There are many distinctive Chinatowns around the world, such as San Francisco Chinatown, London Chinatown, Melbourne Chinatown, Yokohama Chinatown in Japan, Chinatown in Singapore, Chinatown in Bangkok, Thailand, Cichang Street in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Jonker Street in Malacca, Chinatown in Georgetown, Penang, Chinatown in New York, USA, and Chinatown in Paris, France, etc. Countless stories have happened in every Chinatown, silently witnessing the overseas Chinese's struggle history.

1. Chinatown in San Francisco

Chinatown in San Francisco is the largest Chinatown in the western United States. In the mid-19th century, a large number of Chinese gold diggers came across the ocean to San Francisco, where they settled down. After many storms and hardships, they built the present-day Chinatown in San Francisco.

In p>196, an earthquake of magnitude 7.8 occurred in the San Francisco Bay Area, which triggered a fire that spread all over the city, leaving Chinatown in ruins. However, after the disaster, Chinese people returned to the original site to rebuild Chinatown one year ahead of the reconstruction of San Francisco.

Today, San Francisco Chinatown has become one of the most famous Chinatowns in the world. Everything written and heard here is in Chinese, and everything you see is very traditional in China. Chinatown not only has all the goods from China, from groceries to precious jewelry, but also retains traditional dining and architectural clothes, so visitors can enjoy the colorful China culture as much as possible.

2. London Chinatown

Located in Westminster, London Chinatown is one of the most traditional Chinatowns in China.

Since 195s and 196s, many overseas Chinese have been engaged in catering-related industries locally, and then they took their relatives to take root in London. London Chinatown has developed from a "catering street" into a diversified living community, with not only Chinese hairdressers, beauty salons and libraries, but also Chinese supermarkets and travel agencies, forming a complete Chinese small economic industrial chain.

With the rapid development of London Chinatown, in the 198s, pavilions, archways and other buildings with traditional Chinese colors appeared one after another, which made London Chinatown more and more Chinese.

In addition to the ancient buildings with China characteristics, every New Year's Eve, Chinatown in London will hold countdown activities to welcome the arrival of the New Year, and overseas Chinese will also hold grand celebrations in Chinatown, setting off fireworks, dancing dragons and lions, and performing acrobatics; Every Chinese shop decorated with lanterns, posted Spring Festival couplets and welcomed the god of wealth, which was full of flavor.

3. Melbourne Chinatown

Melbourne Chinatown, Australia was founded in the mid-19th century, accompanied by the "gold rush". It is not only the oldest Chinatown in Australia, but also one of the longest Chinatowns in the world.

Melbourne Chinatown was built according to the architectural style of Chang 'an in the Tang Dynasty. On this ancient street, there are scattered several Chinese clubs with a history of one hundred years, some of which are inscribed in the Xianfeng period of Qing Dynasty, which are of high historical value.

On the central open space in the heart of Melbourne's Chinatown, there is an archway imitating the Chaotian Star Gate in Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, which is a sign leading to the Australian-Chinese History Museum.

The Australian-Chinese History Museum retains the historical imprint of the early establishment of Chinatown and the time when Chinese immigrated to Australia. There, you can see early Chinese household items such as costumes, labor tools, tableware and furniture, as well as historical photos, newspapers, diaries, letters, books, account books and various handicrafts, showing the life scenes of Chinese in those years and the historical culture precipitated in them.

4. Zhonghua Street in Yokohama, Japan

Zhonghua Street in Yokohama, Japan, with a history of more than 14 years, is the largest Chinatown in Japan and even in Asia.

At the west entrance of Zhonghua Street in Yokohama, there is a 15-meter-high Chinese archway with three Chinese characters written on it. Restaurants and shops are all Chinese-style buildings, and there is a Guandi Temple in the center of the street.

Zhonghua Street is a famous dining area in Yokohama, with more than 2 restaurants in China alone. Every day, a large number of tourists visit Zhonghua Street and taste China cuisine.

Every Spring Festival, activities such as lion dancing and visiting Guandi Temple are held in Zhonghua Street in Yokohama. Many Chinese in Japan gather here to celebrate Chinese traditional festivals, and even tourists from other places make Zhonghua Street extremely lively.

5. Chinatown in Singapore

There is also a special name called Chinatown. When there was no running water, it was very common for ox carts to transport water in Chinatown, hence the name.

In Chinatown, there are a variety of China dishes. China people from different provinces can find authentic "hometown flavor" when they come here. From Guangdong morning tea to northeast jiaozi, from Hunan chopped pepper fish head to Sichuan hot pot, everything is available.

Today's Chinatown not only retains the traditional Chinese culture, but also is a modern shopping center. Restaurants, shops and temples with national characteristics are lined up, and vendors of various colors live next to century-old shops, where different cultures blend.

Overseas Chinese Affairs Office of the State Council-How many of these world-famous Chinatowns have you been to?