Chinese people in Italy
Encyclopedia
The community of Chinese people in Italy has grown rapidly in the past ten years. Official statistics indicate there are at least 144,885 Chinese citizens
in Italy
, although these figures do not account for illegal immigration
, former Chinese citizens who have acquired Italian nationality, or Italian-born people of Chinese descent. In 2007, several dozen protesters took to the streets in Milan
over alleged discrimination. The northern Italian town of Treviso
also ordered Chinese-run businesses to take down their lanterns because they looked "too oriental".
and the University of Turin
on the over-4000-people Chinese community of Turin
shows that 48% of them are women and 30% are minors; 90% of them comes from Zhejiang
. As for day job, 70% of them work in restaurant
activity, and more than 20% in commercial activity.
The city of Prato
has the largest concentration of Chinese people in Italy, and as well as the whole continent of Europe
. It has the second largest population of Chinese people overall in Italy, after Milan.
Regarding religion, the majority of Chinese in Turin (59.3%) are non-religious, 31.6% are Buddhists, 8% are Christians (3.6% Catholics, 3.3% Protestants and 1.1% Jehovah's Witnesses), and 1.1% are Taoists.
Nationality Law of the People's Republic of China
The Nationality Law of the People's Republic of China regulates citizenship in the People's Republic of China . Such citizenship is obtained by birth when at least one parent is of Chinese nationality or by naturalization....
in Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, although these figures do not account for illegal immigration
Illegal immigration
Illegal immigration is the migration into a nation in violation of the immigration laws of that jurisdiction. Illegal immigration raises many political, economical and social issues and has become a source of major controversy in developed countries and the more successful developing countries.In...
, former Chinese citizens who have acquired Italian nationality, or Italian-born people of Chinese descent. In 2007, several dozen protesters took to the streets in Milan
Milan
Milan is the second-largest city in Italy and the capital city of the region of Lombardy and of the province of Milan. The city proper has a population of about 1.3 million, while its urban area, roughly coinciding with its administrative province and the bordering Province of Monza and Brianza ,...
over alleged discrimination. The northern Italian town of Treviso
Treviso
Treviso is a city and comune in Veneto, northern Italy. It is the capital of the province of Treviso and the municipality has 82,854 inhabitants : some 3,000 live within the Venetian walls or in the historical and monumental center, some 80,000 live in the urban center proper, while the city...
also ordered Chinese-run businesses to take down their lanterns because they looked "too oriental".
Demographics
A detailed study conducted in 2010 jointly by the CESNURCESNUR
CESNUR , is an organization based in Turin, Italy. It was established in 1988 by a group of religious scholars from universities in Europe and the Americas, working in the field of new religious movements. Its director is the Italian sociologist and attorney Massimo Introvigne...
and the University of Turin
University of Turin
The University of Turin is a university in the city of Turin in the Piedmont region of north-western Italy...
on the over-4000-people Chinese community of Turin
Turin
Turin is a city and major business and cultural centre in northern Italy, capital of the Piedmont region, located mainly on the left bank of the Po River and surrounded by the Alpine arch. The population of the city proper is 909,193 while the population of the urban area is estimated by Eurostat...
shows that 48% of them are women and 30% are minors; 90% of them comes from Zhejiang
Zhejiang
Zhejiang is an eastern coastal province of the People's Republic of China. The word Zhejiang was the old name of the Qiantang River, which passes through Hangzhou, the provincial capital...
. As for day job, 70% of them work in restaurant
Restaurant
A restaurant is an establishment which prepares and serves food and drink to customers in return for money. Meals are generally served and eaten on premises, but many restaurants also offer take-out and food delivery services...
activity, and more than 20% in commercial activity.
The city of Prato
Prato
Prato is a city and comune in Tuscany, Italy, the capital of the Province of Prato. The city is situated at the foot of Monte Retaia , the last peak in the Calvana chain. The lowest altitude in the comune is 32 m, near the Cascine di Tavola, and the highest is the peak of Monte Cantagrillo...
has the largest concentration of Chinese people in Italy, and as well as the whole continent of Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
. It has the second largest population of Chinese people overall in Italy, after Milan.
Regarding religion, the majority of Chinese in Turin (59.3%) are non-religious, 31.6% are Buddhists, 8% are Christians (3.6% Catholics, 3.3% Protestants and 1.1% Jehovah's Witnesses), and 1.1% are Taoists.
External links
- SPIEGEL Magazine Article about the Chinese in Prato September 7, 2006