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Migrants in the City: The Chinese Cultural Center
(The Chinese Symbol for Phoenix) When many people think of Phoenix and of the various cultural zones within the city, their first thoughts are most likely of the Hispanic (primarily Mexican) and Native American influenced areas. But there are many other migrant groups and zones that have shaped Phoenix into the multi-cultural city it is today.
I recently traveled into
one such “border” zone right outside of the Sky Harbor Airport, the
Chinese Cultural Center. The striking traditional Chinese
architecture of the center first grabbed my attention. With its
vibrant red and green pavilions ( While not near as large as the Chinatowns of cities of similar (and even smaller) sizes, the Phoenix Chinese Center has a great deal of traditional Chinese culture to offer. There are several traditional Asian restaurants (and a very out of place Quizno’s), a vitamin and herb store, a movie and video store, a wedding dress shop, a jewelry store, several shops offering traditional Chinese and Asian inspired goods (lanterns, kimonos, slippers, etc), and even a travel agency with posters for destinations such as Hong Kong and Jakarta, Indonesia. My two favorite things about my trip inside this “border zone” would have to be the traditional Chinese garden, complete with a koi pond and fountains, and the market (99 Ranch Market). Walking inside the market I felt like I was actually in China. The aisle signs were in traditional Chinese symbols, and the fare was almost exclusively Asian. Although the people shopping in the market were from a wide range of ethnic backgrounds (including Asian, Caucasian, Hispanic, and African American, among others), the atmosphere and goods were decidedly far-east in nature. My journey inside the Chinese Cultural Center of Phoenix showed me how different cultural groups, such as the Chinese, always find ways to make their own “space” in new surroundings. These spaces offer a sort of “border zone” where the old world meets the new, and provide migrants with a way of blending in without totally giving up their heritage. Click on Pictures Below for Full Size
The Chinese Cultural Center of Phoenix:
COFCO Chinese
Cultural Center Website: http://www.phxchinatown.com/
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