Cultural Differences Between New York And Hong Kong

Improved Essays
Similarities and Differences of the culture in New York and Hong Kong

Being well-known international cities in the world, New York and Hong Kong share a similar population history, which reflects a similar ethnic diversity and cultural characteristics. New York was explored by the European in the 16th century at first, and being ruled by the British from 1664 to 1783 (Burrows, 1998). Hong Kong was also one of the colonies of Britain in 1842, making culture of Hong Kong a combination of both Chinese and Western culture. New York and Hong Kong were both commercial centers during the rule of British, which attracted businesses and trading all over the world. There are also times of migration in both New York and Hong Kong, due to economic development
…show more content…
Since the ethnic diversity of New York and Hong Kong are similar, they both comprise cuisines that belong to different ethnic groups. A large variety of restaurants can also be found in New York and Hong Kong, providing different cuisines with different cultures.

However, the local food culture in Hong Kong and New York are slightly different. In Hong Kong, there are street food combining Hong Kong food culture and the western ones, for instance fish balls and egg waffle, while for New York, the food has mainly combined with European culture, such as New York-style cheesecake and pizza. Also, different areas in New York City represent different national cuisines, for example, the Chinatown in Manhattan represents Chinese and Vietnamese food, while in Hong Kong, national restaurants are distributed in different areas and there are no representations.

In conclusion, although the economy and cultural development of both New York and Hong Kong are different, due to the similarity of population history and background, the culture of New York and Hong Kong have differences, as well as sharing some similarities, in the aspect of arts, religious belief and food

Related Documents

  • Improved Essays

    Throughout Lee’s book, she illustrated her values of authentic chinese food by traveling to China to discover what authentic chinese food could be. However, I think she was a little bias when doing so because she is American-Chinese herself and this probably affected her opinions of American-Chinese food. Lee’s assumptions and assertions, however, do agree with those generally held in the field she did her research in. For example Jen Lin-Liu, the author of A Stir-Fried Journey Through China, also shed light on the differences between pure chinese…

    • 426 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Great Essays

    Sierra Evans BIS 257: Asian American Studies Book Report November 25, 2015 In From Canton Restaurant to Panda Express: A History of Chinese Food in the United States, Haiming Liu describes the evolution of Chinese food in America and the progressive journey of how it became the globally recognized phenomenon it is today. Liu provides an in depth description of the struggle early immigrants went through being immersed in American culture, as well as the fundamental role Chinese food played in their integration, acceptance, and survival. Chinese restaurants have spread like wildfire, and Liu describes the process in which a foreign and feared upon cuisine became the success it is today. Reading this book gave me new perspectives by drawing…

    • 1432 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Great Essays
  • Improved Essays

    To register good business performance in terms of profits and revenue base from the Chinese Capital, Billy’s Barbeque should adopt some local cuisine in its menu. Chinese people adore their culture and are reluctant to embrace the western culture. Any product or service that is customized to the local standards will, therefore, sell in China. China Popular Local Foods China is a rich culture that is practiced at all times, which sets them apart from the rest of the countries. The rich culture is evident in their cuisines that are famed for their meaning appearance, taste, color, and aroma.…

    • 991 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Great Essays

    New York Chapter Summaries

    • 1406 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Brown, M. (2014). In New York. N.p.: Alfred A, Knopf.…

    • 1406 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Great Essays
  • Improved Essays

    E. B. White makes it seem as though the entirety of New York is devoid of emotion and its inhabitants will only work for the sake of money in his Here is New York. He expresses this through the tone in which he describes New Yorkers. However, White betrays this depiction by subtly introducing a human emotion that has the potential to bud and spread through New York and make it feel more like the New York that we are used to. White shows his respect for New York by showing the ability of the city to change no matter how empty it may seem.…

    • 817 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    When any of these groups settled in a new place, ethnic enclaves were created. These places would be filled with stores, restaurants, and other facilities run by people of the same ethnic group. African Americans created artistic hubs such as Harlem, filled with African Americans bringing their culture from the South to create a new fusion of cultures. The Jewish formed new congregations where they settled, keeping their religious culture. The Chinese continued to celebrate their traditional holidays, wear their old clothes, and hairstyles.…

