Our trained volunteer History Champions lead monthly guided tours of Chinatown, sharing the area’s rich, layered and complex history on a walk through the neighbourhood. The experience ends with a traditional Cantonese-style lunch served family style and allowing guests and hosts to understand more about Chinatown. A donation from each ticket sold is made to support the Chinese Information and Advice Centre and the London Chinese Community Centre, showing how responsible tourism can support and enhance our neighbourhood. The first pilot of this project was supported by Chinatown London. We are grateful for the initial seeds this sowed.

In addition to walking tours, we offer other Chinatown-focused experiences. These can work well for people over 16 years old and are ideal school and sixth form activities or team building sessions. Guests are invited to the Chinatown Photo Challenge and are encouraged to see the area in a different way. Following a briefing from one of our trained volunteers, guests explore Chinatown independently to take photographs with particular themes. The images are submitted at the end of the session and everyone goes to enjoy a meal together. While food is served, the images are shared with the wider group and prizes are awarded for the most effective images and creative teams.

In 2023, the China Exchange History Champion volunteers were awarded the Ecclesiastical Heritage Alliance Storyteller of the year award in recognition of their exceptional work in Chinatown.