British Chinese

British Chinese, also known as Chinese British or Chinese Britons, are people of Chinese – especially Han Chinese – ancestry who live in the United Kingdom. They make up the second-largest group of Overseas Chinese in Western Europe after France.

The United Kingdom has the oldest Chinese community in Western Europe. The first Chinese people came between 1842, after the First Opium War, and the 1940s, after World War II. They settled in ports like Liverpool, London, Cardiff, and Glasgow. Many British Chinese today come from former British colonies such as Hong Kong, Malaysia, and Singapore. In recent years, people have also come from Vietnam, mainland China, and Hong Kong.

According to the 2021 Census, there were 502,216 people of Chinese ethnic group in the United Kingdom, making up 0.8% of the population. British Chinese live in many cities, including London, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Manchester, Birmingham, Liverpool, Leeds, Sheffield and Cambridge. As a group, they are often among the most successful in education and work.

Terminology

In the United Kingdom, the word "Asian" usually means people from South Asian countries, like Indians, Pakistanis, Bangladeshis, Sri Lankans, and Kashmiris. For a long time, people of Chinese ancestry were not clearly counted in official records. The first time a question about ethnicity was asked in a UK census was in 1991. In 2001, Chinese people were placed in a category called "Chinese or other ethnic group," not under "Asian or Asian British." By 2011, the census allowed people in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland to choose "Chinese" as their ethnicity, and in Scotland, they could choose "Chinese, Chinese Scottish or Chinese British."

The term "British Chinese" started being used in the 1990s to describe people who feel both British and Chinese. This helps those who might not feel fully "British" or fully "Chinese." Other terms like "British East Asian" and "British East and Southeast Asian" are also used, especially when talking about racism, like during the COVID-19 pandemic.

History

Main article: History of Chinese immigration to the United Kingdom

Britain has had Chinese people living there since the 1800s. Over time, many Chinese people came to live in the United Kingdom, and today there are many different groups. Some of the first Chinese people in Britain were sailors who worked on ships for the British East India Company. They often stayed in ports like Liverpool and London, which led to the creation of early Chinatown areas.

Shen Fu-Tsung was the first ever recorded ethnic Chinese person to set foot in what is now the United Kingdom, having visited over 300 years ago in 1685

In the 1950s, many people from Hong Kong's New Territories moved to Britain and opened restaurants. Later, people from Malaysia, Singapore, and China also came. Some came to study, while others looked for work. Today, Chinese people in Britain come from many different places in China and do many kinds of jobs.

Demographics

Distribution of British Chinese by local authority, 2021 census

The 2021 United Kingdom census recorded 502,216 British Chinese people, making up 0.8% of the population. Most lived in England, with smaller numbers in Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland. Some cities with large British Chinese communities include the City of London, Cambridge, Tower Hamlets, Westminster, and Camden.

According to the 2011 census, British Chinese people were the least religious group in the UK, with more than half not identifying with any religion. Many follow Christianity, Buddhism, or Islam, though some have no specific religious affiliation.

British Chinese population by region and country
Region / Country	2021		2011		2001		1991
Region / Country	Number	%	Number	%	Number	%	Number	%
England	431,165	0.76%	379,503	0.72%	220,681	0.45%	141,661	0.30%
—Greater London	147,520	1.68%	124,250	1.52%	80,201	1.12%	56,579	0.85%
—South East	64,329	0.69%	53,061	0.61%	33,089	0.41%	18,226	0.24%
—North West	54,051	0.73%	48,049	0.68%	26,887	0.40%	17,803	0.26%
—East of England	38,444	0.61%	33,503	0.57%	20,385	0.38%	12,494	0.25%
—West Midlands	33,301	0.56%	31,274	0.56%	16,099	0.31%	9,588	0.19%
—Yorkshire and the Humber	29,589	0.54%	28,435	0.54%	12,340	0.25%	8,177	0.17%
—South West	26,516	0.47%	22,243	0.42%	12,722	0.26%	6,687	0.15%
—East Midlands	22,973	0.47%	24,404	0.54%	12,910	0.31%	7,588	0.19%
—North East	14,442	0.55%	14,284	0.55%	6,048	0.24%	4,519	0.18%
Scotland	47,075	0.87%	33,706	0.64%	16,310	0.32%	10,476	0.21%
Wales	14,454	0.47%	13,638	0.45%	6,267	0.22%	4,801	0.17%
Northern Ireland	9,495	0.50%	6,303	0.35%	4,145	0.25%	—N/a	—N/a
United Kingdom	502,216	0.75%	433,150	0.69%	247,403	0.42%	156,938	0.29%

Top 15 Areas (2021/22 Census)
Local authority	Population	Percentage
Edinburgh	15,076	2.9%
Glasgow	14,300	2.3%
Manchester	12,644	2.3%
Birmingham	12,487	1.1%
Surrey	11,034	0.9%
Tower Hamlets, London	10,279	3.3%
Cambridgeshire	9,594	1.4%
Barnet, London	9,434	2.4%
Hertfordshire	8,950	0.7%
Liverpool	8,841	2.0%
Southwark, London	8,405	2.7%
Oxfordshire	8,249	1.1%
Leeds	8,117	1.0%
Kent	7,656	0.5%
Essex	7,612	0.5%

