Barrio Chino (Mexico City)

Neighborhood of Mexico City in Cuauhtémoc

Barrio Chino

Neighborhood of Mexico City

Main entrance into the Barrio Chino

Barrio Chino

Location in central/western Mexico City

Coordinates: 19°25′55″N 99°08′34″W﻿ / ﻿19.4320°N 99.1427°W﻿ / 19.4320; -99.1427
Country|  Mexico
City|  Mexico City
Borough| Cuauhtémoc

Barrio Chino (Chinese: 墨西哥城唐人街; Pinyin: Mòxīgē chéng tángrénjiē) is a barrio located in the downtown area of Mexico City, near the Alameda Central and Palacio de Bellas Artes. Barrio Chino exists primarily on two blocks along Dolores Street and one block east and west of the street. There was an expulsion of the ethnic Chinese in the 1930s and since then the ethnic Chinese have mixed and dispersed with the local population.[1] According to the government of Mexico City, about 3,000 families in the city have Chinese heritage.[2] In many parts of the older sections of the city, there are “cafes de chinos” (Chinese cafes), which are eateries that serve Chinese and Mexican food.[1] The buildings in Barrio Chino are no different from the rest of the city, but businesses here are either restaurants or importers. Most of the shops and restaurants here had abundant Chinese-style decorations and altars, but statues of the Virgin of Guadalupe and San Judas Tadeo (a popular saint in Mexico) can be seen as well.[3]

## History[edit]

Shops on Dolores Street Stall selling charms for year of the dog celebrations

The history of Barrio Chino is tied with the history of Chinese immigration to Mexico and Mexico City spans the decades between the 1880s and the 1940s-1950s. [1] Between the years 1880 and 1910, during the term of President Porfirio Diaz, the Mexican government was trying to modernize the country, especially in building railroads and developing the sparsely populated northern states. When the government could not attract enough Western European immigrants, it was decided to allow Chinese workers into the country.[4] At first, small Chinese communities appeared mostly in the north of the country, but by the early 20th century, Chinese communities could be found in many parts of the country, including Mexico City.[5]

A census done at the very end of the 19th century shows only 40 people registered as Chinese in Mexico City, but by 1910, that number had grown to 1,482.[6] With the beginning of the Mexican Revolution, many Chinese in the northern states headed south to the city, both to escape the fighting and to escape nativist sentiment which had been particularly aimed at the Chinese.[7] This culminated in 1911, with 303 Chinese slaughtered in the Torreón massacre.[8] The Chinese in Mexico City congregated on Dolores Street one block south of the Alameda Central and the Palacio de Bellas Artes, in the historic center of Mexico City.[9] They were basically businesspeople, opening restaurants, laundries, bakeries and lard shops.[10] While initially, this population was confined to this particular neighborhood[11] between 1910 and 1930, Chinese-owned businesses appeared in a number of other parts of the city, especially in the historic downtown.[12] The number of Chinese-Mexicans in the city reached its peak during the 1920s and 1930s.[7] when the Mexican government attempted to expel all ethnic Chinese (Mexican-born or not) from the country, managing to deport more than 70% between 1930 and 1940.[13]

## Features[edit]

Paifang located in the Santos Degollado Park

Comunidad China de México, A. C. sponsors festivals and cultural events to preserve and promote Chinese-Mexican culture in the neighborhood. By far the largest festival sponsored is the annual Chinese New Year’s celebration, which has as cosponsors organizations such as the borough of Cuauhtemoc and Coca-Cola.[3] It is generally held on the weekend closest to the actual date of new year's and crowds squeeze into the two-block stretch of Dolores Street to see Lion dances, fireworks and other traditional new year's traditions and eat traditional foods such as steamed buns and roast suckling pig.[14]

For the 2009 New Year's festival, celebrated on 30 January of that year, there were various festivals and events planned both inside and outside of the neighborhood. In addition to the traditional celebrations, the Mexico City government and the Chinese embassy held a number of events. The Chinese Embassy in Mexico had a gathering of its citizens who reside in the country to demonstrate Chinese cuisine and products at the Monument to the Revolution. Later there was a parade from the Angel of Independence to the Monument to the Revolution along Paseo de la Reforma.[14] The Teatro del Pueblo had a Gala Night with Chinese opera, displays of martial arts and a parade of people wearing traditional Chinese dress.[15]

