The History of Chinese-Americans in Philadelphia
Philadelphia’s Chinatown
The history of Philadelphia’s Chinese-American community and the history of Philadelphia’s Chinatown are intertwined. Chinatown is a refuge for recent Asian immigrants and a place for long-time citizens to preserve Chinese customs. It also is a popular tourist attraction and a favorite Philly neighborhood. Sign up for the “Voices of Chinatown” tour today for an insider’s look, feel and taste of Chinatown.
Early Chinatown 1870s-1940
Philadelphia’s Chinatown, like those in other American cities, established itself on the fringe of the commercial downtown where Chinese-owned hand laundries, restaurants and small shops flourished. Visit the plaque on 913 Race Street commemorating the site of the first Chinese laundry. During these decades, Chinatown was predominately male and single as a result of the Chinese Exclusion Acts of the late 1880s, which stopped emigration from China.
Post-World War II Period
The end of the Chinese Exclusion Act in 1943 brought a new wave of Chinese immigrants to Philadelphia, including women and children, many of whom joined family members here. Their presence transformed Chinatown into a family-oriented community within a few years.
Organizations like Holy Redeemer Chinese Catholic Church and School played a critical role in helping newly arrived immigrants mediate between Chinese and American culture and traditions. Founded in 1941, the church and school remain vital Chinatown institutions to this day. You can visit the Holy Redeemer on Sundays when the church is open to the public.
Save Chinatown Movement: Political Activism Emerges
A 1966 plan to build an expressway on the northern edge of Chinatown catapulted this community into political activism. If built as originally conceived, the expressway would have meant the demolition of Holy Redeemer Church and limited the neighborhood’s ability to expand. The young activists who took the lead on this cause immersed themselves in the American political process, creating an organization now known as the Philadelphia Chinatown Development Corporation (PCDC).
These activists led a vigorous 20 year campaign which resulted in saving Holy Redeemer Church and School and creating a way for the neighborhood to expand its boundaries. Their success is legendary in the history of Philadelphia neighborhoods.
Chinatown Today
Philadelphia’s Chinatown bustles with people and activity. It is home to almost 4,000 residents, and it is a touchstone for Chinese and other Asian-Americans from throughout the region who flock there for specialty foods and other items. Don’t miss the Friendship Gate on 10th and Arch Streets, an authentic Chinese gate built by artisans from China in 1981.
Also interspersed around the neighborhood are stunning outdoor Murals. Look for Philadelphia-based artist Arturo Ho’s moving depiction of early immigrant life on 10th and Winter Streets.