The majority of Chinese settlers in the UK originate from former British Territories, such as Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Vietnam with a small proportion from mainland China and Taiwan.
Values and tradition
Chinese culture is centred around three colours: red, black, and white. Red symbolises the positive aspects of life such as happiness and wealth and is always associated with good luck. Black is associated with negativity such as sin, evil, disasters, sadness and cruelty and signifies bad fortune. White balances the two colours and signifies moderation, purity, honesty and harmony.
The belief in fate is strong in Chinese culture with a core belief in luck and increasing wealth and prosperity. Fortune-telling is widely practised and the most common form is from the date and time of a person’s birth.
Language
There are several local languages in China and the majority of Chinese speak a native local dialect and Standard Mandarin. Cantonese is also widely spoken among Chinese communities in the UK.
Religion in China varies widely with Taoism, Buddhism, and Chinese folk amongst the major religions practised.
Recreation
The oldest and most important festival in China is the Spring Festival, more commonly known in the UK as Chinese New Year. The date of the New Year is determined by the lunar calendar which varies from late January to early February. The festival celebrates the earth coming back to life, and the start of ploughing and sowing.
Western influences on Chinese culture include pop music, nightclubs, cinemas and fashion. Hundreds of different styles of Chinese martial arts have developed over the past two to four thousand years, many with their own sets of techniques and ideas.
Cuisine
Chinese cuisine is widely available in the UK with several restaurants and takeaways in Bury. Staple ingredients in Chinese food include combinations of rice, noodles, meat and vegetables eaten with chopsticks. Tea is also widely consumed and as well as being a drink, Chinese tea is used in traditional Chinese medicine.
Chinese settlements in the UK are often known as ‘Chinatown’, within which, sections of the community live and work. Chinatowns are often brightly decorated with several Chinese restaurants and businesses appealing to all communities.
