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At Incheon Chinatown, Korean and Chinese cultures reside side by side and is home to around 500 Chinese immigrants. Incheon Chinatown area is the only one in Korea. It began with the opening of the Incheon Port in 1883 and the opening of the Chinese Consulate in 1884. During the 1940's, Incheon Chinatown was expert in trading Chinese silk, oriental medicine herbs, and chinaware. Its population reached great heights and the place was crowded with hundreds of Chinese restaurants. The Korean War however made the Incheon Chinatown shrink from its previous glory and the area is now just a small town. Most of the business among the dwellers here is now overtaken by Chinese restaurants.Incheon Chinatown is located in the Jung-gu district across the Incheon Subway Station Square. Its gate marking the entrance to Chinatown cannot escape the eyes. Incheon Chinatown is marked by certain buildings an monuments which is a must-see for the travelers to Incheon. The Chinese Middle and High Schools and the Hyean Catholic Lecture Room form the important educational pillars of the place. Several restaurants dot the Incheon Chinatown like the Gonghwa-chun (the first Chinese restaurant) and the Daechang Restaurant. Peru is a building at Incheon Chinatown that gives psychological support to theChinese people. Chinatown is marked by the great Confucius bronze statue bearing the memory of the great education. The Jung-gu Restaurant Business Union is also located here. The Hongyemun Gate at Incheon Chinatown was named after its head shape, which resembles a rainbow. The gate provides an impressive view of the whole port of Incheon.
The restaurant of Incheon Chinatown was the home of jajang-myeon, Koreans' favorite 'Chinese' food. Chinese restaurants here invented this cheap and simple dish for the harbor labor, jajang-myeon, which means noodles with fried soybean paste. Incheon Chinatown is known for providing the best tastes of Chinese cuisine. Although some say it’s a Korean Chinese taste…yet, Incheon Chinatown continues to the best choice for Chinese food all over Korea.
The Great Festival of Jajiangmyeon or the Incheon-China Day is celebrated every year during the month of October. The festival includes the direct participation of Chinese residents and gives way to Chinese culture publicity. The event also enhances the fraternal relationship between China and Korea. This festival in Incheon Chinatown provides opportunities to experience an exotic culture and enjoy a variety of entertainments. Incheon Chinatown goes on to be the favourite hangout of the city as it offers
authentic Chinese cuisine to all the food lovers that flock here all through the year.
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