Chinatown, Manchester

Chinatown
Chinatown's Faulkner Street paifang
Metropolitan borough	Manchester
Metropolitan county	Greater Manchester
Region	North West
Country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	MANCHESTER
Postcode district	M1
Dialling code	0161
Police	Greater Manchester
Fire	Greater Manchester
Ambulance	North West
EU Parliament	North West England
UK Parliament	Manchester Central
List of places: UK • England • Greater Manchester

Chinatown in Manchester, England is an ethnic enclave in the city centre. It is second largest Chinatown in the United Kingdom and the third largest in Europe. It has an archway on Faulkner Street which was completed in 1987 and contains many Chinese restaurants, shops, bakeries and supermarkets.

History

The first settlers to arrive in the city came in the early 20th century; according to the BBC, "Many arrived alone and were engaged in what was seen as the traditional trade of laundries." Manchester's first Chinese restaurant, Ping Hong, opened on Mosley Street in 1948, on the eve of a Chinese immigration wave that would commence during the 1950s. Manchester did not have a significant Chinese population, reaching only about 2000. However, after World War II, there were severe labour shortages, and in response, the government passed the British Nationality Act 1948, which allowed easier access into the country. Additionally, Hong Kong's rapid urbanisation meant that many farmers and traditional residents' homes were being destroyed by the urban sprawl, so many decided to migrate.

The area's beginnings are rooted in the restaurant business, as many Chinese restaurants surfaced soon after the immigration boom. By the 1970s other Chinese businesses began to emerge, such as medicine shops, Chinese supermarkets, as well as financial and legal services, all serving the employees of the expanding number of Chinese restaurants in the area. There was even a Hong Kong government office and a branch of The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation during the 1970s. In 1989 the Chinese Arts Centre opened in Chinatown.

Transport

Chinatown celebrations at Chinese New Year, 2008

George Street, Chinatown

The area's nearest Metrolink station is Mosley Street, though this only serves southbound traffic and is due for closure. The two nearest stations aside from Mosley Street are at closely nearby Piccadilly Gardens (which is also a bus interchange), and St Peter's Square Metrolink station. Furthermore, there is a carpark off Faulkner Street for visitors driving into Chinatown in private vehicles. The carpark is decorated in an oriental theme, in keeping with Chinatown and a mural of a junk, a Chinese sea vessel, is on the wall facing the carpark.