Sherry Zheng

Situated only 15 minutes from the CBD (or 12 minutes, if you take the Sydney Metro), Chatswood in Sydney's lower North Shore is a place almost 25,000 call home. But long before Chatswood was given the name, after Charlotte Harnett, the wife of the then-mayor, the Cammeraygal people inhabited and looked after this land. After the White Australia policy was abolished and renounced in the early 1970s, immigration grew — particularly from non-European countries, and markedly from China during the 1980-90s. Now, according to a recent Australian census, the most popular languages spoken here after English is Mandarin and Cantonese, and one-third of the population has Chinese roots. Other Sydney suburbs that share a similar demographic include Eastwood, Burwood and Hurstville (note the repetition of the “woods”). If you’re new to the area and want to get an overview of the 'hood, just walk straight from Chatswood Interchange, down Victoria Avenue towards Willoughby – it’ll take you roughly 30 minutes. You see that, like other parts of Sydney, Chatswood has undergone rapid commercial development and massive renovations over the past decade. Shiny high-rise residential apartments have cropped up around the station, as well as brands like Starbucks, Apple, Zara, Uniqlo and Muji. What's it known for? People from all over Sydney may come here to shop at the buzzing Westfield, but Chatswood's food scene is an even more compelling reason to visit. A large Chinese population means an abund

North Sydney is considered by most as Sydney’s CBD north of the bridge. Though it may conjure up images of suits and office blocks, it's so much more. If you stand at the intersection of Mount and Miller, the two main streets, you’ll find a blend of architecture from all decades — from the historic North Sydney Post Office, and the modernist 1950’s MLC building, to the 21-level Coca-Cola Place of 2010s. A step away from the central hub and you’ll find a totally different pace and feel—head north towards Crows Nest and you’ll find streets of diverse dining options; head south towards the bridge and you’ll stumble upon secluded harbour-views at every turn.  Starting from the mammoth 16-story MLC headquarters building in 1956, the first high-rise office block in the area and one of largest in the country at the time, companies were attracted to North Sydney’s low land prices during the 1960s-1980s. Though no land is cheap in Sydney nowadays, building development continues to stretch the borders of this business district. What's it known for?Once considered the 'Twin City' to Sydney’s CBD, this Lower North Shore area is a bustling hub of tech, media and commercial business in recent years. Schools dot the area, families are attracted to the affluent surrounding neighborhoods of Neutral Bay, Waverton and Greenwich. From Luna Park to the Harbour Bridge, some of Sydney’s most iconic sights are clustered here. Whatever your reason for ending up in North Sydney, be sure to drop by th