Droves of Chinese began arriving on the shores of America and Hawaii in the mid 19th century due to the particularly dire circumstances in China that pushed many citizens to look for better opportunities and fortune elsewhere in hopes of creating a better life. Economic activity in a relatively new and prospering country of America attracted tens of thousands of Chinese hopefuls to leave their families and brave the treacherous waters and strange land to work.

Many of these Chinese had come to seek refuge and sanctuary away from the strife within their homeland. The conflicts in their homeland included the result from the British Opium Wars of 1938-1942 and 1856-1860, which created harsh economic conditions for many Chinese forcing them to seek survival elsewhere in another country.

Many Chinese by this time had heard of Gam Saan (San Francisco) and the many fruitful and prosperous economic opportunities they offered. America’s doors beckoned even more when gold was first discovered in 1848 at John Sutter’s mill.

The Chinese arrived as sojourners with plans of staying for only a period of a few years and returning home to their families and friends in China. However, many Chinese ended up staying permanently and starting new lives in San Francisco and creating the oldest Chinatown in North America and one of the largest Chinese communities outside of China. Chinatown today continues to serve as a gateway and a place for sanctuary for many new immigrants from China.