With its eclectic ethnic restaurants and shops, New York's Chinatown was once a bustling neighbourhood serving more than 800,000 Chinese residents and tens of thousands of tourists.
However, the Chinese community has suffered from its close proximity to Ground Zero. Three years on from the September 11 attacks, Chinatown's economy has yet to recover. Tourism has declined as a result of the terror attacks and rumours of Sars last year.
Small businesses have closed and thousands have lost their jobs as the core of local industry - garment factories - has been hit hard by the economic downturn.
'Before 9/11, 40,000 people who worked at Ground Zero would come to Chinatown for lunch, after work and on weekends. Until they rebuild the World Trade Centre, Chinatown will not be the same,' said Jameson Gong, a Chinatown tour guide and president of the New York chapter of the Organisation of Chinese-Americans.
Compared with other lower Manhattan neighbourhoods, such as Soho and Tribeca, Chinatown has been given a low priority in the city's redevelopment plans.
The problem is partly due to Chinatown's lack of political and economic clout.