Chinatown, Birmingham
Encyclopedia
The Chinese Quarter of Birmingham
, England
is located in the city centre's Southside
. It is an area with a predominantly Chinese
influence as a result of a concentration of Chinese owned businesses, organisations and social clubs. The area now covers a neighbourhood that includes Hurst Street
, Ladywell Walk and Pershore Street.
Many of the buildings in the area have Chinese architectural
features and art including Chinese style roofs and wall murals in the Arcadian Centre depicting historical scenes typical of the Silk Road
.
community organisations, social clubs, and businesses in the 1960s centred around Hurst Street
. Its development was fueled by migrants of Chinese Heritage from Hong Kong
following World War II
. The Chinese Quarter was officially recognised in the 1980s. There is a large event here each year for Chinese New Year.
The Chinese Quarter has a prominent landmark in the form of a seven storey granite pagoda
surrounded by Chinese style gardens and sculpture. It was erected in 1998 and is situated on the outskirts of the Chinese Quarter in Holloway Circus also commonly referred to as 'Pagoda Island'.
The Pagoda was donated by the Wing Yip Group
- a Chinese owned business with links with Birmingham.
to the East, the Arcadian Centre and Gay Village to the South and the Theatre District to the East.
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
is located in the city centre's Southside
Southside, Birmingham
Southside is a new name for a district in the city centre of Birmingham, England. It contains Chinatown, the city's Gay Village area, The Arcadian and the Hippodrome Theatre.- Gay Village :...
. It is an area with a predominantly Chinese
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
influence as a result of a concentration of Chinese owned businesses, organisations and social clubs. The area now covers a neighbourhood that includes Hurst Street
Hurst Street
Hurst Street is a street located in Birmingham City Centre, England.Hurst Street is the location of the Birmingham Hippodrome, a theatre specialising in ballet, opera, and musicals. It is the home of the Birmingham Royal Ballet. Adjacent to the Hippodrome, across and on the corner of Inge Street,...
, Ladywell Walk and Pershore Street.
Many of the buildings in the area have Chinese architectural
Chinese architecture
Chinese architecture refers to a style of architecture that has taken shape in East Asia over many centuries. The structural principles of Chinese architecture have remained largely unchanged, the main changes being only the decorative details...
features and art including Chinese style roofs and wall murals in the Arcadian Centre depicting historical scenes typical of the Silk Road
Silk Road
The Silk Road or Silk Route refers to a historical network of interlinking trade routes across the Afro-Eurasian landmass that connected East, South, and Western Asia with the Mediterranean and European world, as well as parts of North and East Africa...
.
History
The Chinese Quarter first emerged as an informal cluster of ChineseChina
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
community organisations, social clubs, and businesses in the 1960s centred around Hurst Street
Hurst Street
Hurst Street is a street located in Birmingham City Centre, England.Hurst Street is the location of the Birmingham Hippodrome, a theatre specialising in ballet, opera, and musicals. It is the home of the Birmingham Royal Ballet. Adjacent to the Hippodrome, across and on the corner of Inge Street,...
. Its development was fueled by migrants of Chinese Heritage from Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
following World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. The Chinese Quarter was officially recognised in the 1980s. There is a large event here each year for Chinese New Year.
Landmarks
Chinese Pagoda
The Chinese Pagoda is a landmark in Birmingham, England. It is a stone carving of a Chinese pagoda, carved in Fujian, China and donated to the city by Wing Yip PLC, a local Chinese supermarket chain. Located in the centre of the Holloway Circus roundabout on the Inner Ring Road, it forms a...
surrounded by Chinese style gardens and sculpture. It was erected in 1998 and is situated on the outskirts of the Chinese Quarter in Holloway Circus also commonly referred to as 'Pagoda Island'.
The Pagoda was donated by the Wing Yip Group
Wing Yip
Wing Yip is a Chinese supermarket chain in the United Kingdom, founded in 1969.The current Birmingham store now also serves as its headquarters office, international trading division, property and investments, , warehouse, and national distribution centre...
- a Chinese owned business with links with Birmingham.
Surrounding Areas
The Chinese Quarter is located between the Bullring Shopping Complex in the North, the Irish Quarter in DigbethDigbeth
Digbeth is an area of Birmingham, England. Following the destruction of the Inner Ring Road, Digbeth is now considered a district within Birmingham City Centre. As part of the Big City Plan, Digbeth is undergoing a large redevelopment scheme that will regenerate the old industrial buildings into...
to the East, the Arcadian Centre and Gay Village to the South and the Theatre District to the East.
See also
- Chinese PagodaChinese PagodaThe Chinese Pagoda is a landmark in Birmingham, England. It is a stone carving of a Chinese pagoda, carved in Fujian, China and donated to the city by Wing Yip PLC, a local Chinese supermarket chain. Located in the centre of the Holloway Circus roundabout on the Inner Ring Road, it forms a...
, Birmingham. - Food and drink in Birmingham, EnglandFood and drink in Birmingham, EnglandAs with any large town or city, food and drink has played an important role in the commerce and culture of Birmingham, England.-Tea:During the 1830s, Thomas Ridgway began trading in the Bull Ring, selling tea. Ridgway later went bankrupt...
. - Chinatowns in EuropeChinatowns in EuropeThis article discusses Chinatowns in Europe. Several urban Chinatowns exist in major European capital cities. There is Chinatown, London, England as well as a major Chinatown in Manchester, Birmingham, Liverpool and two Chinatowns in Paris, France: One where many Vietnamese – specifically ethnic...
.