Binondo, Commercial district and Chinatown in Manila, Philippines.
Binondo is a commercial and residential district in Manila characterized by narrow streets filled with markets, small shops, and restaurants where Chinese and Filipino architecture stand side by side. Buildings display a mix of Asian and Spanish influences, with family-run businesses and traditional crafts defining the streetscape.
The district was founded in 1594 when a Spanish governor established it as a permanent settlement for Chinese Catholics near Intramuros. This origin made it the world's oldest known Chinatown and the center of Chinese life in the Philippines.
The district's Chinese community shapes daily life through traditions visible in shop decorations, family businesses, and seasonal celebrations that draw people into the streets. Residents blend Chinese and Filipino customs naturally, creating a neighborhood where both cultures coexist openly.
The district is best explored on foot, particularly along main streets with restaurants and traditional medicine shops. Visitors should arrive early when markets are busiest and expect narrow walkways and occasional crowding.
In the early 1900s, a street in the district functioned as the financial center of the Philippines, housing major banks and trading companies. This era left behind elegantly designed buildings that still speak to this more prosperous past.
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