The first Chinese immigrants in arrived in Manchester in the early 20th century but the biggest wave of Chinese immigration came in the 1950’s, they were Hakkanese from the new territories of Hong Kong as the government had decided to build on their land to cater for the growing population, this left the people with low factory wages so immigration became their best option. The first Chinese restaurant opened in 1948 named ‘Ping Hong’. Gradually in the old cotton warehouses in Nicholas Street, Faulkner Street and George Street, several other Chinese restaurants opened such as Charlie Chan’s 1973, Yang Sing 1977 and the Woo Sang 1976, Chinatown began to unfold around where there was once stood St. Peter’s Church in the late 18th century.
The growing number of restaurants in Manchester meant there was a corresponding growth in services aimed to serve their employees and their customers. Businesses such as Chinese medicine shops, Chinese supermarkets, financial and legal services as well as Sunday schools began to develop to meet the demands of the Chinese community.
This area becomes the focus of the Chinese Community on every Sunday, when most Chinese take-aways and restaurants take a day off and they come to Chinatown promenade and chat. In many ways this has become the Chinese village for the north west of England. This aspect of Chinatown has become enhanced with the development of a number of old people’s homes in the surrounding regions.
One of the landmarks of Manchester, the Magnificent Chinese Arch on Faulkner Street which defines Chinatown declares the importance of the Chinese Community in Manchester. Embellished with Dragons and Phoenixes in mesmerizing colours, with symbols of luck and prosperity, the arch, the first true imperial Chinese arch appears to have been erected in Europe, appears to have stood for hundreds of years, yet it was here only since 1987.
The most obvious event which witnesses the Chinese Community and the City join together is at the annual Chinese New Year celebration which has established for over decades now. This attracts thousands of spectators and performers to Chinatown each year. It creates one huge party which is led by the biggest dancing dragon in Europe and finished off with a magnificent fire work display. This is one of the instances when you really realise how modern Manchester has become such a multicultural nation and I am sure that in the coming years, Chinatown will continue to grow and grow.
