Manchester is a bustling city with lots to see and do. One of its popular areas, Chinatown, or Chai Wan Tsie as locals refer, is a great place for visitors to experience Chinese culture and the city’s vibrancy.
Manchester’s Chinatown is the second largest in the UK and the third largest in Europe. It might be a little more than a mile in width, but it’s packed with great restaurants, grocery shops, bakeries, pharmacies, cultural artifacts, and more.
Centered around Faulkner Street, Manchester’s Chinatown began to grow properly after World War II. To address labour shortage following the war, the British government made immigration easier, which brought an influx of Chinese migrants. The immigration boom increased further with the launch of its first Chinese restaurant in the city called Ping Hong.
Food has always been at the heart of Manchester’s Chinatown. With over 100 eateries to choose from, foodies are spoilt for choice. In addition to Chinese food, you can also find specialties from other Asian cuisines such as Vietnamese, Thai, Japanese, Nepali, Malaysian, Singaporean, and more. While they all use authentic recipes and ingredients, their cooking style and flavours have been slightly altered towards the Western palate so that they can accommodate non-Asian diners too.
Still, there’s plenty more to see. As you wander the streets and look up, you’ll stumble across unique plaques and listed buildings. The most famous, of course, is the ornate Paifang archway – an official gift from Beijing to recognize Manchester’s eclectic abundance of Chinese culture in 1987. The arch is often lit up at night, making it an even more stunning sight.
While there are always events taking place in Chinatown, visiting in February is one of the best times to stop by. Red lanterns line the streets to hold its Chinese New Year celebrations, which attract thousands of onlookers thanks to the impressive dragon parades, art exhibitions, firework display, lion dances, acrobatic shows, and pop-up Chinese markets. These markets are great places to find souvenirs, clothing, jewellery, gemstones, candles, and other gift items.
When it comes to nightlife, it’s all about the karaoke bars and casinos. For karaoke, the popular ones are Orchid Lounge, Vina, or K2 Karaoke, and as for casino, we recommend Genting Casino Manchester, found just around the corner on Portland Street, which remains open until 5am.
So, the next time you visit Manchester, be sure to drop by its’ Chinatown. We’re sure you’re going to love it!