The Chinese Arch was unveiled on 16 February 2008 as part of an effort to convert the small neighborhood into a tourist attraction. The arch was inaugurated by Mexico City mayor Marcelo Ebrard and Chinese ambassador Yen Hengmin to pay tribute to Chinese immigration into the city as well as to improve relations between the city and the country of China. The arch is located at the Santos Degollado Plaza, one block west of Dolores Street. The arch is made of steel-reinforced concrete, covered ceramic, granite and marble, and is decorated with two large statues of lions on each side.[16]

## See also[edit]

* Mexico portal

* Viaducto Piedad
* Chinatowns in Latin America

## References[edit]

1. ^ a b c Campos Rico, Ivonne Virginia (2003). La Formación de la Comunidad China en México: políticas, migración, antichinismo y relaciones socioculturales (thesis) (in Spanish). Mexico City: Escuela Nacional de Antropología e Historia (INAH-SEP). pp. 119–121.
2. ^ Simon, Angelica (12 April 2007). "Comunidad estigmatizada" (in Spanish). Culiacan Sinaloa: El Universal. Archived from the original on 19 February 2013. Retrieved 31 May 2009.
3. ^ a b Campos Rico, Ivonne Virginia (2003). La Formación de la Comunidad China en México: políticas, migración, antichinismo y relaciones socioculturales (thesis) (in Spanish). Mexico City: Escuela Nacional de Antropología e Historia (INAH-SEP). pp. 128–135.
4. ^ Campos Rico, Ivonne Virginia (2003). La Formación de la Comunidad China en México: políticas, migración, antichinismo y relaciones socioculturales (thesis) (in Spanish). Mexico City: Escuela Nacional de Antropología e Historia (INAH-SEP). pp. 68–70.
5. ^ Campos Rico, Ivonne Virginia (2003). La Formación de la Comunidad China en México: políticas, migración, antichinismo y relaciones socioculturales (thesis) (in Spanish). Mexico City: Escuela Nacional de Antropología e Historia (INAH-SEP). pp. 76–78.
6. ^ Campos Rico, Ivonne Virginia (2003). La Formación de la Comunidad China en México: políticas, migración, antichinismo y relaciones socioculturales (thesis) (in Spanish). Mexico City: Escuela Nacional de Antropología e Historia (INAH-SEP). pp. 83–84.
7. ^ a b Campos Rico, Ivonne Virginia (2003). La Formación de la Comunidad China en México: políticas, migración, antichinismo y relaciones socioculturales (thesis) (in Spanish). Mexico City: Escuela Nacional de Antropología e Historia (INAH-SEP). p. 91.
8. ^ Paramo, Arturo (5 August 2008). "Barrio chino: Muralla productiva" (in Spanish). Mexico City: Excelsior. Archived from the original on 20 September 2008. Retrieved 31 May 2009.
9. ^ Campos Rico, Ivonne Virginia (2003). La Formación de la Comunidad China en México: políticas, migración, antichinismo y relaciones socioculturales (thesis) (in Spanish). Mexico City: Escuela Nacional de Antropología e Historia (INAH-SEP). p. 117.
10. ^ Campos Rico, Ivonne Virginia (2003). La Formación de la Comunidad China en México: políticas, migración, antichinismo y relaciones socioculturales (thesis) (in Spanish). Mexico City: Escuela Nacional de Antropología e Historia (INAH-SEP). p. 84.
11. ^ Campos Rico, Ivonne Virginia (2003). La Formación de la Comunidad China en México: políticas, migración, antichinismo y relaciones socioculturales (thesis) (in Spanish). Mexico City: Escuela Nacional de Antropología e Historia (INAH-SEP). p. 102.
12. ^ Campos Rico, Ivonne Virginia (2003). La Formación de la Comunidad China en México: políticas, migración, antichinismo y relaciones socioculturales (thesis) (in Spanish). Mexico City: Escuela Nacional de Antropología e Historia (INAH-SEP). p. 172.
13. ^ Campos Rico, Ivonne Virginia (2003). La Formación de la Comunidad China en México: políticas, migración, antichinismo y relaciones socioculturales (thesis) (in Spanish). Mexico City: Escuela Nacional de Antropología e Historia (INAH-SEP). p. 108.
14. ^ a b "Prepara comunidad china festejos para recibir el año del Búfalo" (in Spanish). Mexico City: Milenio. Notimex. 19 January 2009. Retrieved 31 May 2009. [dead link]
15. ^ Gobierno de Distrito Federal. "Artes e Historia Mexico Más de la celebración del año nuevo chino en el DF" (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 31 January 2009. Retrieved 31 May 2009.
16. ^ Cabrera del Angel, Olivia (17 February 2008). "Un arco refuerza el lazo Pekín-Distrito Federal" (in Spanish). Mexico City: Excelsior. Retrieved 31 May 2009. [dead link]

