Chinatowns are neighborhoods with a significant Chinese population, offering culturally distinctive experiences and traditional Chinese cuisine. They historically arose due to racial discrimination and are associated with stereotypes, but also provide social services and cultural events. Famous Chinatowns include those in Manhattan, San Francisco, London, and Manila.
Chinatown is a neighborhood within a larger city that is home to a significant Chinese population. Many major cities around the world have a Chinatown, including New York, London and San Francisco. These areas tend to have largely Chinese-focused shops, signs, and services, making some of them popular tourist destinations for those hoping to experience another culture. Historically, areas such as these have been associated with racial discrimination and a variety of stereotypes.
Characteristics
Many Chinatowns were made up largely of new immigrants, although many now have residents whose families have lived there for several generations. The reason these areas are attractive to new immigrants is because they can network with people they know and who speak their native language. As they gain financial independence and greater knowledge of the surrounding city, they may choose to stay close to known friends and neighbors for solace. Some Chinese people prefer to live close to other people of their own ethnicity because it helps them preserve their language and culture and because they have convenient access to foods, religious services, and other items they are used to. Additionally, many Chinatowns have cultural associations that schedule regular activities for their members and provide social services.
Turismo
Many Chinatowns are popular tourist destinations because they offer a culturally distinctive experience. While visiting an area like this is not at all the same as going to China, it does offer a taste of what life is like in Chinese communities and an opportunity to enjoy traditional Chinese cuisine and to purchase arts and crafts. A Chinatown can also host cultural events, ranging from Lunar New Year parades to Mandarin lessons. Major cities can actively promote their Chinese community and facilitate access for visitors.
Famous Chinatowns
There are Chinatowns on almost every continent, but some of the most famous are those in Manhattan, New York; San Francisco, Calif.; London, England; and Manila, Philippines. The one in Manila is believed to be the oldest in the world, having been founded in the 1500s, while those in Manhattan and San Francisco are among the oldest and largest in the United States. London’s Chinatown actually moved from its original site in Limehouse after it was destroyed by bombing in WW2 and is now located in Soho.
History
Chinatowns have historically sprung up in places with many new Chinese immigrants. For example, many Chinatowns in California began to expand rapidly during the 1840s when many Chinese emigrated to the United States in hopes of finding work. Since most boats from China to the United States docked in California, many immigrants settled in the area.
Areas like these also arise due to racial discrimination. Chinese immigrants have historically faced discrimination in many regions of the world and have sometimes settled in specific neighborhoods because they were forced to. Renting or selling property to the Chinese was once largely prohibited in many cities, forcing the Chinese community into a small area because that was the only area they could live.
Stereotypes
Non-Chinese have held a number of stereotypes about Chinatowns throughout history. Some of the more common ones are that these areas are dangerous, controlled by gangsters and not regulated by the police. Part of the attraction of these areas has been the idea that they are somewhere where a person can get things that are illegal or behave immorally. Many of these stereotypes can be traced to Orientalist attitudes and works of fiction, such as Limehouse Nights. While some aspects of the stereotypes were occasionally true—for example, some Chinatowns have long-standing gang problems—they are mostly exaggerated or false.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
