Chinatowns are often portrayed as gritty underworlds riddled with prostitution, gambling and drug trafficking. Some of this is rooted in truth, but that unfair depiction is largely the result of rampant xenophobia and cultural ignorance, especially in the West.
The world’s oldest Chinatown and a rich mix of Chinese and Filipino culture, Binondo is found in the heart of the Philippine capital Manila.
It was established in 1594 by Spanish colonisers as a permanent settlement for Chinese traders who had converted to Christianity, many of whom married Filipino locals.
While Binondo today is known as a foodie’s paradise, it was once better known as a financial hub. Before World War II, banking institutions dominated Binondo’s Escolta Street, an area once known as the “Wall Street of the Philippines”.