Walking Around China Town In London Editorial Photo

Chinatown is by no means lacking in history. The original area of the district is located in east London, where Chinese sailors lived towards the end of the 17th century. Enlisted in China, these sailors had settled permanently in London, both for personal and economic reasons.In 1914 there were thirty Chinese shops operating in Limehouse, most of which had been set up to supply sailors. During the Second World War the area had been destroyed and finding work in the navy was practically impossible for foreigners.In the second half of the 20th century, the Chinese who settled in London suffered serious shortages, until the first restaurant businesses began to open. Fortunately, the soldiers returning from Asia continued to crave Asian food and, to feed them, the first Chinese restaurants opened on Gerrard Street, a street with an excellent gastronomic reputation.The popularity of Chinese restaurants appealed to many Asian entrepreneurs who transformed the area into the current Chinatown.