3. Chinatown is a quarter of any city or town outside China with a
predominantly Chinese population (Collins English Dictionary).
Although Chinatown is still a focal point of Chinese culture and
festivities in Kuala Lumpur, the cultural authenticity of
Chinatown is slowly diminishing, conservation of traditional
buildings are not prioritized within maintenance mainly due to
globalization.
Introduction
4. Conceptual Framework
Physical aspect: restoration and
renovation of buildings, architectural
facades and also markets are elements
that make Chinatown unique.
Non-physical aspect: traditional cuisine,
trades and community contribute to the
heavy ambiance of Chinatown.
The authenticity of Chinatown’s culture is
slowly diminishing due to two aspects:
physical and non-physical.
6. We would want to fully analyse the main issues revolving our topic along with stating the
causes behind these issues. Currently, the cultural authenticity of Chinatown is slowly
diminishing, conservation of traditional buildings are not prioritised or maintained mainly
due to globalization. Architectural facades are replaced with “trendy” designs attracting
tourists but also losing the architectural meaning of the building in the mean time.
Besides that, the goods sold are non-related to the products traditional to Chinatown.
Instead, they are counterfeit goods of international brands that only aim for profit
without meaning. In terms of the intangible issues surfaced, Chinatown is degraded by
the lack of ambiance created from Chinese culture and tradition that was once the core
of Chinatown. Pursuing this further, the aroma of Chinese food that run along the streets
are now diluted with the scent of foreign influence. Not to mention, locals are also forced
out of traditional trades into commercialised businesses in order to sustain themselves
and the shophouses they own.
8. 1.How does improper
renovation affect the
architectural
authenticity of
Chinatown?
Traditional construction
techniques replaced
Insensitive usage of architectural
materials
Modern architectural elements
replaced authentic elements
9. 2.How does the
merchandise sold at
the marketplace affect
the representation of
the authentic way of
living?
Replacement of
traditional goods
Represents the end of
an era
10. 3.How does the change in
local traditional local
cuisine cause the lost of
authenticity in
Chinatown?
Assimilation of
different culture
Example: Malay
and Indian culture
11. 4.How do traditional
trades that are being
replaced affect the
authenticity of
Chinatown?
Loss of traditional
Craftsmanship
Loss of Chinese
heritage and links
12. 5.How does Chinatown
lose its architectural
meanings and
authenticity through
mural art installations
on building facades?
Distracts visitors from the shop
houses’ facades and visitors who
tend to only visit for ‘Instagram-
worthy’ pictures
Bright paint jobs destroy the
architectural meaning of the
buildings
Interactive QR codes added
beside each mural affects the
authenticity
14. This study is to analyse the loss of cultural authenticity of Chinatown in Kuala Lumpur in two aspects which
are tangible (restoration and renovation of buildings, architectural facade, market) and non-tangible (Local
traditional cuisines, traditional trades) aspects to identify the causes and effects of it. The issues identified
were, I) Improper restoration methods; II) Mural art installations; III) Market trend replacement; IV) Influence
from foreigners; V) Modernisation. In response to the issues stated, there is a need to alter the users'
experience of Chinatown, both in tangible and intangible means for the heritage residing within it. The
physical aspects of old shophouses' represent tangible (old buildings) and intangible (cultures) social elements
which currently doesn’t represent Chinatown in any way (Ding, 2019). Ultimately, Chinatown is a heritage of
the local Chinese and a unique historical site within the modern city of Kuala Lumpur. Many old towns exist in
Kuala Lumpur where old shophouses form the majority of the buildings. They contribute to the city's image
and preservation of these buildings prevents the image of infiltration by foreign influences (Fong, 2018).The
data was collected through observations, literary reviews and thorough online research on specific topics. In
general, the data gathered signifies the discerning issues of Chinatown today which are mainly the
replacement of local items both tangible and intangible ones. Surveys could be conducted in large scales to
obtain accurate statistical data in order to generalise the cohort. This analysis will be able to aid future
research about Chinatown’s cultural authenticity how it has been lost throughout the course of time.
15. Conclusion
The authenticity of Chinatown is slowly
diminishing due to inappropriate building
conservation, replacement of facades,
dilution of ambiance such as change in taste of
food and the conversion of traditional trades into
commercial trades. If no action is being taken
soon, the Chinatown as we know of today will no
longer be ’China Town‘. A Chinese proverb sums
up this situation perfectly -- ‘Hanging sheep
head，selling dog meat' which means dishonest
advertising. Should we go with the changes of the
tides of time even at the price of our culture？
16. Meet the Team
CAITLIN HONG JIA QI
0337921
KONG YING YI
0339452
CHIA YUANMEI
0335091
CALVIN LOW
0334097
LOW BOON HAN
0338002
MOHD HAFIZUDDIN MOHAMAD
0339290
NICOLE LIM SUM YII
0338252
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HTTPS://WWW.SCMP.COM/WEEK-ASIA/SOCIETY/ARTICLE/3019399/PETALING-STREET-
CHINATOWN-MALAYSIAS-CAPITAL-BETS-ITS-HERITAGE
FONG, F. (2018, MARCH 28). 'NOTHING CHINESE ABOUT PETALING STREET ANYMORE'. NEW
STRAIGHT TIMES. RETRIEVED FROM
HTTPS://WWW.NST.COM.MY/NEWS/NATION/2018/03/350498/NOTHING-CHINESE-ABOUT-
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FONG, F. (2018, MARCH 29). MALAYSIANS HOLD DEAR PETALING STREET, MOURN LOST
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PETALING-STREET-MOURN-LOST-IDENTITY
LOO, Y. M. (2012). ‘NO CHINATOWN, PLEASE!’: CONTESTING RACE, IDENTITY AND
POSTCOLONIAL MEMORY IN KUALA LUMPUR. THE JOURNAL OF ARCHITECTURE, 17(6), 847-870.
DOI: 10.1080/13602365.2012.746025
LOONG, W.T. (2018, APRIL 26). FOR THE LOVE OF CHINESE OPERA. NEW STRAITS TIMES.
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