Chinatown New York City

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Chinatown is home to hundreds of retail stores, historic landmarks, Chinese bakeries, markets and nightlife

Colourful Street in New York City's Chinatown cc licensed photo by rachel in wonderland

One of the most enduring immigrant communities, Chinatown is New York's most famous ethnic neighbourhood with the largest concentration of Chinese people in the Western Hemisphere. Located in the southern part of Manhattan, next to Little Italy, Chinatown is home to hundreds of retail stores, historic landmarks, Chinese bakeries, markets and nightlife destinations.

Although known for its street food and cheap knockoffs, Chinatown has been a Natural Historic District since 2010 and is home to the Museum of Chinese in America, the Mahayana Buddhist Temple and Asian American Arts Center. Two notable cultural landmarks are located in Chatham Square: the statue of Lin Zexu, a Chinese scholar who crusaded against the opium trade and Kim Lau Memorial Arch, honouring the Chinese Americans who died in World War II.

Home to over 300 restaurants, there are no shortage of restaurants serving Shanghais, Taiwanese, Pekingese, Cantonese, and Hongkonger cuisine with Thai, Vietnamese and Korean eateries joining the scene. For a sweet treat, stop in the Chinatown Ice Cream Factory and sample exotic flavours like lycee and Chinese almond cookies. For a bit of karaoke with your drinks and nibbles, Winnie's is a hotspot for both tourists and locals.

Chinatown is popular for bargain hunters especially along Canal Street between Lafayette and Bowery where the many of the storefronts are nothing more than small stalls selling replica designer goods such as handbags, wallets, sunglasses, watches and jewellery along with some authentic Asian arts and crafts, souvenirs and more. You can find some good deals, but we would caution that many of the so-called designer goods here are replicas, not the real thing, so use common sense when making a purchase. Be sure to carefully inspect the items and negotiate on the price. Keep in mind that most vendors here only accept cash.

Website: Explore Chinatown