Chinese New Year: 5 gems to visit in Binondo, the world's oldest Chinatown

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As the world's oldest Chinatown, Binondo in Manila is one of the neighborhoods with festivities on Chinese New Year.

On January 29, it will come alive with a parade, the popular lion and dragon dance, cultural performances, and food bazaars.

Binondo is also home to countless gems, from cool street art, to lifestyle hubs, to the best Chinese food, and to lucky charms, making it worth a visit even outside the holiday.

Here are five cool spots to visit for a fun Binondo walk trip.

1. First United Building

First United Building, also called the Perez-Samanillo Building, is located along the iconic Escolta Street. It was designed by the son of Juan Luna, architect Andres Luna de San Pedro, and built by the Spanish businessman Luis Perez-Samanillo.

Back when the historic street was known as a financial center, it was home to department stores and offices. Today, First United Building is a safe space for artists, the LGBTQIA+ community, rising creatives, and tourists alike.

Among its spaces is the Hub: Make Lab where artists can sell their work and participate in talks and workshops; the bar Fred's Revolucion; coffee shop The Den Coffee & Contemporary Culture; and the First United Building Community Museum to show the rich history of Escolta.

The building also has a photo studio and co-working space, among others.

The First United Building is located at 413 Escolta Street, Binondo, Manila.

2. Street art, lucky charms, and jewelry stores

After Escolta, you can get into Chinatown through the colorful Filipino-Chinese Friendship Arch facing Jones Bridge.

As soon as you enter, check out the different walls for some cool street art. These are made by the country's renowned, rising, and even anonymous artists and span various themes.

Also, a short stroll through Chinatown will already show you a large number of shops along the street that sell lucky charms in the form of jewelry and home display items. The sellers are also very knowledgeable and can tell stories about the charms and their benefits to your life.

3. Nuestra Señora del Pronto Socorro de Binondo

From the arch, it would be a five- to 10-minute walk to the Minor Basilica and National Shrine of Saint Lorenzo Ruiz, most commonly called the Binondo Church.

It was founded by the Dominicans in 1596, and where St. Lorenzo Ruiz became a sacristan and altar server.

The church itself is a beautiful structure that is steeped in rich Philippine history, but it also holds a hidden gem.

Nuestra Señora del Pronto Socorro de Binondo, or the Our Lady of Prompt Help, is displayed inside the church.

According to historian Ambeth Ocampo, it is one of the oldest documented paintings in the Philippines. It is also believed to be only 16th-century painting by a Chinese artisan in the Philippines.

"Copied from a European model (perhaps an estampita) this painting on metal has been adorned with gold, silver, pearls, and precious precious stones," Ocampo said in a Facebook post, and called the image "an overlooked gem."

The Minor Basilica and National Shrine of Saint Lorenzo Ruiz is located at 1006 Plaza Lorenzo Ruiz, Binondo, Manila.

4. Panciteria, as mentioned in Jose Rizal's El Filibusterismo

A two- to five-minute walk from the Binondo Church and right in front of the San Nicolas Bridge is the Panciteria Macanista de Buen Gusto, which Jose Rizal mentioned in his novel, "El Filibusterismo."

Unfortunately, the place—with its traditional Filipino furnishings—now looks like a closed abandoned house in between two modern buildings. But despite this, it is still worth paying a quick visit to, and see Jose Rizal's words in real life.

5. Restaurants and street food

It is not a Binondo walk trip without trying out the tasty food.

Chinatown is the perfect spot to check out the best Chinese food, with Ying Ying Tea House, Wai Ying, Best Taste Food House, President Grand Palace, where they serve classic and comforting meals like a variety of dumplings, fried rice, noodle soups, and the list goes on and on.

More spots worth checking out in Binondo are Vege Select for vegetarian food, viral coffee truck turned café Beanstro for coffee, and Nina's Pancake for xian bing or stuffed pancakes.

The best part, however, is walking into a random stall or restaurant and seeing what they have to offer.

Commute tips

There are several ways to commute to this historical area.

Visitors can take any bus or van that has a stop in Lawton, Manila. From Lawton, you can take a tricycle or walk to Binondo.

There are also several jeeps and buses heading to Santa Cruz, Manila. From these stops, you can walk to various spots in Binondo, including Escolta Street, the Manila Post Office, and the Archdiocesan Shrine of the Blessed Sacrament, among many others.

For those who want to take the train, hop on the LRT Line 1 northbound to Carriedo Station, or the LRT Line 2 to Recto Station. From there, it is easy to walk or take jeeps to your destinations.

The Pasig River Ferry is an adventurous option. Visitors can hop on the ferry and sail to Escolta Ferry Station, and then walk to their stop.

For easy parking, the Escolta Car Park building and Lucky Chinatown Mall have indoor parking. Several establishments also offer parking spaces.

Also, dress up in clothes fit for the hot weather, pack a small and light bag, have a water bottle, and bring cash as these are what several stores require.

—MGP, GMA Integrated News