Religious Affiliation (Based on Census)
	England and Wales		Scotland	Northern Ireland
	2011	2021	2011	2011	2021
No religion	55.6%	62.4%	68.6%	73.9%	71.8%
Christianity	19.6%	17.3%	12.2%	14.7%	15.8%
Islam	2%	0.4%	1%	5.9%	0.1%
Buddhism	12.6%	9.5%	9.9%		4.3%
Other	1.5%	0.6%	1.3%		4.3%
Not stated	8.7%	9.8%	7%	5.5%	7.9%

Community

Chinatown in Birmingham

Historically, British Chinatowns started as places where Chinese communities could live together. You can find them in big cities like London, Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool, Newcastle, Sheffield, and Aberdeen. Today, these areas have fewer Chinese families and are more like tourist spots with many Chinese restaurants and shops.

There are groups in the UK that help the Chinese community. One group organizes social events, while another shares news and cultural stories. There is also a center that offers support to people of Chinese background facing challenges.

Since the year 2000, many young British Chinese have used online discussion sites to talk about their lives and experiences in Britain. In these online spaces and community activities, they sometimes call themselves “British-born Chinese” or “BBCs”.

A Chinese language poster calling for a meeting with a visiting Ph.D. Dr. Pan who was there to build an ancestral hall. Limehouse, London, 1924.

Chinese population in London (2011 Census)

The Chinese population in London is spread out across the city. According to the 2011 census, Greater London had 124,250 British Chinese people, making up 1.5% of the city's population.

There are Chinese community centers in several parts of London, including Kensington and Chelsea, Southwark, Westminster, Camden, Greenwich, Lewisham, and Tower Hamlets. These centers host many activities and events.

The Westminster Chinese Library, located at Charing Cross Library, has a large collection of Chinese books, music, and videos for people to borrow. It also offers information and organizes Chinese events.

Denver House Bounds Green

The Ming-Ai (London) Institute works on projects to remember and celebrate the ways British Chinese people have helped local communities.

Chinese New Year celebrations in London began in the 1960s and include colorful parades, fireworks, and dances. There are also shows in Trafalgar Square with dragon and lion dances, and performances of traditional and modern Chinese arts. Fireworks light up Leicester Square, and London Chinatown has food stalls, decorations, and more. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2021 celebrations happened online instead.

The London Dragon Boat Festival happens every June at the London Regatta Centre in Royal Albert Docks. It is organized by the London Chinatown Lions Club.

London also holds the British Chinese Food Awards each year. This event celebrates great cooking, talent, and business skills in Chinese food across the UK.

Main article: Chinese community in London

Racism

Main article: Racism in the United Kingdom § Chinese

Chinese merchant seamen memorial, Liverpool's Pier Head

Some people in the United Kingdom have faced unfair treatment because of their race. British Chinese people have said that racism against them is not always taken as seriously as racism against other groups, like African or South Asian people. Many racist actions against British Chinese go unreported because people do not trust the police.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, many British Chinese people faced more racism. Some were called mean names and felt unsafe at school or work. This made many feel very sad and worried. The community came together to support each other and stay strong. Groups like Britain’s East and Southeast Asian Network helped share positive stories about British Chinese people. Churches also offered support and friendship to those affected by racism.

Socioeconomics

Since the 1960s, the British Chinese community has made big steps forward in education and jobs. Even so, many British Chinese people work in restaurants and food services. Overall, British Chinese people are very well educated. They are among the least likely to need help from the government and usually earn more money than other groups in the UK. They also tend to stay healthier, get into fewer troubles with the law, and do better in school. But even with these advantages, British Chinese people sometimes face unfair treatment and discrimination. They also often own fewer homes and are among the least wealthy groups in the UK. About half of British Chinese children live in families that struggle financially after paying for things like rent.

The British Chinese place a lot of importance on education. Many families focus on helping their children do well in school, even if it means extra tutoring or giving up other activities. Because of this, British Chinese students often do very well in school. For example, they are more likely than students from other backgrounds to take advanced science classes and to get good grades. Studies show that British Chinese students are four times more likely to earn top science grades compared to other students in the UK. Even children whose first language is not English often catch up quickly and do well in school. Many British Chinese parents believe that a good education is the key to success in life. Because of this focus on learning, British Chinese people are more likely to go to university and to get higher-paying jobs than many other groups in the UK.

Arts

The esea contemporary helps develop and show work by modern Chinese artists. It started in 1986 in Manchester, a city with many people from China living there.

The Yellow Earth Theatre is a group in London that started in 1995. It works to show the talents of East Asian performers and writers in Britain.

Here are some British Chinese musicians:

British Chinese films and TV shows include:

Documentaries include:

Radio shows include:

Books and publishing include efforts to share stories about China with the world.

Notable individuals

Main article: List of British Chinese people

Many people of Chinese heritage have made important contributions in the United Kingdom. They come from different areas and have achieved success in various fields. Their stories show the rich culture and history of British Chinese communities.