17 of The Best Chinatowns Around the World
Discover the Fascinating Chinatowns Around the World
Chinatowns are cultural enclaves that exist outside of Asia, offering a vibrant tapestry of traditions, culinary delights, and festive events. They are not just neighborhoods but living museums that encapsulate the resilience and heritage of Chinese immigrants. As they mingle with local cultures worldwide, these Chinatowns have come to represent a fusion of ethos and cuisine, becoming essential checkpoints for those eager to experience authentic Chinese culture in a foreign land.
Each Chinatown around the world tells a unique story, informed by the histories of migration and settlement of Chinese communities.
Lost Angeles Chinatown West Gate by Antoine Taveneaux via Wikipedia CC
From the bustling streets of San Francisco’s Chinatown, which is both the largest Chinatown in the United States and one of the oldest, to the aromatic food markets in Bangkok, these neighborhoods offer an immersive journey through Chinese culture.
Architectural marvels like pagodas and dragon gates stand alongside family-run shops and street vendors, creating a distinct visual and sensory experience.
Visitors to these urban districts can savor specialties like dim sum in New York’s lively Chinatown quarters or dive into the history of London’s Chinatown, which has blossomed from the ashes of the Second World War into a thriving community.
Through the lens of these diverse Chinatowns, one can explore the Chinese diaspora’s profound influence on global cities and discover how these enclaves serve as guardians of cultural traditions and community spirit far from their ancestral lands.
Famous Chinatowns Around the World
Chinatowns are vibrant hubs of culture and cuisine, reflecting the rich heritage of Chinese communities outside of Asia. Each has its own unique flavor, providing a taste of China’s vast cultural palette.
San Francisco Chinatown by Kae Ng via Unsplash
San Francisco’s Chinatown
San Francisco’s Chinatown is the oldest Chinatown in North America and the largest Chinese enclave outside Asia. Since its establishment in the early 1850s, it has been a significant and influential part of the history and culture of ethnic Chinese immigrants in North America.
NYC Chinatown
New York City’s Chinatown
New York City’s Chinatown , particularly in Manhattan and its extension in Flushing, Queens, represents one of the largest concentrations of Chinese people in the Western Hemisphere. Vibrant streets with traditional eateries and shops mark this enclave.
London Chinatown by Laura Chouette via Unsplash
London’s Chinatown
London’s Chinatown, located in the City of Westminster and bordering Soho, has a history that stretches back to the 18th century. However, the current Chinatown around Gerrard Street did not develop until the 1950s (Wikipedia). It has evolved into an area known for its Asian culture and cuisine, becoming a vibrant part of London’s cultural scene.
Melbourne’s Chinatown
Melbourne’s Chinatown
Melbourne’s Chinatown, established in the 1850s during the Victorian gold rush, is notable for being the longest continuous Chinese settlement in the Western world. It is a significant part of Melbourne’s cultural heritage and continues to be a vibrant and bustling enclave in the city.
Vancouver Chinatown Millennium Gate by Suman Chakrabarti via Wikipedia CC
Vancouver’s Chinatown
Vancouver’s Chinatown is the largest Chinatown in Canada and one of the oldest in North America. It emerged around the 1880s and is known for its historical landmarks, cultural events, and traditional architecture. Key attractions include the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden and the annual Chinese New Year Parade.
Bangkok Chinatown by Florian Wehde via Wikipedia CC
Bangkok’s Yaowarat
Bangkok’s Chinatown, also known as Yaowarat, was founded in 1782 when the city was established as the capital of the Rattanakosin Kingdom. It has been the home of the mainly Teochew immigrant Chinese community in Bangkok and is known for its vibrant street life, markets, gold shops, and food stalls. Yaowarat Road, the main artery of Bangkok’s Chinatown, was built in 1891 during the reign of King Rama V.
Chinatown in Toronto
Toronto’s Spadina Avenue
Toronto’s Spadina Avenue is a prominent street in the city that has historically been associated with its Chinatown. The area along Spadina Avenue became a central location for Chinese immigrants and businesses, particularly after the demolition of the city’s first Chinatown to make way for new municipal buildings.
The current Chinatown along Spadina Avenue began to take shape in the 1950s and 1960s, becoming one of the largest Chinatowns in North America and a lively district known for its restaurants, grocery stores, and annual events like the Toronto Chinatown Festival.
Chinatown in Sydney
Sydney’s Chinatown
Sydney’s Chinatown is a vibrant urban locality with a rich history, known for its diverse cultural offerings and as a hub for the Chinese community in the city. The first significant Chinese migration to Sydney and the colony of New South Wales began as early as 1828. However, it was during the gold rush in the 1850s that a considerable number of Chinese prospectors arrived, leading to the formation of early Chinese settlements. The first concentration of Chinese residences and businesses was in The Rocks area on Lower George Street.
