The Best 'Chinatowns' Around The World, According To Travelers

No matter where you live, there's a good chance that Chinese culture is alive in your everyday life in some way or another. Whether that's because you love picking up an order of steamed buns on your way home from work, you have goods in your home that were made in China, or you have Chinese friends and neighbors, the vibrant mosaic that is Chinese culture is one of the planet's great joys. Chinatowns are a staple in big cities across the world, and for good reason. If China isn't on your travel itinerary this year, one of the best ways to get a true taste of this vibrant culture is to head to your nearest Chinatown. For something extra special, we've singled out the best on the planet.

Chinatowns grew when Chinese people set up shop in international cities decades ago to escape racism, find work, or seek better lives for their families. Today, that history lives on those same must-visit neighborhoods through countless restaurants, shops, events, temples, and museums. We rounded up the most authentic Chinatowns around the planet, ranging from the oldest in North America to the longest-running in the wider world. Some of these are among the most famous Chinatowns on the planet, while others might surprise you. Either way, they are all thrilling examples of Chinese culture at its globetrotting best. Here's what we found.

For the most authentic Chinatown experience in North America, there's no better place to visit than San Francisco. San Fran is home to the oldest Chinatown on the continent, dating back to 1849, and the city is home to more Chinese residents than any other in the United States. Covering 30 blocks of the City by the Bay, visitors should start their journey at Portsmouth Square, known as "Chinatown's Living Room," where people do tai chi and play Chinese chess. That is just the start; there is also a Chinese Cultural Center, along with a Chinese art gallery and center that offers a guided walking history and art tour that helps people see the Chinese gems lining the streets. While meandering this fabulous neighborhood, check out other notable sights like the Great Star Theater (a Chinese performing arts center) and the Chinese Historical Society Museum, which houses more than 22,000 Chinese artifacts and art pieces.

Of course, a visit to any Chinatown isn't complete without dim sum, milk tea, egg tarts, and a little (a lot of) Peking duck. For a little bit of everything delicious, a favorite destination is China Live, which has a tasting menu restaurant, a cocktail bar, a casual restaurant, and a market where you can pick up authentic Chinese snacks to take home. Or, for a bite of China's most iconic dessert, head to the beloved Golden Gate Bakery for the city's best egg tarts.

With a reputation for being one of the world's most incredible melting pots, it's no surprise that New York City is home to numerous Chinatowns. The biggest and most well-known Chinatown in the city is in Manhattan, although it began as just a humble general store, restaurant, building, and the Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Society. Since then, Manhattan's Chinatown has only grown in size, developing into neighboring Little Italy and the Lower East Side. Today, one of the most famous parts of Chinatown is Pell Street, which is one of the oldest areas of the neighborhood. Lined with colorful Chinese facades and signage, it's a streetscape you've probably seen in postcards and other media.

However, it's more than just a pretty face. The street is near both Joe's Shanghai (an adored soup dumpling restaurant) and the oldest home in the city (dating back to 1785). Top off your dumpling with a cone from the Chinatown Ice Cream Factory, which creates ice cream in Asian flavors like gre en tea and red bean. Alternatively, opt for street eats instead by checking out one of the many food carts on Canal Street. Another iconic spot in the neighborhood is Mott Street, where Chinatown was founded way back when. The more-than 200-year-old Church of the Transfiguration is here, as is the Chinatown Community Center that used to house the well-known Chinese eatery Port Arthur Restaurant.

In Western culture, no Chinatown is as long-running as the one in Melbourne, Australia. The city's Chinatown has been going strong for more years than any other in the Western world, and it retains tons of its history and authenticity through its many festivals, stores, and restaurants. Start your journey through this blast from the past at the Museum of Chinese Australian History, where you can learn about Chinese contributions to the Australian community. There is also the Chinese Museum, which is home to the longest dragon on the planet and an interactive experience focused on the discovery of gold. Shop for goodies, including snacks and souvenirs, at the MidCity Arcade. But if you want the most authentic experience that Melbourne's Chinatown offers, head to the neighborhood during its annual Chinese Lunar New Year Dragon Festival, which includes a parade, live performances, dance troupes, and, of course, delicious traditional dishes.

Looking for more Chinese eats? Melbourne's Chinatown has plenty of them, no matter whether you're in the mood for a refined meal surrounded by red and gold notes or traditional Cantonese cuisine after-hours. At the Supper Inn, dinner is served until 2:30 a.m., with comfort eats like egg fried rice and beef with egg sauce on the menu. The food is fabulously affordable, making it one of the best budget-friendly things to do in Melbourne. For upscale eats, head to the award-winning Flower Drum, a fine dining destination that has been a landmark in the neighborhood since 1975.

