ABSTRACT
London’s Chinatown, at the heart of the city, has been a powerful element in the representation of London as a multicultural city. It was celebrated prominently in London’s successful Olympic bid in 2005 and has become a crucial factor in strategies for expanding political and economic ties with China. With its arches, pagoda, and dual-language street signs, Chinatown has become a tourist destination for visitors from across the world, both Chinese and non-Chinese. In 2006, Lord Mayor John Stuttard launched what has become an annual “China in London” festival. This includes the Chinese New Year celebrations that have been based in Chinatown for some years, but now have expanded into a major public event in London’s major open-air meeting space, Trafalgar Square.
