This document provides an overview and history of Chinatowns in various cities including Washington D.C. and Houston. It discusses how Chinatowns originated to serve immigrant communities and preserve Chinese culture but residents often moved away as they gained skills and jobs. The document also describes notable landmarks and businesses still operating in the Chinatowns of Washington D.C. and Houston.

1. Exploring Chinatown
贾凯珞
中文二
二〇一三年四月十五日

2. Chinatown’s Background info
! China town:中国城 （Zhōngguó chéng）
! 1st Chinatown: Binodo’s Chinatown in Manila, Philipines est. 1594
! China towns in America:
! Begin in 1800’s
! Stop 1882-1943 (Chinese Exclusion)
! Ended in 1943 and more China towns are created
“Chinatowns usually cater
to new immigrants, with
many unskilled workers
who don’t speak English.
When the new
[immigrants] acquire skills
and better jobs, they
often move out of
Chinatowns for a better
quality of life. That makes
Chinatown necessary –
but also vulnerable”
– Peter Kung (Asian-Am
prof)

3. What’s so Special about
Chinatown?
• Each Chinatown is created for a unique reason
• Provided opportunity
• Blends cultures
• Preserves the Chinese Culture

4. Chinatown in Washington D.C.
! Historical
! 19th Century to escape
discrimination
! Pennsylvania Avenue NW at 4 ½
St.
! 1931: forcibly disbanded by US
government
! Creation of a new Chinatown along
H Street NW
! Approximately 20 restaurants
“The neighborhood is small
and fragile, seemingly
forever on the brink of
extinction. Its identity
hinges on a smattering of
things: the restaurants, the
red and green lamppost,
the Chinese characters on
street signs…”. – John
DeFerrari

5. ! Ping Pong (dim sum)
! Tony Chung’s Seafood Restaurant
! Starbucks 星巴克 (Xīngbakè )
! Subway

6. Friendship Archway
! 272 painted dragons
! 60 feet tall
! 7 roofs
! Styled after the Qing
dynasty architecture
! Proposed in 1984,
completed in 1986
! 7000 glazed ceramic tiles
! Built to attract business
! Alfred Liu

7. Houston Chinatown
Est. in 1983

8. ! Chinese Community Center or the
Houston Chinese Culture Service Center
（休斯頓中华文化服务中心 Xiūsīdùn
zhōngguó wénhuà fúwù zhōngxīn）
! Shang Dong Noodle House (山东面馆)
! Crawfish and Noodles (小龙虾及面食
Xiǎo lóngxiā jí miànshí)
! Tofu Village (豆腐村Dòufu cūn)
! Dim Sum King (点心王Diǎnxīn wáng)
! Fung’s Kitchen (丰厨房Fēng chúfáng)
! Ranch Supermarket (九九超市)
! Golden Foods Super market (金食品超市
场 Jīn shípǐn chāo shìchǎng)
! Dun Huang Market (敦煌市场 Dūnhuáng
shìchǎng)
! Wells Fargo (富国银行 Fùguó yínháng)
! Metro Bank (shu 都银行 Dōu yínháng)
! Golden Bank (金银行 Jīn yínháng)
! City Bank Texas (德克萨斯州城市银行
Dé kè sà sī zhōu chéngshì yínháng)