I made a quick stop in Chinatown while moving from Piccadilly Circus to Trafalgar Square. Yes, London has a Chinese ethnic enclave. However, it’s different from the one in San Francisco in many ways. Here are some similarities and differences based on about 15 minutes of exposure:
Similarities:
- Both Chinatowns have red gates (as seen in the image above)
- Both Chinatowns have Chinese people (duh!) that speak Cantonese
- Both Chinatowns have restaurants with ducks hanging in the window
Differences:
- The London Chinatown doesn’t have laundry hanging from the windows
- The London Chinatown doesn’t have vegetable stands spilling out into the street
- Many people in London Chinatown talk with lovely British accents; people in SF Chinatown don’t
- The London Chinatown doesn’t smell like fish
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