Discover the Most Authentic Chinatowns in the World

We have compiled a list of some of the world’s best and most authentic Chinatowns, which offer a wonderful array of Chinese cultures, cuisines and historic attractions.

What’s more culturally enriching than a colourful Chinatown? Entering one of these fascinating realms is like entering a whole other world. Chinatowns offer mouth-watering street food snacks, bustling street markets, quirky shops and restaurants, lantern covered archways, religious monuments and much more. You’ll find a bustling Chinatown nestled in most major cities, all which have become popular tourist attractions with footprints left behind from Chinese migrant settlers, a spiritual aura and epic Chinese New Year festivals. Read on to discover our favourite Chinese enclaves worldwide.
 
Singapore
Singapore’s Chinatown is a very distinct Asian district which was home to the region’s early Chinese settlers. This vibrant neighbourhood has many preserved traditional shops and markets, ancient temples, heritage sites, chic boutiques and hip bars and restaurants. A variety of cheap and delectable Asian cuisines can be sampled here, including Singaporean hawker cuisines such as satay and stir fried noodles, as well as sweet potato dumplings and banana fritters. Culture beams from all corners at this Chinatown, especially at the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple which is home to a giant gold stupa. According to monks, this stupa holds an actual tooth relic of Buddha! If you’re feeling inspired to visit Singapore’s Chinatown, then why not look into our holiday package to the Furama City Centre hotel? It’s located in the heart of this cultural haven.

London
London’s vibrant Chinatown is a breath of fresh air. It’s Europe’s largest and best Chinatown with a parade of authentic Chinese restaurants, markets, supermarkets, souvenir shops, teahouses and Chinese health centres amidst colourful art sculptures, stone lions, Oriental gates, Chinese street signs and bright red lanterns. This ethnic quarter is located in the West End so it’s very central, in fact so central that you’ll probably find yourself here without meaning to on a trip to London. The Lunar New Year celebrations really take off at London’s Chinatown with an immense parade of live performances, colourful floats, lion dances, pop up food stalls and much more. Chinese New Year 2019 falls on 5th February if you want to pop down and experience this parade, and there are also many other colourful events that pop up here all throughout the year.

Yokohama, Japan
Yokohama’s Chinatown is the largest Chinatown in Asia, which was the residence to numerous Chinese traders who settled down in the 1800s. The main entrance of this Chinatown consists of four towering gates, each named after the four directions according to Chinese tradition. Yokohama Chinatown is a great sightseeing spot with lots of fascinating Chinese architecture; there are two cultural temples that dominate the region: the colourful Kanteibyo Temple, which is devoted to the Chinese god of business and prosperity, and the Taoist Ma Zhu Miao Temple, which is home to a shrine of Mazu, The Chinese goddess of the sea. There is also a multitude of restaurants down the streets of Yokohama’s Chinatown; a lot of the cuisines have been Japanized, creating a delicious Asian fusion of dishes. This wonderful Chinatown is also home to an array of shops selling traditional goods, from lanterns to incense and souvenirs and much more.

San Francisco
San Francisco’s Chinatown is the oldest Chinatown in North America and there is so much historical significance associated with this colourful Chinese quarter. The first Chinese immigrants arrived in the city in 1848, and the original Chinese structures were built in the 1850s during the California Gold Rush era. This colourful cultural hub has become a popular tourist attraction home to many ethnic shops, herbal stores, restaurants, bars, cultural landmarks and architectural marvels including the renowned Dragon Gate entrance. San Francisco’s immense Chinese New Year parade takes place here, which is the largest Asian cultural celebration held outside Asia. The Golden Gate Fortune Cookie Factory is another highlight of San Francisco’s Chinatown, allowing you a close look into the process of making these yummy goodies. If you’re interested in immersing yourself in culture at this authentic Chinatown, we offer great value United Airlines flights to San Francisco.

Bangkok
Officially known as Yaowarat, this colourful Chinatown is one of the most vibrant districts in Bangkok, dating back to the late 1700s when the first Chinese immigrants originally settled in the city. This labyrinth of narrow alleys and lanes is packed solid with restaurants, gold shops, bars, market stalls and wooden shophouses, as well as colourful street murals. You’ll probably get lost here, but that’s the fun of exploring Bangkok Chinatown. The main draw though is the food; there are plenty of fine dining restaurants to indulge at as well as street food vendors serving sumptuous Asian cuisines, desserts and seafood snacks. There are two stunning Buddhist temples in Bangkok Chinatown; the Wat Traimit, which is home to the largest solid gold Buddha statue in the world and the Wat Mangkon Kamalawat, which is the largest Chinese Buddhist temple in Bangkok. They both offer incredible photo opportunities!

Melbourne
Melbourne's Chinatown dates back to the 1850s, and it’s the longest continuous Chinese settlement in the west, so there is a lot of culture and history to be explored here. Discover many historic low-rise buildings, shopping arcades, bookstores, herbal shops, quirky cafes, cocktail bars and even a museum which showcases the history of Australia’s Chinese community. The excellent quality cuisines of this Chinatown are particularly notable; there are lots of fine dining Cantonese restaurants, noodle houses and street vendors serving up lip-smacking Asian and international cuisines. There are also plenty of cultural festivals held at this distinct Chinatown; the one not to miss is definitely the Lunar New Year, where the Millennium Dai Loong Dragon - one of the world’s longest Chinese dragons awakens and takes to the streets with a ceremony and lion dance. We offer an excellent holiday package to Brady Hotel Central Melbourne which is located within walking distance to Melbourne’s Chinatown.

We hope that this blog may inspire any of your future holidays!