Binondo, Manila is the Oldest Chinatown in the World

Don't be surprised if you see lots of big red Chinese laterns in the malls and in the streets because this is in connection with the Chinese New Year this Jan. 22nd. Because of this let us go back to our boring errr... history class! Don't sleep this will not take an hour just a few minutes!

Our Chinatown in Binondo, Manila is the oldest Chinatown in the world, formally established in 1594. Of course that means a Chinatown outside China! It was a given as a permanent settlement for the Chinese people called "sangleys" to be distinguished with the Spaniards living from the walled city of Intramuros. Binondo used to be the centre of banking and financial community. As a matter of fact, Asia's one of the oldest stock market - Manila Stock Exchange was conceptualized along the Escolta Street. The country's first ever elevator was installed at Regina building which is still very "alive" today.