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The Buddha Tooth Relic Temple in Singapore's Chinatown
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Kolkata was once home to India's most thriving Chinese community. All photos: Ronan O'Connell
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/4HFH53WLJFFTTCEDX64NGKPFLU.jpg?smart=true&auth=b2bb26a48ced15a4595be19a8dd88decc8556b3ede5df11f404f1b8f0d0794f4&width=400&height=225)
There are still remnants of Tiretta Bazaar for tourists to explore
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/IKNOWWG4UJAX7J6AKZRXXXOJCM.jpg?smart=true&auth=d55626cca0718c87481e1e0dd37dcb48b16c724ba678a5920295d8b9142caaa7&width=400&height=225)
Kolkata was the birthplace of Indian-Chinese cuisine
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/5KMMPV56MZBUHAPFIALOGPKVKI.jpg?smart=true&auth=eb2ef9ad52c54405aa25cd1310cda37f5623788a855a4e993d4a042ba0316db8&width=400&height=225)
A street food vendor in Kuala Lumpur's Chinatown
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Malaysia is home to a range of Chinatowns across the country
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Laksa noodle soup in Kuala Lumpur's Chinatown
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Kuala Lumpur is home to numerous aesthetically pleasing temples
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Make sure to visit the Indonesian capital's Chinatown at night
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/OI4DWXPSFNHNRJSHFFCB6YDHOE.jpg?smart=true&auth=a7d8a6bedd1ee7ccb56d0ba00c1cdfc520f7c02cb84d2cd6c07053e78ad6e3fe&width=400&height=225)
Glodok in Jakarta is essentially a buffet the size of an entire neighbourhood
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Jakarta Chinatown
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/JKM6WNHARVEH7J5WFRQLI47JDE.jpg?smart=true&auth=4d73d072ab6ccf1f040f60ff3e873af427df5f0512749d1a8595eb4b242646a5&width=400&height=225)
Sweets and treats line the streets of Glodok
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Bangkok's Chinatown is known for street food and temples
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/PPXYZRCX2VH73EYC6TR2WXXXC4.jpg?smart=true&auth=d8fb26bfcb7168bb27b30500b3217dd7ad303acceb52b8ccc1834f0de13e8122&width=400&height=225)
The Buddha Tooth Relic Temple in Singapore's Chinatown
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/S4LT5QZ76RELRCIDSQYQPWSPFQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=7bba49a0bcba2d421414e59bee75b7a27294618441c633d54bd0843fba6c669a&width=400&height=225)
Kolkata was once home to India's most thriving Chinese community. All photos: Ronan O'Connell
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/4HFH53WLJFFTTCEDX64NGKPFLU.jpg?smart=true&auth=b2bb26a48ced15a4595be19a8dd88decc8556b3ede5df11f404f1b8f0d0794f4&width=400&height=225)
There are still remnants of Tiretta Bazaar for tourists to explore
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/IKNOWWG4UJAX7J6AKZRXXXOJCM.jpg?smart=true&auth=d55626cca0718c87481e1e0dd37dcb48b16c724ba678a5920295d8b9142caaa7&width=400&height=225)
Kolkata was the birthplace of Indian-Chinese cuisine
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/5KMMPV56MZBUHAPFIALOGPKVKI.jpg?smart=true&auth=eb2ef9ad52c54405aa25cd1310cda37f5623788a855a4e993d4a042ba0316db8&width=400&height=225)
A street food vendor in Kuala Lumpur's Chinatown
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/RZSQSLGCMVHLNFOKV526YH3G3Q.jpg?smart=true&auth=2b21f65bff4a3a2c0ea8331dbc4f68dd71a766b77c42fe0f34cb9a99c10015f9&width=400&height=225)
Malaysia is home to a range of Chinatowns across the country
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/MDSJ26RBERANZNAUURZOLTX7PA.jpg?smart=true&auth=376b45be92315bae95cb98d3736f336e27e385adf214bd7737a2760496521a3e&width=400&height=225)
Laksa noodle soup in Kuala Lumpur's Chinatown
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/B7TTQRE7WZFZHERXS3NWD74U7Y.jpg?smart=true&auth=7719314eabe6d02c7590057cb03485d6a7c21ed988d81f3b162e879ada9064e5&width=400&height=225)
Kuala Lumpur is home to numerous aesthetically pleasing temples
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/SKGAHX2AWFAUZEWRILXFUJJPOA.jpg?smart=true&auth=de48f93b7d7eda014cbc15cecd13e5500409ebab2f2eb4f37631c8167d8f32dc&width=400&height=225)
Make sure to visit the Indonesian capital's Chinatown at night
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/OI4DWXPSFNHNRJSHFFCB6YDHOE.jpg?smart=true&auth=a7d8a6bedd1ee7ccb56d0ba00c1cdfc520f7c02cb84d2cd6c07053e78ad6e3fe&width=400&height=225)
Glodok in Jakarta is essentially a buffet the size of an entire neighbourhood
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/2K663SM6QNARPBQ54VLVWX2ZWI.jpg?smart=true&auth=3781c1066a3f5b974cf9a8916c2ee2435a3bdf85ac134d711a26fd024bc9ffbd&width=400&height=225)
Jakarta Chinatown
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Sweets and treats line the streets of Glodok
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/2FUCDIR2JZGDRL7L5UKJFK62DU.jpg?smart=true&auth=28e790abd06744ab301142efcc90f101dc906d30b6df74039d87cdda9bfb73c3&width=400&height=225)
Bangkok's Chinatown is known for street food and temples
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/PPXYZRCX2VH73EYC6TR2WXXXC4.jpg?smart=true&auth=d8fb26bfcb7168bb27b30500b3217dd7ad303acceb52b8ccc1834f0de13e8122&width=400&height=225)
The Buddha Tooth Relic Temple in Singapore's Chinatown
Asia’s five best Chinatowns, from Indonesia to India
Explore age-old communities and excellent shopping streets, from Glodok to Tiretta Bazaar
Ronan O'Connell
26 December, 2023
- Listen In English
- Listen In Arabic