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Chinatown New York City

As one of the five boroughs of New York City, Chinatown is home to both authentic cuisine and cultural rituals unlike any of the other regions in the city. Home to the largest population of Chinese immigrants (about 300,000) in the Western hemisphere, this region of New York is a top tourist destination for those visiting the city.

A popular indication that one has reached the area known as Chinatown, is the Kam Lau archway, located at Chatham Square and serving as a memorial to those Chinese-Americans who died in World War II. Phone booths in this area resemble pagodas and most of the signs are written in Chinese. There are many other statues and memorials in the area to give praise to the culture of the Chinese people.

The September 11th attacks on the World Trade Center greatly effected this borough, due to its close proximity to Ground Zero. After the attacks, one of the main links connecting the financial district to Chinatown, Park Row, was closed down, obviously effecting traffic into and out of the area. Upon its reopening, business and tourism continues to slowly return to the area.