The Chinese community in Liverpool is one of the oldest Chinese communities in the whole of Europe.
The first Chinese immigrants came to live and work in Liverpool in the 1860’s and more followed suit over the space of two or three decades.
The Establishment of Liverpool’s Chinese Community
From 1834 Liverpool established strong trade links with the Chinese that saw vessels coming from Shanghai directly to Liverpool bringing silks and cotton wool.
By the 1860’s many Chinese sailors decided to stay in Liverpool to work. These settlers lived in the Cleveland Square area near the docks where they worked.
At this time, in the 1860’s, the Holt Ocean Shipping Company established the Blue Funnel Shipping Line that sent large steamers from Liverpool to China and back. These steamers bought over more immigrants that settled in Liverpool to work in the dock area.
By 1871 there were over two hundred Chinese people in Liverpool with the growing number of Chinese immigrants bringing new business opportunities.
Some Chinese immigrants started building their own businesses catering for their own countrymen.
Many of the Chinese settlers started businesses providing Chinese foods, cafes and boarding houses where Chinese people could go and speak their own language which became popular in the Chinese quarter.
Chinese men began to find English wives as the English women of the time found Chinese men to be more gentlemanly in their behaviour compared to the working class Liverpudlians of the time.
Post World War One the Chinese community numbers grew and not only integrated into society, they also started to move more inland into the city and start businesses outside the Chinatown area.
Liverpool’s Chinatown Today
Today the China Town area is located around Nelson Street and Duke Street. For those wishing to sample the feel of the Chinese community there is no better place to visit.
When you first arrive at the home of the Chinese community you are greeted by a majestic Chinese gateway. This gateway is very ornate and beautiful in design whilst also being the largest Chinese gateway of its style outside of China.
As you walk under the Chinese gateway a sensation of being in the orient hits you as you wander past many Chinese shops, cafes and restaurants along with ornate lamp posts designed in the Chinese style.
Visiting Liverpool’s Chinatown
By car: take the M62 into Liverpool. Once the motorway comes to an end turn onto Edge Lane (called the A5080 which then turns into the A5047). Follow Edge Road into Pembroke Road and onto Lime Street (A5038).
Follow Lime Street past the Lime Street railway station and continue as the road changes into Renshaw Street and onto Berry Street both still the A5038.
Once the A5038 had become Berry Street, Duke Street is the fourth turning on the right.
By public transport: Duke Street is about a fifteen to twenty minute walk from both Lime Street railway station and the Queens Square bus station.
To find Duke Street by foot from Lime Street railway station or the Queens Square bus station walk down Lime Street and continue into Renshaw Street as if you are walking towards Liverpool Central railway station.
Turn right down Ranelagh Street off Renshaw Street and continue as the road changes into Hanover Street. Towards the bottom of Hanover Street, Duke Street is located on the left hand side.
Recommended reading about Liverpool’s Chinese Community:
Selling the city
| 13 Jul 2009 by admin Shanghai wants to know more about Liverpool – more about its culture, sport, universities, established Chinese community and, in particular, its commitment to deliver modern infrastructure while respecting its history and heritage. … Liverpool / Shanghai Expo 2010 Blog – http://blog.liverpoolshanghai2010.com/ |
Taste of China in Liverpool
| 10 Jul 2009 by admin There has been a trade link between the Shanghai and Liverpool since the early 19th century through which the Chinese community could fix their foundation in Liverpool by the mid of 1870. The main entry in Chinatown is from the passage … Liverpool Restaurants – http://liverpool-restaurant.co.uk/ |
VG&M celebrates one-year anniversary with graduates – University …
| 7 Jul 2009 The building, which houses art and heritage collections acquired by the University throughout its 105-year history launched a programme of major exhibitions to reflect Liverpool’s culture, history and innovations in industry, … During 2010 there will be major exhibitions of Chinese calligraphy to coincide with Liverpool exhibiting at the World EXPO in Shanghai and a retrospective exhibition of Astrid Kirchherr’s photographs including material relating to The Beatles, … The University of Liverpool Newsroom – http://www.liv.ac.uk/ |