Chinatown Manhattan: Here v. There
From Decoding New York
| Introduction |
| Manhattan |
| * Evolution |
| * What's Real |
| * Here v. There |
| * Economy |
| Flushing |
| * Evolution |
| * What's Real |
| * Here v. There |
| * Economy |
| Brooklyn 8th Avenue |
| * Evolution |
| * What's Real |
| * Here v. There |
| * Economy |
| Comparison |
| * Photo Gallery |
| * Sources
|
Of all the neighborhoods in New York City, Chinatown is considered to be an especially unique destination and a must see for any tourist coming to the city. This is because Chinatown has managed to remain authentically Chinese while at the same time reflecting its fusion with New York City and America. Chinatown is home to New York's oldest Chinese community with the longest heritage and history of immigration. For over a century Chinese immigrants have been coming to this section of Manhattan, resulting in a very authentic presentation of Chinese culture from China and Hong Kong. Eastern Chinatown is recognized as preserving more of the authenticity than the area around Canal Street and Broadway. The area around Canal Street tends to focus more on tourism, appealing to outsiders' urges to see anything seemingly Chinese in New York. Traditional foods can be found in restaurants and goods imported from China can be found in most stores. Walking around Chinatown one can often hear traditional music from street performers or stores. The long heritage of Chinese immigration has also led the residents to recreate the old country in a variety of unique ways. Telephone booths are modeled in the style of pagodas, drawing tourist attention to the important ethnic identity of the area. Even some architecture reveals Chinese influence. To outsiders the mere presence of Chinese characters everywhere is enough to convince them that they have left the city and traveled to a far away land.
For immigrant residents, living conditions in Chinatown generally fall short of conditions at home. Overcrowding in still-in-use tenement housing is the standard in Chinatown due to higher rents in Manhattan than in Queens of Brooklyn. Relatively affluent Chinese may have been able to afford a three-bedroom apartment in China, but in New York can only afford to share a two-bedroom tenement with another family. While some immigrants are able to move into wealthier, more spacious neighborhoods, many chose to settle in Chinatown for the strong ethnic support networks. Almost all residents in Chinatown are Chinese, living in enclaves of certain regional nationalities. The convenience and comfort of a Chinese speaking community to a new immigrant is invaluable in the introduction to a new home.