Take one look at any Peruvian restaurant menu — whether in top foodie destination Lima or Los Angeles — and it's clear that Chinese culture has had a massive influence on Peru, with famous fusion dishes like chaufa rice and lomo saltado. That is abundantly clear in the Peruvian capital, as the city's Chinatown (also known as Barrio Chino) is smack-bang in the middle of the city and always bustling. It all began in the 1860s when Chinese workers immigrated to Peru to work on sugar cane plantations, and today, more Chinese people live in Peru than nearly anywhere else in South America. To see that culture in action in Barrio Chino, start by walking through its heart of Calle Capón, which is full of Chinese restaurants and vendors selling items like herbs, perfumes, and vegetables, all surrounded by Chinese décor adorning the facades. Visitors are welcomed onto the street with a large sign that translates to "under the blue sky, we are all equal."

Don't miss out on seeing the Chinese Buddhist temple and the paifang (traditional arch) with protective lion statues erected in 1971 to celebrate the anniversary of Chinese immigrants settling in Peru. And if you're hungry, the options in Barrio Chino are pretty much endless. The neighborhood has plenty of Chinese food stalls, markets, and chifas (Chinese restaurants), such as San Joy Lao, a Cantonese and dim sum restaurant filled with authentic artwork and dishes.

For years, Chinese workers gave their blood, sweat, and tears to build the Canadian Pacific Railway. Once it was completed in 1885, many of those same laborers made their home in Vancouver, creating the city's happening Chinatown in the process. It is one of the most storied neighborhoods in the city, with an impact seen far beyond its borders, as Chinese and Canadian culture are now intertwined in the fabulously diverse city. That's especially true at the Chinatown Storytelling Centre, where visitors can learn about Chinese history in Vancouver before heading to the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden — one of the best urban gardens in the world — for a respite from the hustle and bustle of city life.

Getting hungry? Vancouver's Chinatown has plenty of fantastic spots, such as the colossal Floata Seafood Restaurant, where some of Canada's most important figures dine in the city. For homestyle Chinese eats, head to the down-home Jade Dynasty, which is known for its authentic fare. On your way out, stop by the quaint and charming Zhao Mah Bakery for crunchy sesame buns and other tasty Chinese snacks and sweets. Want a sip of something hot instead? Do a tea tasting at the Chinese Tea Shop, where you can learn all about the historical and cultural importance of Chinese tea.

In Bangkok, bigger really is better. This energetic city is home to the largest Chinatown on the planet, and you really can't miss it — it's marked by a colossal red Chinese gate called the King's Birthday Celebration Arch, which, built in 1999, is intended to show the commitment of Chinese immigrants to the monarchy. Make your way through the beautiful arch, and you'll find yourself faced with an array of Chinese landmarks and restaurants, starting with Wat Mangkon Kamalawat, the biggest Chinese Buddhist temple in the city. Inside the temple (the name means Dragon Lotus Temple), visitors will see a plethora of Buddhist, Taoist, and Confucian shrines. You can also take in Chinatown from above while enjoying delicious eats at the apex of the Grand China Hotel, which has a rotating bar with floor-to-ceiling windows called Sky View 360.

To see where Chinatown began in Bangkok, trek to Sampeng Lane, the first main thoroughway of the Chinese neighborhood and one packed with shops and activity. Today, the real epicenter of Chinatown is Yaowarat Road, which is absolutely jam-packed with lights, people, cars, and food. Thanks to the food carts that line the road, you can try every Chinese delicacy you can think of and many you've never heard of at places like the ever-popular Fai-Kaew Yao Wa-Rat. Alternatively, head to Lim Lao Ngow, another food stall on the street, one that specializes in a fishball noodle dish.

What London's Chinatown lacks in age, it makes up in size. In the 1950s, many Chinese people settled in a London area where prices were affordable, opening restaurants and stores that quickly became popular with British soldiers home from battle. Just a few decades later, the neighborhood was a full-fledged Chinatown, complete with paifangs, pavilions, and even a travel agency for arriving Chinese workers. Today, London's Chinatown is home to 80 Chinese restaurants, cafes, and bars, and over 17 million people visit every year to taste its authentic eats and shop at its Chinese grocery stores and souvenir shops. You'll know you've arrived when you spot the lion statues — the archways donated by China — or the 1888 mural, a mosaic of photos in the shape of a bowl of rice that was unveiled in 2008.

