Vibrant Chinatown today
Once a haven for drug peddlers, Zeedijk, the main street of Chinatown, has since undergone gentrification. The celebrated American jazz musician Chet Baker took his life there in 1988 and a plaque in his honour can still be seen outside the Hotel Prins Hendrik.
Chinatown many sights include the Guang Shan He Hua Temple, the largest Chinese Mahayana Buddhist monastery in Europe. Chinatown's traditional Asian architecture, with sloped roofs and arched corners, stand out in the context of Amsterdam's modern city centre. The quarter is also home to Amsterdam's premier LGBT venue, Café ‘t Mandje which was opened in 1927 by the legendary lesbian activist Bet van Beeren and was once the popular haunt of sailors and prostitutes.
Traditional Chinese apothecaries and martial arts schools are a hit with curious Westerners looking to cure ailments or develop their mental and physical facilities. The reflexology and foot massage spas in Amsterdam's Chinatown are truly sensual experiences, where staff set your feet in a tub of scented water while massaging your forearms, hands and temples.
A good time to visit Chinatown is during Chinese festivals when the lion dance and dragon dance are performed amid much fanfare and fireworks. Spend a day in this delightful neighbourhood that brings Asia to you in the heart of Amsterdam.
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