The history of Chinese immigration into New York reportedly started with one man, a cigar salesman named Ah Ken in the 1840s. The Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882, followed by the subsequent Immigration Act of 1924, hindered Chinese immigration into America for over 90 years with discriminatory housing practices and government-backed racism.
Archival footage from Chinatown in the late 1930’s.
Middle and lower-class Chinese immigrants living in Chinatown have much the same mission as Ah Ken: to make money on their own terms. Chinatown residents enjoyed a relatively comfortable lifestyle up until the 1990s, when the high prices of gentrification started to force them out into the other five boroughs.
Still, Manhattan’s Chinatown is a popular spot for tourists and residents alike to get a taste of the smoke and vigor that makes the Chinese people a strong and necessary part of New York City’s spine.
For all the swirling and the madness, it’s a true delight to the senses. The beauty of New York is that you can experience culture shock right outside your door. Chinatown is one such place. If you don’t have the chance to dive into this alienating but beautiful neighborhood, our photos are your best bet for experiencing the magic and the dizzying pace that is Chinatown, New York City.
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Welcome to Chinatown!
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The triumphal arch leading from Brooklyn to Chinatown in Manhattan via the Manhattan Bridge.
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In Chinatown, even the Starbucks is in a pagoda.
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Most of the signs in Chinatown are printed in English and Chinese text.
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One of the many herb sellers in Chinatown, offering anything from virility aids to ginger tea.
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Hungry New Yorkers chow down on the famous dumplings at Joe's Shanghai.
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Statuettes of Confucius and Buddha are found all over Chinatown, from the lavishly ornate to the cheap trinkets.
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Red lanterns dot the Chinatown streets-- the red represents happiness and good fortune.
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The lion, a fundamental animal figure in Chinese mythology, is found all over Chinatown.
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Open of the many open-front meat and fish markets in Chinatown adding to the complex aroma of the neighborhood.
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Another lion-- this one is made of stone.
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Koi fish, the obligatory display for a Chinese restaurant.
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Chinatown is home to many houses of worship across many different faiths.
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About 4% of Chinese identify as Christian. A sizable population of Chinese-speaking Christians live in Chinatown as well, with several churches offering all-Chinese services.
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Buddhism is also widely prevalent in Chinatown, as the area boasts the first Chinese Buddhist temple on the East Coast (pictured above).
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Men gather to gossip and gamble (for chips only, of course) in Columbus Park.
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Sounds of this Chinese stringed instrument, called the erhu, are heard on nearly every street corner in Chinatown.
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Cardplayers gather in a Chinatown park.
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One of the many sea food markets dotting Chinatown. Fish and fishing are fundamental aspects of Chinese culture, and it is no different here.
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Most of the signs in Chinatown are bi-lingual, adding to the sense of culture shock.
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A Buddha statue watches over Canal Street, Chinatown.
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Another fragrant Chinatown herbal market, offering Chinese and Western remedies.
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Young and old meet as these well-dressed youths walk down the vintage-styled streets of Chinatown.
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Confucius says: "The firm, the enduring, the simple, and the modest are near to virtue", and virtue abounds in Chinatown, NYC.
Savannah Cox holds a Master's in International Affairs from The New School as well as a PhD from the University of California, Berkeley, and now serves as an Assistant Professor at the University of Sheffield. Her work as a writer has also appeared on DNAinfo.
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Cite This Article
Altman, Chris. "ATI Neighborhood Tours: Chinatown, NYC." AllThatsInteresting.com, March 24, 2015, https://allthatsinteresting.com/chinatown-nyc. Accessed January 30, 2025.