Over time, the Chinese population in Australia grew, and by 1861, 16,000 of the 40,000 Chinese in Australia were in New South Wales. Chinatown has evolved through different stages, from its early days as a ghetto for Chinese immigrants to becoming an exotic tourist destination. It now serves as a modern bridge to Asia, reflecting Sydney’s multiculturalism.
By the 1920s, Sydney’s Chinatown began establishing itself in its current location, centered on Dixon Street, a pedestrian street mall known for its Chinese restaurants, markets, and festivals. The area is a testament to the historical and ongoing contributions of the Chinese community to Australia’s cultural and social landscape. It is not merely a historical enclave but continues to evolve, reflecting the modern relationship between Sydney and Asia.
Chinatown in Manila
Manila’s Chinatown
Manila’s Chinatown, known as Binondo, is recognized as the world’s oldest Chinatown. Its history dates back to 1594 when it was established by the Spanish as a settlement for Chinese immigrants who converted to Christianity. Located across the Pasig River from the Spanish walled city of Intramuros, Binondo was meant to be a place for Catholic Chinese, and it quickly became a hub for commerce, trade, and finance, significantly contributing to the economic development of Manila.
Throughout the centuries, Binondo has retained its cultural and historical significance. It is not just a place of historical interest but also a bustling commercial center where traditional shops and family businesses coexist with modern establishments. The district has managed to maintain its unique identity, blending Filipino, Chinese, and Spanish influences, which is evident in its food, architecture, and festivals.
Chinatown in Havana Cuba
Havana, Cuba
Chinatown in Havana, known as Barrio Chino, was once the largest Chinese enclave in Latin America. Chinese immigration to Cuba began in the 19th century, with the first wave of Chinese (Cantonese and Hakka) arriving as contract workers in 1837 to work in the sugar fields. This influx was partly due to the need for labor following the abolition of the African slave trade. These immigrants brought with them their culture, religion, and traditions, which significantly influenced Cuban society.
Despite its vibrant past, Havana’s Chinatown has seen a decline in its Chinese population over the years. Many Chinese Cubans left the country after the Cuban Revolution, and today, the Chinese Cuban community is estimated to be quite small. The area known as Barrio Chino is now characterized more by its cultural heritage than by a sizeable Chinese community presence. Efforts have been made to revitalize the neighborhood and preserve its cultural legacy, including the celebration of Chinese festivals and the presence of Chinese restaurants and arches that signify the entrance to many Chinatowns across the world.
Chinatown in Johannesburg
Johannesburg, South Africa
Johannesburg is home to two distinct Chinatowns reflecting the city’s historical and contemporary connections to Chinese culture and commerce. The original Chinatown is located on Commissioner Street, which dates back to the 1880s when Chinese immigrants, mainly from the impoverished southern regions of China, came to South Africa. This area was the traditional heart of the Chinese community in Johannesburg for many years.
In more recent times, a new Chinatown has developed in the suburb of Cyrildene, which is noted for its authentic Chinese restaurants, shops, and supermarkets. Cyrildene’s Chinatown is characterized by a grand paifang (traditional Chinese archway) at the entrance of Derrick Avenue, which has become a hub of Chinese life and culture, overtaking the older Chinatown in vibrancy and cultural activities.
Both Chinatowns in Johannesburg offer a taste of Chinese culture, with grocery stores, restaurants, and other businesses providing a wide array of Chinese goods and services. The existence of these two Chinatowns speaks to the ongoing influence of the Chinese community in Johannesburg and the city’s multicultural makeup.
Chinatown in Paris photo by Gongashan via Flickr cc
Paris, France
Paris is home to several areas known as “Chinatown,” with the most prominent and largest being located in the 13th arrondissement, often referred to as the Quartier Asiatique or the Triangle de Choisy. This neighborhood is particularly centered around the Avenue de Choisy, Avenue d’Ivry, and Boulevard Masséna.
The development of this Chinatown in Paris began in the 1970s when a wave of immigrants from Southeast Asia, particularly from Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia, arrived in France following the end of the Vietnam War and the subsequent political upheavals in the region. Many of these immigrants were of Chinese descent, having lived in Vietnam and other parts of Indochina, and they brought their culture, cuisine, and businesses with them.
Today, Paris’s Chinatown is a vibrant multicultural district, featuring an array of Asian restaurants, supermarkets, bakeries, and shops. The area is also known for its high-rise apartment towers, which are somewhat unusual in the Parisian landscape, and it hosts various cultural events throughout the year, including the celebration of the Lunar New Year, which is one of the biggest and most colorful festivals in Paris.
In addition to the main Chinatown in the 13th arrondissement, there are smaller Asian communities and commercial zones in other parts of Paris, such as Belleville in the 20th arrondissement, which also has a significant number of Asian businesses and restaurants.
