By Saurav Mehra This street’s name is a leftover clue to something most Kolkata visitors never learn: the city was once home to one of the earliest Chinatowns outside Southeast Asia. Old China Bazar Street sits at the edge of that history — a colonial-era commercial road in the heart of central Kolkata, named for its historic trade connection with China during a period when Chinese settlers built a genuine multicultural business community in this part of the city.
Old China Bazar Street, Kolkata
| Quick Facts | Details |
| Location | Central Kolkata, near B.B.D. Bagh, Lalbazar, Tiretta Bazaar |
| Nearest metro | Chandni Chowk, Central, Mahakaran (under construction) |
| Historic significance | Named for trade ties to Kolkata’s early Chinatown |
| Character | Old colonial-era commercial zone |
A Street That Traces Kolkata’s Oldest Chinatown
Chinese migrants began settling in colonial Calcutta during the 18th century, drawn by trade links between British India and China, making Kolkata one of the earliest Chinatowns anywhere outside Southeast Asia. Nearby Tiretta Bazaar grew into the major Chinese cultural and commercial centre of this settlement through the 19th and early 20th centuries, and Old China Bazar Street preserves the memory of that history in its name, even as the neighbourhood itself has evolved considerably since.
The street sits within Kolkata’s old colonial business zone, where British, Chinese, and Indian merchant networks operated side by side for well over a century — historical buildings, old warehouses, and colonial-era commercial offices still stand in parts of the locality today.
Where Old China Bazar Street Sits
Old China Bazar Street runs through central Kolkata, close to B.B.D. Bagh (formerly Dalhousie Square), Lalbazar, and Tiretta Bazaar. It sits within the broader Burrabazar commercial district, near landmarks like the Writers’ Building and Rajakatra, an old market place, placing it firmly within Kolkata’s historic central business core.
Getting to Old China Bazar Street
The street’s location near B.B.D. Bagh means it benefits from several nearby metro options. Chandni Chowk, Central, and Mahakaran (under construction) metro stations all serve the surrounding Bowbazar–B.B.D. Bagh area, giving the street reasonably strong metro access once the network’s ongoing expansion in this part of the city is complete.
Beyond the metro:
- Rail: Sealdah station and Howrah Railway Station (Terminal) both sit within reach, with Howrah also connected via its own metro station.
- Bus and tram: The area is well served given its central location within Kolkata’s business district.
- Auto/cab: Widely available, though the narrow lanes typical of this old commercial zone mean walking is often more practical for the final stretch.
Given its position deep within one of Kolkata’s oldest and busiest commercial districts, most visitors combine a stop here with a broader walk through B.B.D. Bagh and Burrabazar rather than treating it as a standalone destination.
Shops and What the Street Is Known For
Old China Bazar Street sits within Kolkata’s historic Burrabazar wholesale trading zone, carrying the general commercial character typical of this part of the city — old business offices, warehouses, and small trading establishments that have operated here for generations. It functions less as a specialty shopping street in its own right and more as a historic thread within the larger central Kolkata commercial fabric, valuable as much for what it represents historically as for any specific retail identity today.
Nearby Areas Worth Visiting Together
Tiretta Bazaar, close by, is the heart of what remains of Kolkata’s historic Chinatown — still worth visiting for its early-morning Chinese breakfast market, one of the last visible traces of the community’s presence in the city.
B.B.D. Bagh (Dalhousie Square), immediately adjacent, anchors Kolkata’s colonial-era administrative core, including the Writers’ Building and other landmark structures from the British period.
Burrabazar, the wider wholesale trading district the street sits within, offers dozens of specialty markets across everything from textiles to hardware.
Rajakatra, an old market place nearby, adds further historical texture to a walk through this part of central Kolkata.
FAQs
Q1. Why is it called Old China Bazar Street?
It reflects Kolkata’s historic trade connection with China, tied to the Chinese community that settled in the city from the 18th century onward, making Kolkata one of the earliest Chinatowns outside Southeast Asia.
Q2. Is there still a Chinese community near Old China Bazar Street?
Much of the community has moved to Tangra, Kolkata’s newer Chinatown, though Tiretta Bazaar nearby retains some historic connection, including its well-known Chinese breakfast market.
Q3. Which metro stations serve the area?
Chandni Chowk, Central, and Mahakaran (under construction) all serve the surrounding Bowbazar–B.B.D. Bagh area.
Q4. What can I see near Old China Bazar Street?
The Writers’ Building, B.B.D. Bagh, Tiretta Bazaar, and the wider Burrabazar wholesale trading district are all within easy reach.
Is Old China Bazar Street a shopping destination today?
It’s more historically significant than commercially distinctive today — part of Kolkata’s broader old business district rather than a specialty retail street in its own right.