Nelson Street · Chinatown
Chinatown & the Chinese Arch
Liverpool's Chinese community dates back to the 19th century: many seamen arrived in the late 1860s with Alfred Holt's Blue Funnel Line. The 13.5-metre arch on Nelson Street was made in Shanghai and assembled here in 2000.
- Arch height
- 13.5 metres
- Arch made in
- Shanghai
- Arch opened
- Chinese New Year 2000
A ship arrived in Liverpool directly from China in 1834 to trade silk and cotton wool, and from the late 1860s Alfred Holt and Company’s Blue Funnel Line employed large numbers of Chinese seamen. From the 1890s some settled and opened businesses serving sailors near the docks.
During the Second World War up to 20,000 Chinese mariners were based in the city. After a four-month strike in 1942 for pay equal to that of British crews, many were later forced to leave on one-way voyages to China, separated from wives and children in Liverpool.
The arch on Nelson Street was built in Shanghai, assembled in Liverpool and opened at Chinese New Year in 2000, at a cost of £700,000. It stands 13.5 metres high. Chinatown is often described as home to the oldest Chinese community in Europe.
- 1834
A ship arrives directly from China to trade silk and cotton wool.
- 1860s
The Blue Funnel Line brings Chinese seamen to the port.
- 1890s
Chinese-run businesses open near the docks.
- 1942
Chinese mariners strike for equal pay.
- 2000
The Chinese Arch opens on Nelson Street.
How much history this place holds
The Old Town Time Meter
Old Town Time Meter
49/100
Historic
- Time on this spot166 years, since 1860 (Chinese seamen of the Blue Funnel Line)22/40
- Age of the present building26 years, built 20003/20
- Layers of history5 documented chapters15/15
- Continuity136 years in the same use (Chinese-run businesses)9/10
Part of the historic district of Baltic Triangle · district meter 81/100, Deep time
An index of the documented time and history held by this place, part of Old Town Liverpool's Quantum Energy Mapping. How it is measured.
Old Town Liverpool guides
With the story behind the building
Make an evening of it
What's on nearby
Things to do
Tours that start nearby
- Bus tours · Sightseeing from £15 per adult City Explorer Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour City Explorer Liverpool (Maghull Coaches) Times, prices & meeting point
- Beatles · Bus tours from £20 per adult Beatles Explorer Bus Tour City Explorer Liverpool (Maghull Coaches) Times, prices & meeting point
- River cruises · Sightseeing from £14 per adult Mersey Ferries River Explorer Cruise Mersey Ferries Times, prices & meeting point
Around Chinatown & the Chinese Arch
Sources: Wikipedia: Chinatown, Liverpool; Food Standards Agency food hygiene rating data (Open Government Licence v3.0), updated 16 October 2026.