## External links[edit]

* Media related to Chinatown, Mexico City at Wikimedia Commons

19°25′55.39″N 99°8′35.06″W﻿ / ﻿19.4320528°N 99.1430722°W﻿ / 19.4320528; -99.1430722

* v
* t
* e

Cuauhtémoc, Mexico City

Areas|

* Centro
* Barrio Chino
* La Merced
* Algarín
* Ampliación Asturias
* Asturias
* Atlampa
* Buenavista
* Buenos Aires
* Centro Urbano Benito Juárez
* Condesa
* Cuauhtémoc
* Doctores
* Esperanza
* Exhipódromo de Peralvillo
* Felipe Pescador
* Guerrero
* Hipódromo
* Hipódromo Condesa
* Juárez
* Maza
* Morelos
* Obrera
* Paulino Navarro
* Peralvillo
* Roma
* San Rafael
* San Simón Tolnáhuac
* Santa María Insurgentes
* Santa María la Ribera
* Tabacalera
* Tepito
* Tránsito
* Urbano Nonoalco Tlatelolco
* Vista Alegre
* Zona Rosa

Landmarks|

* Alameda Central
* Antimonumenta
* Antimonumento +43
* Antimonumento +72
* Avenida Juárez
* Bench of Fidel Castro and Che Guevara
* Biblioteca Vasconcelos
* Buenavista railway station (current)
* Buenavista old train station
* Cruz de Mañozca
* El Sereno
* Former Aeromexico headquarters
* Forum Buenavista
* Fountain to Bartolomé de las Casas
* Fuente de la República
* Glorieta de la Palma
* Glorieta de los Insurgentes
* Hilton Mexico City Reforma
* How Doth the Little Crocodile
* Monumento a la Raza
* Monumento a la Revolución
* Monument to Pope John Paul II
* País de volcanes
* Palace of Iturbide
* Paseo de la Reforma
* Plaza Giordano Bruno
* Puerta 1808
* Taquería El Califa de León
* Torre del Caballito
* Torre Insignia
* Torre MAPFRE
* Historic buildings of Mexico City Centro
* Landmarks of Colonia Roma

Mexico City Metro
stations|

* Allende
* Balderas
* Bellas Artes
* Buenavista
* Chabacano
* Chilpancingo
* Centro Médico
* Cuauhtémoc
* Doctores
* Garibaldi / Lagunilla
* Guerrero
* Hidalgo
* Hospital General
* Insurgentes
* Isabel la Católica
* Juárez
* La Viga
* Lagunilla
* Lázaro Cárdenas
* Misterios
* Niños Héroes / Poder Judicial CDMX
* Obrera
* Patriotismo
* Pino Suárez
* Revolución
* Salto del Agua
* San Antonio Abad
* San Cosme
* San Juan de Letrán
* Sevilla
* Tepito
* Tlatelolco
* Zócalo/Tenochtitlan

