The Most Beautiful Chinatowns To Visit In Indonesia

Indonesia’s diversity is not only limited to its own indigenous ethnicities, but extends to influences from other nations. Chinese-Indonesians make up a significant proportion of the archipelago’s inhabitants. In many major cities, Chinese people in Indonesia are crammed together in one neighborhood during the colonial era to facilitate control over the community. Concentrated that way, the culture thrives and often mixes with indigenous customs, creating a distinctive atmosphere with beguiling attractions to explore.

1. Semarang Chinatown

Semarang, Central Java, is a modern city with a charming historical side. As a main seaport town in ancient times, Semarang has a distinctive mixture of cultural influences from Europe, Middle East, also Chinese. After being relocated from different neighborhoods around the major port, the Chinese quickly started over and built new buildings, temples, and cultural artifacts such as statues and oriental ornaments. The area also includes the Semawis Night Market, widely known for its lively culinary scene. Don’t forget to try lumpia, a Chinese fried spring roll that has become Semarang’s popular local snack.

Pecinan Semarang, Jalan Beteng, Kranggan, Semarang City, Central Java, Indonesia

https://www.instagram.com/p/BBScC4xgGy_/?tagged=pecinansemarang

2. Singkawang Chinatown

Shrine

Singkawang in Kalimantan (Borneo) holds one of the biggest Chinese communities in Indonesia, making the Chinatown area the largest and among the liveliest in the country. Chinese customs, architecture, and decorations can be observed in every corner of this town, although some of the cultural aspects have been fused with the culture of Dayak, the main ethnic group of Borneo. Singkawang is also one of the most popular tourist destinations to celebrate Chinese New Year and Cap Go Meh, as that’s when the town is the most festive with big parades, events, shows, and decorations.

Singkawang City, West Kalimantan, Indonesia

A house shrine in Singkawang | © Rokok Indonesia/Flickr

3. Jakarta Chinatown (Glodok)

Building, Buddhist Temple, Shop

The Chinese culture and community thrive amid this formerly major seaport town, even after tall offices were erected, mega shopping malls built, and the city considered Indonesia’s metropolitan. The Chinatown is lined with stores selling all kinds of goods from clothes to cheap electronic devices. The Jakarta Chinatown is also an old town with heritage buildings, many of which still operate as legendary stores or food vendors standing since the early 1900s. The neighborhood is also dense with temples and shrines that double as tourists destinations, rich with oriental aesthetics and cultural aspects.

5. Solo Chinatown (Sudiroprajan Village)

In Sudiroprajan Village in Solo, Central Java, the captivating Chinese culture meets one of the Javanese in symbols, architecture, and customs. More than just a home for the Chinese community, this area is also a testament to Indonesia’s multiculturalism. One of the neighborhood’s highlights is Pasar Gede Solo, which is the biggest traditional market in Solo preserved as a cultural heritage. The old market and the areas around it reflect a unique combination of European architecture, Javanese adornments, and Chinese environment.

Sudiroprajan, Surakarta City, Central Java, Indonesia

Chinese New Year’s at Solo Chinatown | © bennylin/Flickr

6. Batam Chinatown (Nagoya Hill)

Batam is located in the heart of the ASEAN golden triangle, making it a strategic place for Chinese traders to live and make a living. The Chinese community is concentrated near Nagoya Hill, a vibrant neighborhood bustling with all kinds of trading activities, as well as thriving tourism and culinary experience. Other than heritage buildings and temples, the area has modern tourist destinations such as luxe hotels, mega shopping malls, and more.

Nagoya Hill, Jalan Imam Bonjol-Nagoya, Lubuk Baja Kota, Batam City, Riau Islands, Indonesia

Temple in Nagoya, Batam | © yeowatzup/Flickr

7. Medan Chinatown (Asia Mega Mas)

Emerging from a formerly ordinary residential area of Chinese-Indonesians in Medan, North Sumatra, Asia Mega Mas is now a bustling culinary destination. Coming alive during the afternoon until late at night, the restaurants in this area offer exotic Chinese meals that bring animals like snakes, frogs, and lizards to the table. It also has vendors selling Taiwanese or Korean street food with affordable prices. There are also vendors who sell cheap goods, from clothes to home utensils.

Asia Mega Mas, Sei Rengas II, Medan City, North Sumatra, Indonesia

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.