Vibrant Chinatowns Across the Globe

Chinatowns have emerged worldwide, spanning East Asia, Southeast Asia, North America, Australia, and Europe. Some Chinatowns boast a long history, established over 200 years ago, with San Francisco's Chinatown in California, USA, being the first outside of Asia.

Vibrant Chinatowns Across the World

1. Singapore

Located near the bustling commercial hub, Chinatown stands as the largest historical district in Singapore. Once known as the 'home' to the first Chinese settlers, today, Singapore's Chinatown is a vibrant enclave of silk merchants, traditional handicrafts, gold, and jade jewelry.

The best time to visit Chinatown Singapore is during the Lunar New Year, when the Chinatown Food Market comes alive with various activities, from lion dances to traditional opera performances.

2. Melbourne

Melbourne's Chinatown is where the Chinese community congregates in Doncaster, with the majority coming from Hong Kong and Taiwan. Here, you can find delicious and enticing dishes prepared by world-renowned chefs, including those from the Flower Drum restaurant, once voted by the New York Times as the best Chinese restaurant in the world.

When visiting Melbourne Chinatown, you can also choose to purchase souvenirs. These shops serve as places to buy Australian-made goods for overseas Chinese.

Currently, the world's longest dragon is being preserved in the museum of Melbourne Chinatown.

3. Kuala Lumpur

Kuala Lumpur is Malaysia's bustling and vibrant city with Chinatown located in the Petaling Street area – renowned as a shopping haven for locals and filled with many other interesting attractions.

In Kuala Lumpur, Chinatown is renowned for its food stalls and night markets, where customers can find fresh produce and affordable goods (remember to haggle).

Chinatown in Kuala Lumpur is a harmonious blend of Chinese, Malaysian, and Indian cultures.

4. Georgetown, Penang, Malaysia

Chinatown in Penang city is one of the most famous tourist attractions in Malaysia, where a large number of Chinese residents live, a bustling and crowded Chinese district, as this place is a part of China itself.

At Penang Chinatown, you can't miss the special delicacy here - Penang Tau Sa Piah.

There are very few areas in the world where Chinese people live listed as World Heritage Sites. Besides the Chinese Quarter in Luang Prabang, Laos, George Town Penang Chinatown became one of the world's heritages on July 07, 2008.

5. Toronto

Toronto's China Town is renowned as the largest Chinatown in North America, with over 150,000 Chinese residents. About half of the businesses here are owned by Vietnamese or Vietnamese-Chinese. When visiting Chinatown, you can explore many shops run by Chinese people, connected to the Kensington Market where you can satisfy your shopping cravings and taste delicious street food.

Currently, Chinatown – the Vietnamese market in Toronto remains an attractive tourist destination for visitors from afar whenever they come to Toronto. Vietnamese students often go shopping here because there are many fruits and vegetables similar to those in Vietnam and the prices are very affordable.

6. New York

Not only famous in Asian countries, the Chinatown in the United States also attracts native people and tourists from all over the world. People come here to eat well and buy 'Fake' items at low prices. In the streets of Chinatown, there is no shortage of famous brands like Gucci, Dior, Chanel, Prada... for you to choose from. As long as you are good at bargaining, you can buy them for as little as $10.

7. Vancouver

There's a reason this city is dubbed 'Hongcouver'. The 1997 Hong Kong handover to China sparked a wave of Hong Kong immigrants moving to Vancouver for business and property ownership.

Like Chinatowns everywhere in the world, Vancouver's Chinatown is a hub of cultural, commercial, and service activities with an East Asian flair. You can indulge in various unique culinary flavors at eateries or shop for a variety of vegetables, fruits, Asian foods, and even receive free medical consultations at some traditional Chinese medicine shops.

8. San Francisco

While the Golden Gate Bridge symbolizes the city's extravagant power, Chinatown contributes to the ethnic and cultural diversity of San Francisco. San Francisco's Chinatown covers approximately 3.5 km2 and is home to over 100,000 Chinese immigrants, making it one of the most densely populated areas outside of Asia. It is bounded by 4 streets: Grant, Stockton, Powell, and Kearny.

Currently, Chinatown San Francisco is the most visited tourist spot in San Francisco, even more so than the Golden Gate Bridge.

According to Matadornetwork.com

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Reference: Travel Guide from Mytour