What is a Chinatown? A Chinatown is an area in which many ethnic Chinese lived or work. In most cases, these ethnic Chinese are migrants and minorities in their host country or new homeland. Seeking economic opportunity during the Gold Rush and the building of the transcontinental railroad, the first wave of Chinese immigrants arrived in the U. S. in the mid-1800s. The first Chinatowns sprang up on the West Coast and were, at the start, much like ethnic settlements founded by European immigrant groups. Chinese immigrants were victims of racism and discrimination throughout the 1800s. Chinese immigrants congregated together in part because of intense anti-Chinese attacks. This created the first ever Chinatown. Now, Chinatowns are considered a tourist attraction, and can be found in most major cities in South East Asia, North America, Europe, Australia and Africa. Most Chinatowns have an archway that marks its boundaries. These archways are often sponsored by individuals or institutions in honor of rulers, dignitaries, individuals or events. The current list has 35 Chinatowns in 19 countries spread over Asia, Europe and USA. 2) Which factor led to the diffusion of Chinese culture into different part of the world? _