CHINATOWN |
Decorated streets, Chinese restaurants and aroma-filled shops
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Highlights |
Chinese Restaurants
Chinese Food Shops
Decorated Streets
Chinese New Year (Jan/Feb)
Visitor Information |
Most restaurants and shops are open very late!
Scrapbook |
There has been a Chinese community
in London since the 19th century. Originally they were concentrated
around the East End docks, frequented by Chinese sailors. The area
became known for its slum housing and tales of opium dens, rather than
the Chinese restaurants and supermarkets in the current Chinatown.
Following extensive damage by aerial bombing during the Second World
War and an influx of immigrants from Hong Kong, a Chinese community was
established in Soho, where an ever expanding Chinatown has been created.
Chinatown
town today contains decorated archways, many Chinese restaurants and
aroma-filled shops selling oriental produce. In late January, the Chinese New Year is celebrated in a colourful street festival, with massive paper-Mache animals dancing through the streets.
Did You Know?
Samuel Johnson and Joshua Reynolds met at the Turk's Head Tavern (now 9 Gerrard Street) to found The Dining Club in 1764.
Part of a Dragons Head at the Chinese New Year celebrations
Photo © Phillie Casablanca (CC)
2008 was the Chinese year of the Rat, 2009 is the year of the Ox and 2010 is the year of the Tiger
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