China Town - Liverpool

Liverpool has one of the oldest established Chinese communities in Europe. There was a line of steamers with a direct connection from Liverpool to China, whose main trading goods were, tea, silk and cotton wool. Indeed it is probably this factor that Liverpool’s permanent Chinese community dates to around 1870 with the establishment in 1868 of a direct shipping service between Britain and China.

By 1880 Liverpool was granted city status by a Royal Charter. At this time Chinese sailors were to be seen regularly around the docks of Liverpool, London and Cardiff.

The Chinese settled around the dock area, most notably on Cleveland Square, Pitt Street and Frederick Street. But this changed when most of the area was destroyed during World war II. This prompted the Chinese community to move out into the suburbs, with a few moving to Nelson Street and George Square, where the shipping company Holts had established a new seaman’s hostel to replace the boarding houses lost in Pitt Street and Cleveland Square. From here Chinatown grew organically to take in much of Berry Street, Duke Street and Upper Parliament Street.

Today, Chinatown is still centred on Nelson Street and Berry Street. It has to be said, Chinatown has seen better times, but then, so has Liverpool. The size of the Chinese community has shrunk with many moving to more economically active areas such as Manchester and Birmingham. Nonetheless, there are hopes of a brighter future. In January 2000 the new Imperial Arch was opened, generating a new phase in Chinatown’s development.

Liverpool diverse cultural base is only appreciated after a trip around Chinatown which illustrates the way in which this community has integrated within the city. A variety of excellent cuisine is on offer and the small shops are of interest to locals and tourists visiting this part of the city.

The Chinese New Year is Celebrated in style and features street entertainers, music and dance. The celebrations include a number of parades in which locals are dressed in Chinese mythical costumes of Lions and dragons. The street parades are well attended and the atmosphere is magnificent. Chinese houses and restaurants in the Chinese Quarter are cleaned and decorated with flowers for the occassion.

That's why Liverpools China Town is wonderful besides being full of interesting features such as Asian style lampposts, litter boxes, parking ticket machines and street signs.

The downside is that the community area is relatively small and much of the area is undergoing regeneration.