In search of Chinese roots down by the Yarra

MELBOURNE, Australia－The Museum of Chinese Australian History in the heart of Melbourne's Chinatown is not only a landmark but also a place where Chinese from near and far can get a glimpse of their heritage and perhaps even their ancestry.

The museum, a kilometer or so north of the Yarra River that flows through the city, has a collection of more than 8,000 exhibits reflecting Chinese Australian heritage, including an English phrase book dating back to 1857.

The phrase book, translated into Mandarin and Cantonese, shows how to communicate in a range of situations across the language divide, helping immigrants find their way in Australia, says Mark Wang, chief executive officer of the museum.