Chinatown – Banawe Street
Quezon City’s Banawe area, aside from it being widely known as “Autoparts Capital of the Philippines” due to its wide array of car parts shops and accessories, is also home to one of the biggest Chinatowns in the world.
Bounded by Sgt. Emilio Rivera St., Eulogio Rodriguez Sr. Ave., Mayon St., and Gregorio Araneta Ave.
Operating Hours: Varies per establishment
Ordinance No. SP-2453, S-2015 An Ordinance Declaring the Quezon City Chinatown located at Banawe Street as a Tourism District of Quezon City
Need to Know: Quezon City’s Banawe area, aside from it being widely known as “Autoparts Capital of the Philippines” due to its wide array of car parts shops and accessories, is also home to one of the biggest Chinatowns in the world.
Representing the Banawe area as the “Chinatown” of Quezon City are the two Chinese páifāng or the Filipino-Chinese Friendship Arch which can be seen at the intersection of Pres. Manuel Quezon Avenue and Banawe Street, the north and south entry points of Banawe Street. These landmark arches were erected in 2013 as a project of the Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc (FFCCCII).
Banawe serves as a venue for the annual celebration of the Chinese New Year in Quezon City. As part of the Chinese New Year Celebration this 2024, the QC Tourism Department organized the first QC Chinatown Heritage Tour on the 1st day of the 3-day celebration and on the 3rd day, the Department of Public Order and Safety Green Transport Office arranged a QC Heritage Bike tour wherein invited guests were able to experience and discover different Filipino-Chinese cultural hotspots in the area such as the Tzu Chi Buddhist Foundation, a humanitarian and nonprofit organization established in the Philippines in November 1994 which helps people through charity works and different humanitarian programs; the Sheng Lian Temple, which was built in 1960 and headed by feng shui expert Father Wongsengtian; the Wow Toy Museum, a family-owned vast collection of toy cars, collector’s items, dioramas and many others; as well as Chinese restaurants such as Mandarin Sky, Causeway Restaurant, David’s Tea House, D’ Original Maki Haus, and Cai Hok Seafood Restaurant.
Alongside the celebration of this year’s Chinese New Year is the start of the redevelopment of Banawe Avenue by the City Architect Department, wherein Chinese characters are incorporated in street signages, dragon ornaments placed on existing lamp posts and street intersections painted in Chinese inspired patterns. These are just the initial changes and there are still more upcoming projects outlined for the redevelopment of the QC Chinatown District.
Gallery
