Chinatown, Milan

Chinatown in Milan is an ethnic enclave which welcomes the oldest and largest Chinese community in Italy. It reaches via Paolo Sarpi, via Bramante, via Aleardi and via Niccolini.

History and characteristics

Around 1920 Chinese immigrants from Wencheng County (Zhejiang province) started to move to this area of the city. They chose it because its courtyards allowed people to create laboratories.

Note. Historical Chinatown.

The first shops sold silk, mainly used to make ties. During World War II they started to sell leather belts for the Italian and German soldiers.

At the end of the last century Chinatown became famous around the whole region of Lombardy. Supermarkets, bookshops and pharmacies (or herbal medicine shops) opened mainly for the Chinese population of the area. 

In Chinatown later opened clothing shops, travel agencies, jewelleries, opticians, computer shops, internet points and many others. Here, we can also find restaurants, cafes and KTVs. The restaurants mainly cook Zhejiang province food, but have recently started to make hot pot and Sichuan and Beijing typical cuisine.

The most famous department store is the Oriental Mall in via Rosmini. We can also find the biggest store for ethnic food in Italy: Kathay.

                        Note. The Oriental Mall and Kathay in Chinatown.

Chinatown is where many newspapers in Chinese are printed; one of the most important is Europe China News.

At the end of 2008 the Comune of Milan decided to make via Paolo Sarpi a pedestrian district; it goes from Porta Volta to Corso Sempione.

Events

The area is very interesting because of the many Chinese ornaments and signs. Also famous are the many celebrations of the Chinese community such as the Chinese New Year, with music, lights and dragons. 

Note. Chinatown during the Chinese New Year. Intorre, M. February 2, 2022.

Other notable events are the China Film Festival, during which people can watch Italian-subtitled Chinese films and the Oriental Design Week.