Chinese tea. [File photo]

Chinese influence in Britain is notable from the late 17th century onwards as wealthy Britons and a growing middle class provided a demand for Chinese goods such as porcelain and commodities such as tea.

Chinese culture travelled to Britain, as it did to other parts of Europe, through trade. Europe's first Chinatown was set up in the northern port city of Liverpool in the early 19th century, and reasonably large and successful Chinatowns are now features of many larger British cities such as Birmingham, Glasgow, Manchester, London, and Leeds.

Their success over the decades since the World War II, which has been the period of strongest growth for these Chinatowns, is built on the skill of native Chinese in identifying and meeting an apparently non-existent market for Chinese things, and developing it.

These uniquely Chinese characteristics which draw Britons to Chinatowns include, of course, food - ranging from cheap and cheerful noodle houses to expensive and luxurious restaurants.

They also include martial arts, calligraphy, foodstuffs such as tea and dry noodles, literature in translation and in recent years movies, particularly martial arts films, traditional Chinese clothing, and Chinese health remedies such as acupuncture and massage.

Dr Lu Xiaoning, a lecturer in modern Chinese culture and language at SOAS, University of London, told Xinhua on Monday, "Chinese culture has permeated the fabric of our daily lives in the UK to an extent which is more than we are aware of. We are not only interested in being exposed to Chinese culture (trying Chinese cuisine, travelling to China, and so on) but also are serious about learning Chinese culture."