    • 542 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Decent Essays

    The city also has more immediate pleasure. Lower Manhattan has different ethnic ghettos, Jewish Lower East Side and Chinatown Little Italy continue to decrease; and concentration of art in Soho, and the eastern and western countryside. I love New York City China Town. When I go to Chinatown, I feel like I have returned to…

    • 56 Words
    • 1 Pages
    Decent Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Immigration is an important part of United States’ history. Between the years of 1870 and 1910, more than 20 million individuals migrated to the nation. As the years progressed, many of the American natives began to treat migrants unfairly. The group of migrants that I have chosen to focus on is the Chinese. Many Chinese migrants dwelled together in Los Angeles’s Chinatown.…

    • 410 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Long before European settlers took hold of New York City, the Lenape tribe were natives to this land. “Around 11, 000 years before the first Europeans sailed through the Narrows, the Lenape people foraged, hunted and fished the regional bounty”¹. In the early 1500’s a man named Giovanni da Verrazano was the first European explorer to ever land on New York’s soil. In the ear of 1609, a man named Henry Hudson discovered and created the first settlement while sailing up and down the Atlantic coast in search of a faster root to Asia. This new settlement was later called New Amsterdam and established as Dutch trading colony.…

    • 1273 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Great Essays

    Chinese Exclusion Act

    • 1402 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Since the mid-1800s in the United States, through the hardships of discrimination and demeaning labor, Chinese immigrants have never fully acclimated or been accepted completely into American culture and society. However, over the years Chinese Americans have overcome their initial hardships when first immigrating and have been successful in making a home for themselves here in the United States. Some such examples of this can be seen in New York Chinatowns and in San Francisco suburbs, and their Chinese culture and effects appear in many areas of the United States, in American dishes, fashion, technology, and artistry. During the mid-1850s, a large number of Chinese traversed the Pacific Ocean to the United States for one reason: there was…

    • 1402 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Great Essays
  • Superior Essays

    Throughout this excerpt of his book, Wah narrates his inner confliction between wanting to eat the beef and greens dish served at the restaurant, a staple of his Chinese culture, and not wanting to be seen by other Chinese-Canadians due to his embarrassment of only being half Chinese. This confliction emerges from Wah’s insecurity of being caught in between white and Chinese, further amplifying his feeling of separation…

    • 1604 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Superior Essays

    The highly diverse cultures of the Americans and Chinese influence their unique way of life, principles, views, and perception of life. Summary Hassle`s River Town by Hessler (2013) presents a clear and insightful…

    • 1149 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Decent Essays

    For many years New York has been a destination for many people to visit or to live in. There are many things the city has to offer, but at times people will not fully appreciate it. New York is a place in which people can find many opportunities and have a chance for a fresh start. As a New Yorker, and living here my entire life there are some things that I will often take for granted. However, after reading E.B. White’s essay and understanding his point of view on New York and its residents, it has made me reconsider many things about living here, and to appreciate the wonderful city I live in.…

    • 751 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Decent Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Yet, Hong Kong Disneyland would not have been as successful without incorporating the Chinese culture and traditions into the Disney setting to accommodate the regional visitors. Employees at the theme park speak English, Cantonese and also Mandarin; brochures and maps are printed in both traditional and simplified characters to accommodate mainland Chinese visitors (Fowler & Marr 2006). To demonstrate Disney’s willingness to adapt to the Chinese culture, Hong Kong Disneyland developed its own version of the show “It’s a Small World” with characters dressed in a traditional Chinese opera costume as well as adding in scenes that feature the city’s iconic landmarks such as Victoria Harbour and the Peak. Furthermore, Hong Kong Disneyland blended in the local myths of feng shui into the global Disney setting, including the removal of the number four in all elevators at the park (Holson 2005). On the other hand, Hong Kong Disneyland has adapted to the Chinese culture through accommodating the Asian taste buds and the local eating habits by introducing traditional Chinese dishes such as roast sucking pig, sliced abalone and dim sums (Choi 2006).…

    • 801 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    New York and Chicago are two of the United States biggest cities. The two cities are extremely diverse and rich in history. Residents of New York and Chicago share similar values and living habits. New York City and Chicago are the most infamous American cities and for that reason they have many great attractions. Although there are many similarities, New York City and Chicago share many differences also.…

    • 1339 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Improved Essays