A Christmas Day tour in the world’s oldest Chinatown

Wander around the best spots in Binondo during the best time of the year with these top destinations that match whatever holiday-specific errand you have in mind.

Last-minute Christmas shopping at Divisoria

Divisoria has always been a popular shopping destination for many Filipinos throughout the year, but the holiday season brings its popularity to an all-time high. This comes as no surprise, however, since this is where one can find the most affordable pieces to complete every Christmas shopping list.

The bustling streets of Divisoria are surrounded by multistory and fully airconditioned retail centers like 168 Mall, D8 Mall, Divisoria Mall and Tutuban Center, complete with raw and whole items at cheaper prices. It also hosts a nearby night market. Aside from Christmas shopping, the nearby Andres Bonifacio monument—right in front of the Tutuban Center along with the Tutuban Railway Station—holds proof of the rich history of the area.

Divisoria is located at Sta. Elena St., Binondo, Manila. Operating hours may vary per establishment.

Relive old Binondo with Chinatown Museum

Amid the busy and festive nature of the holidays, visiting a museum can be unconventional as it is fun. However, thanks to the unique location of this new cultural museum in Binondo, Christmas shopping and museum hopping can be a breeze.

Chinatown Museum features a microcosm of the world’s oldest Chinatown while also being hailed as Manila’s first museum housed inside a mall, the Lucky Chinatown Mall. Upon entry, visitors are immediately greeted with a small replica of the Binondo Church, followed by a series of photographs showing its evolution since its consecration in 1956.

The core of the museum features 18 galleries that showcase the rich cultural, economic, political, religious and social landscapes of Binondo. Visitors are directed to traditional shophouses and cottage industries that shaped Binondo’s economy—including stores that sell housewares, textiles and even pastries. There’s also a model of a tranvia that once traversed the roads of the district. Finally, visitors are led into four galleries called Escolta, Meisic, Rosario and Unionpay, all of which accommodate rotating exhibitions.

Chinatown Museum is located on the fourth floor of Building A, Lucky Chinatown, along Reina Regente Street in Binondo, Manila. Operating hours are between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. from Tuesdays to Sundays. Tickets are priced at P150 with a P30 discount for senior citizens and a P50 discount for students.

Count your blessings at the Binondo Church

Also known as the Minor Basilica of San Lorenzo Ruiz, the convenient location of the Binondo Church right beside the busy street of Quentin Paredes makes it a crowd favorite during Simbang Gabi.

Aside from its festive ambiance, the Binondo Church is also well identified due to its Spanish or European Baroque architectural style. It also has a notable octagonal, five-tier Chinese-style bell tower inspired by the art and culture of the surrounding Chinatown.

At present, the Binondo Church continues to hold Masses in multiple languages such as Filipino, English, as well as Mandarin and Hokkien, which are the main Chinese dialects spoken around the Binondo area.

Beat the cold weather with unli-broth at Lan Zhou La Mien

In the Philippines, it’s easy to spot the beginning of the holiday season due to colder days and longer nights. Especially after completing the Simbang Gabi, what’s a more fitting meal than a bowl of soup at a nearby restaurant?

Lan Zhou La Mien creates its own version of the unli-rice trend with a refillable broth accompanying its hand-pulled Lamien or longevity noodles. Although it mainly serves noodles, it also offers other options such as fried rice and dumplings.

Just like any other typical restaurant in Binondo, Lan Zhou La Mien puts minimal emphasis on the interiors, rather than focusing on the food it serves. Nonetheless, it boasts eye-catching and brightly-colored furniture common in many Chinese restaurants, even those outside Binondo.

Lan Zhou La Mien is located at 818 Benavidez Street in Binondo. Operating hours are from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Celebrating the holidays, Binondo Style

Celebrating Christmas outside one’s hometown used to be a common scenario for many Filipinos—but not until the pandemic happened.

Nevertheless, the current vitality of Binondo is a good example of how an anticipated event such as Christmas can make an everyday destination more memorable.

The author is the principal architect at Fulgar Architects creating unique and extraordinary design specialties for various property ventures from hotels, condominiums, museums, commercial, to mixed-use township developments. Please visit www.ianfulgar.com

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