate of 17.6 percent annually between 2010 and 2015.

With the 10-year multiple-entry visa expected soon and the direct flights connecting major cities in China, such as Beijing and Shanghai, more Chinese are bound to visit in near future.

Contact the writer at yangfeiyue@chinadaily.com.cn

If you go

A free tram goes around the perimeter of Melbourne's CBD. Visitors can hop on-off at any points on the route and explore the heart of the city.

Train and bus networks are also available for one to explore the suburbs of the city.