Schools|

* Sistema Educativo Justo Sierra Plantel Azahares
* Colegio Amado Nervo
* Colegio de San Ignacio de Loyola Vizcaínas

* v
* t
* e

Barrio Chinos: Chinatowns in Latin America

Argentina
Buenos Aires
Cuba
Havana
Mexico
Mexicali
Mexico City
Tijuana
Peru
Lima

* v
* t
* e

Historic center of Mexico City

Zócalo
and immediate vicinity|

* Administrative buildings
* Metropolitan Cathedral
* Cruz de Mañozca
* Fountain to Bartolomé de las Casas
* Monument to Pope John Paul II
* Nacional Monte de Piedad
* National Palace
* Old Portal de Mercaderes
* Templo Mayor

Schools and colleges|

* Academia Mexicana de la Historia
* Academy of San Carlos
* Antigua Escuela de Jurisprudencia
* Colegio de San Ignacio de Loyola Vizcaínas
* El Colegio Nacional
* University of the Cloister of Sor Juana

Government buildings|

* Library of the Congress of Mexico
* Old Customs Building
* Palace of the Marqués del Apartado
* Secretariat of Public Education Main Headquarters
* Supreme Court of Justice of the Nation

Religious buildings|

* Church of Jesus Nazareno
* Church of San Felipe Neri "La Profesa"
* Church of San Hipólito
* Church of Santa Inés
* Convent of La Merced
* Convent of San Francisco
* Convent of Santa Inés
* Corpus Christi Church
* Historic Synagogue Justo Sierra 71
* Iglesia de San Bernardo
* La Enseñanza Church
* La Santísima Church
* Nuestra Señora de Loreto Church
* Regina Coeli Convent Church
* Royal Convent of Jesús María and Our Lady of Mercy
* Santa Teresa la Antigua
* Santa Veracruz Monastery
* Santo Domingo
* Templo Expiatorio Nacional de San Felipe de Jesús
* Valvanera Cathedral

Museums|

* Caricature Museum
* Casa Talavera Cultural Center
* Centro Cultural de España
* Colegio de San Ildefonso
* Franz Mayer Museum
* House of the First Print Shop in the Americas
* Interactive Museum of Economics
* José Luis Cuevas Museum
* Museo de Arte Popular
* Museo de Charrería
* Museo de la Secretaría de Hacienda y Crédito Público
* Museo del Estanquillo
* Museo Mural Diego Rivera
* Museo Nacional de Arte
* Museo Nacional de la Estampa
* Museo Nacional de las Culturas
* Museum of Light
* Museum of Mexico City
* Palace of the Inquisition
* Palacio de Minería
* San Pedro y San Pablo College

Palaces|

* Borda House
* Casa de los Azulejos
* Palace of Iturbide
* Palacio de Bellas Artes
* Palacio de Correos de México
* Palacio de la Autonomía
* Palacio del Marqués del Apartado

Historic houses|

* House of the Count de la Torre Cosío y la Cortina
* House of the Marquis of Uluapa
* Houses of the Mayorazgo de Guerrero
* Saint Augustine House
* Tlaxcala House

Traditional markets|

* Abelardo L. Rodríguez Market
* Ciudadela Market
* La Merced Market
* San Juan Market

Streets|

* Avenida Bucareli
* Avenida Juárez
* Calle de República de Argentina
* Calle de República de Guatemala
* Madero Street

Parks and plazas|

* Alameda Central
* Garden of the Triple Alliance
* Plaza Garibaldi
* Tlaxcoaque

Transportation|

* Mexico City Metrobús Line 4
* Allende metro station
* Bellas Artes metro station
* Hidalgo metro station
* Isabel la Católica metro station
* Merced metro station
* Pino Suárez metro station
* San Juan de Letrán metro station
* Zócalo/Tenochtitlan metro station

Other|

* Barrio Chino
* Chapultepec aqueduct
* Edificio Miguel E. Abed
* Hospital de Jesús Nazareno
* Hospital San Hipólito
* Teatro de la Ciudad
* Teatro Fru Fru
* Torre Latinoamericana

*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template