China Town Paris actually has two Chinatowns, the 13th district in the southeast and the 19th district in the northwest. Both offer a lot in terms of history, attractions, celebrations and traditions. In fact, the Chinese offer so much that even the culture-biased French are beginning to actively embrace the Chinese in their country. This paper explains why there is so much interest.

The 13th district, on the left bank, really took off in the late 1970's and early 1980's with the arrival of the "boat people" from Vietnam. Parisians had shunned what they considered to be the ugly and impersonal buildings constructed in that area by the Gaullist government. However, Asians found the area attractive because it offered affordable rents and lots of space. This area has become the largest Chinatown in Europe.

In the mid-1980's, less-educated peasants from rural China began moving into the 19th district, Belleville.

This area is more heterogeneous than the 13th district, and there are many Jewish and Armenian businesses. Recently, Arabs and African have moved in.

The 13th district is noted for its large number of Chinese and Asian restaurants, shops and supermarkets. Paris Store, one of the largest Chinese supermarkets in Europe, is located here.

The new Bibliotheque national de France (National Library) overlooks the Quai de la Gare on the Seine. This library collects and conserves all published works published to make them available to researchers and professionals.

Belleville is home of the famous Gobelin Tapestries.

Belleville, was the residence of Edith Piaf and Maurice Chevalier. Edith Piaf was one of...

Her most famous songs included La Vie en Rose, Milord and Non, Je Ne Regrette Rien.
Maurice Chevalier was a French singer, comedian and actor. He was nominated for Academy Awards for The Love Parade (1929/1930) and The Big Pond (1929/1930).

Residents of the 13th and 19th districts have a long list of celebrations, holidays and customs from their native countries. One of the largest is the Chinese New Year which has long been an occasion for huge celebration in districts with lots of decorations and festivities. However, for the first time, the French opened the world-famous Champs-Elysees to a non-French cultural event in 2004 by allowing a Chinese New Year parade. More than 7,000 performers participated, ranginf from musicians, dancing dragons, acrobats and members of the local Chinese community organizations. Approximately 200,000 spectators took in the event.

This was a landmark event in France, where native French citizens are often noted for partiality to their own culture and a disdain for others.

The Chinese New Year parade was part of a broader effort known as the China-France Culture Year which began in October 2003 and ends in July 2005. This effort is the largest cultural exchange in Chinese history and marks four decades of ties with France.

This exchange will expose the French to more fully understand and appreciate Chinese tradition. For example, filial piety is a primary duty of all Chinese and is unique to the Chinese culture. Being a filial son means complete obedience to one's parents during their lifetime and -- as they…