Binondo: Oldest Chinatown in the World
The district of Binondo was established by Governor-General Luis Perez de Dasmarinas through a decree in 1594. This makes Binondo the oldest organized Chinatown in the World.
The district serves as the home of the city’s Christian Chinese population.
Binondo would eventually go on to become the main business center of Manila and the Philippines during the 19th and early 20th centuries.
Binondo, Manila’s Chinatown, is the oldest of its kind in the world. More than 400 years since it was established, the district still continues to thrive. Derived from the Filipino word binundok (“mountainous”), Binondo was established in 1594 as a permanent settlement for Chinese-Catholic immigrants. You can see Binondo’s rich history at chinatown manila museum.
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