In London's Chinatown, good food is everywhere. At Old Town 97, visitors can find delicious bites late into the night, thanks to the kitchen that stays open until 3.30 a.m. dishing out plates of sweet salted egg yolk chicken wings, roasted meat, and honey and black pepper pork with egg fried rice. If you're on the hunt for a meal at a more reasonable time, bring the party to Jinli Chinese Restaurant, which offers massive hot pot dishes ideal for groups.

Throughout this story, we've explored the oldest Chinatown in North America and the longest-running Chinatown, but none hold a candle to Binondo. Located in Manila, the capital of the Philippines, this is the oldest Chinatown on the planet. The district was officially founded in 1594, but Chinese traders thrived in the Philippines for generations even before that. Its history remains alive and well today and is best experienced at the Binondo Church — formal name is Minor Basilica and National Shrine of San Lorenzo Ruiz. Established just two years after the formation of the district, the church's primary focus was to assist Chinese people after converting to Christianity. Away from the spirit and onto shopping, if you're looking to take a piece of Binondo home with you, head to Ongpin, a street full of shops selling goods like Chinese medicine, ingredients, feng shui necessities, and jewelry.

Of course, if you're looking for authentic Chinese food in Manila, Binondo is the place to be. It's home to the colossal and always-busy Ying Ying Tea House, which serves a huge selection of fare across three floors. Another popular spot is President Grand Palace, which, as its name suggests, presents an opulent, fine dining experience with specialty dishes like shark fin soup and Cantonese eats.

During the 1800s, many Chinese immigrants relocated to Singapore for a fresh start, creating (in 1843) the Chinatown we know today. As the biggest historic district in Singapore, the city-state's Chinatown has five districts, each with their own personalities. But no matter which you visit, you'll find authentic Chinese culture around every corner. To become acquainted with Chinatown's history before you hit the streets, spend a few hours at the Chinatown Heritage Center museum to learn more about how the neighborhood before checking out the gorgeous Thian Hock Keng, otherwise known as the Temple of Heavenly Happiness. The name fits. Dating back to 1820, it's the most storied Chinese temple in the city and was built to protect sailors after being dedicated to Ma Zu Po, the Mother of Heavenly Sages and the guardian of sailors. 

When you've had your fill of heavenly happiness, let loose at Pagoda Street, a lively street lined with lanterns, a food market, and tons of options for eats and shopping. While in Singapore's Chinatown, look out for the public works of Chinese art, many of which were painted by local residents. Just remember to finish your food before heading onto Singapore's public transport, where eating and drinking are banned.

Toronto's Chinese population numbered just 10 in 1881, but the city's Chinatown has since grown into one of the biggest on the continent. And fittingly, its streets are jam-packed with Chinese shops, restaurants, and culture, all protected by four red dragon statues. For more of this magnificently fearsome beast, head to the Dragon City Mall, a shopping center filled with Chinese restaurants and stores and a packed calendar of events. 

The shopping and eating don't end there. On Spadina Avenue, visitors will find countless Chinese goodies, especially at Tap Phong, which sells Chinese kitchenware as well as home décor. You can also shop for Chinatown souvenirs at B & J Trading, which offers items like bamboo goods and slippers.

If all that shopping worked up your appetite, don't miss out on dumplings from Mother's Dumplings, made right in front of customers. Across the street is Red Room, where visitors can find tasty, casual, and sharable dishes like spring rolls and chicken wings. For that classic bowl of Chinese noodles, there's no better place than King's Noodle Toronto, which has 200 noodle dishes to choose from. If you're into street art, Toronto's Chinatown is home to some of the best murals on the planet.

Sydney's Chinatown moved around somewhat before finding its current home, and the neighborhood is now the biggest district of its kind in Australia. It's also home to the biggest Asian supermarket in the country and lots of other delectable eats. This is particularly true on Fridays when the Chinatown Night Market opens. For daytime fun, check out the Chinese Garden of Friendship, which is full of bonsai trees, koi ponds, and a serene atmosphere. To find some good luck while enjoying a relaxing ambiance, visit the Golden Water Mouth sculpture.

For the best food in Chinatown, follow your taste buds, nose, and eyes. Emperor's Garden pulls in lines around the block for its renowned cream puffs, served right from the oven. For a taste of pretty much anything you can imagine, snag one of the tables at The Eight, a restaurant that offers a massive menu. Almost everything is fantastic, but the yum cha is a must-try.

To determine which Chinatowns around the world were the best, we combed through travel guides, blogs, tourism websites, events calendars, and restaurant listings and only included Chinatowns that stayed true to their culture with long lists of eateries, celebrations, and landmarks. We also considered which Chinatowns were the oldest and the biggest, remaining just as bustling as they were decades ago.