The first Chinese immigrants arrived in Joburg to work on the mines when the city was founded during the 1890s gold rush. By the 1900s, Joburg's First Chinatown had been established along Commissioner Street in Ferreirasdorp, where today you can still find a few Chinese restaurants and a legendary Chinese supermarket run by the third generation of the Pon family.
Nowadays, the city's Chinese community has moved and in recent decades, new Chinatowns have been established in different corners of Joburg. The 2000s saw much of the original Ferreirasdorp population establish their base at the New Chinatown in Cyrildene. In more recent times, Joburg has seen the rise of the ubiquitous China malls – vast, shopping malls generally found in more industrial areas of the city that sell goods made in China, including clothing, electronics, accessories, and homeware at low, wholesale prices. The original 500-store China Mall is located in Amalgam in the south, and across the region, there are similar centres with names like Dragon City and Oriental City, but often known locally simply as "the China Mall".
The cultural traditions of the old country are still upheld in Joburg's different Chinatowns, particularly the annual celebration of the Chinese Lunar New Year or Spring Festival. These exuberant parties include incredible fireworks displays, as well as traditional dance and music performances.
Chinese New Year 2025
Find out where to celebrate Chinese New Year in Joburg here.
There's also plenty to discover in the city – whether you are looking for authentic Chinese restaurants or want to explore Chinese-South African culture on a walk through Chinatown, you'll find what you're looking for in this guide to Chinese Joburg.
First Chinatown (Ferreirasdorp)
Between buildings 5 and 17 on Commissioner Street is where the city’s original Chinatown was first settled in Ferreirasdorp, close to the site of the first mining claims and the bustling market square. The settlement of Johannesburg was established in 1886 following the discovery of gold and by 1893, the growing mining camp already had at least seven established Chinese general stores in a cluster around this area. In the tumultuous run-up to South Africa's first democratic elections, there was a hasty flight by big business from the City Centre, including the moving of Chinese businesses from the historic First Chinatown to other parts of the city.
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