Chinatowns are located throughout the world as enclaves of people of Chinese heritage. They’re a great way to experience the culture and feel of China without having to hop on a plane. Chinatowns can be found in various urban centres from Havana, Cuba to London, UK, with the oldest Chinatown in the world located in Binondo, Manila, Philippines, established in the 1590s. A more recent addition to the list of Chinatowns is Pantjoran Chinatown in PIK, Jakarta, Indonesia.
Opened in late 2020, Chinatown in PIK or “New Chinatown” is an alternative to the “Old Chinatown” in Glodok. Food, shopping and photos are the order of the day as people flock to the area to take in the sights and explore the culinary options on offer.
The city of Jakarta generally isn’t seen as main tourist destination when visiting Indonesia, with Bali often being a the destination of choice. However the Jakarta Tourism Board has been working to highlight the city’s allure beyond what people believe to be only skyscrapers and traffic. The Thousand Islands, for example, is one of Jakarta’s less well known gems. The building of a New Chinatown is one of many efforts to make Jakarta a more popular popular destination for both domestic and international tourists.
