Chinatown, Anywhere
Chinese immigrants helped give reggae its start in Kingston, Jamaica. They brought chowmein to Calcutta, India, “became black” in South Africa, and are remaking fast fashion in Prato, Italy.
Today 40 million people of Chinese descent live outside China. Collectively, they represent the largest diaspora in the world.
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Latest Headlines
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Jakarta, Day 8: Mini Sumatra, Mini Java, Mini China
Taman Mini, Indonesia's cultural park, now features a Chinese village. But have old wounds healed yet? Maybe not just yet. -
Jakarta, Day 6: Inside Indonesia’s Mandarin News Show
Candy Jorian, a producer, tells me that when she was hired to start the program, her Indonesian bosses couldn't even tell if her Mandarin was good enough for her to be an anchor (it was). -
Jakarta, Day 3: Burqini, Bikini
Almost everyone who lives in the apartment complex where I'm staying in Jakarta is Chinese Indonesian, which means they're probably not Muslim. But that doesn't mean they wear bikinis to the pool. -
Jakarta, Day 1: I’m a Millionaire*
My first bit of culture shock comes at the ATM, where I find myself withdrawing 1,000,000 Indonesian rupiah. Finally, I’m a millionaire! -
Back in Beijing: Yellow Alert!
Surviving this week's Chinese weather catastrophe: Sandstorm from Inner Mongolia. Cancel all appointments, stay inside and turn on the air purifier! -
English “Invading” the Chinese Language? En Garde!
In a Telegraph article today a top Chinese translator warned that English words are invading the Chinese language. "If we do not pay attention and we do not take measures to stop Chinese mingling with English, Chinese will no longer be a pure language in a couple of years..." -
Love in the Time of Consultants
Ever wanted some professional help for your love life? Someone to teach you how to flirt, whom to date, what to wear, what to talk about on a date, and even whether you were right or wrong to be mad at your boyfriend the other day? -
In Calcutta: On the Trail of Chowmein
My story about Chinese food in Calcutta ran on the BBC World Service this weekend! Mmm... chicken hakka and veg manchurian. -
I Crashed A Chinese Wedding in India This Weekend. Twice.
I was intrigued but also hesitant: You can't just go to a stranger's wedding uninvited. Or can you? In Indian fashion, Frankie replied with a head waggle. -
Yeah Mon, Old Skool Reggae Comes to Beijing
Beijingers are proud that their city has produced China’s best rock and punk bands (Take that, Shanghai!), but reggae? Yeah, mon.