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History of the world’s oldest Chinatown, Binondo in Manila, now a foodie paradise

Established in 1594 in the Philippine capital Manila, Binondo has gone from financial hub to culinary hotspot boasting amazing restaurants

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Binondo in Manila is the world’s oldest Chinatown. We look at its past and how it has shifted from a financial hub to a culinary hot spot. Photo: Shutterstock

Chinatowns are often portrayed as gritty underworlds riddled with prostitution, gambling and drug trafficking. Some of this is rooted in truth, but that unfair depiction is largely the result of rampant xenophobia and cultural ignorance, especially in the West.

In a series of articles, the Post explores the historical and social significance of major Chinatowns around the world and the communities that shape them.

The world’s oldest Chinatown and a rich mix of Chinese and Filipino culture, Binondo is found in the heart of the Philippine capital Manila.

Named after the Filipino word binundok, meaning “like a mountain”, Binondo – home to about 20,000 people – boasts Taoist temples, Christian churches, Chinese restaurants and eclectic street art.

It was established in 1594 by Spanish colonisers as a permanent settlement for Chinese traders who had converted to Christianity, many of whom married Filipino locals.

The Minor Basilica and National Shrine of San Lorenzo Ruiz, popularly known as the Binondo Church, is an architectural highlight of Binondo. Photo: Instagram/lanie.puno28
The Minor Basilica and National Shrine of San Lorenzo Ruiz, popularly known as the Binondo Church, is an architectural highlight of Binondo. Photo: Instagram/lanie.puno28

While Binondo today is known as a foodie’s paradise, it was once better known as a financial hub. Before World War II, banking institutions dominated Binondo’s Escolta Street, an area once known as the “Wall Street of the Philippines”.

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