Overseas Chinese

Many people move far from home. Some come from China. They live in many new lands.

Long ago, people sailed to explore. They wanted to trade goods. Later, many moved to find gold. Some went to America. Others went to Australia.

Some people moved to find work. They worked in mines. They also worked on tracks. This helped them send money home. It helped their families live better lives.

Today, these people live in many places. They live in big cities. They are part of many new homes. It is a very large group of people.

Many people move far from China to live in new lands. These people are often called overseas Chinese. As of 2011, there were over 40.3 million of them.

Moving far away has happened for a long time. In the 1400s, a man named Zheng He led trips to trade. He sent people to explore the South China Sea. Later, in the mid-1800s, more people left China. Some went to find gold in California. Others went to Australia to dig for gold.

Many people moved to find work. Some worked on railways. Others worked in mines. Some went to places like the West Indies. In the 1900s, wars caused even more people to leave. Many moved to North America or Southeast Asia.

Today, overseas Chinese live all over the world. They live in Europe, Africa, and the Americas. Many people send money back home to help their families. This money helps their relatives live better lives.

Many people move far from their original homes to live in new lands. These people are often called the Chinese diaspora or overseas Chinese. This group includes people of Chinese origin living outside of mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan. As of 2011, there were over 40.3 million overseas Chinese people in the world. In 2023, about 10.5 million people living outside mainland China were born there. This is a small part, or 0.7 percent, of the total population of China. Different names are used to describe these people depending on their background.

There are many ways to describe people of Chinese descent. The term Huaqiao refers to people with Chinese citizenship living outside the PRC or ROC. Some people use the term Huayi to talk about anyone with Chinese ancestry. This includes people who have become citizens of other countries. People from southern China sometimes call themselves Tangren. This name refers to the old Tang dynasty from a long time ago. In the mid-1800s, Chinese settlers in San Francisco used this name. They called their neighborhood Tangrenjie, which we now call Chinatown.

Moving away from China has happened for many centuries. As far back as the 10th century, Chinese people migrated to new territories. In the 1400s, a man named Zheng He led big trips to trade. He was an envoy for the Ming empire and had Iranian ancestry. He sent Cantonese and Hokkien people to explore the South China Sea. This helped create a maritime hub in the Malacca Strait. Later, in the mid-1800s, more people left China during the era of European colonialism. Many moved to find work on plantations or in mines.

Many people moved to find better lives or to escape hard times. During the California Gold Rush, many people went to the United States. Others went to Australia to dig for gold or build railways. In the mid-1800s, about 18,000 Chinese workers went to the British West Indies. These workers went to places like Jamaica and Trinidad. Some people from the Guangdong province moved because of poverty or famine. In the 1900s, wars and revolutions made even more people leave. Many people fled through ports in Fujian, Guangdong, and Shanghai. These migrations were among the largest in Chinese history.

Today, overseas Chinese live in almost every part of the world. They live in North America, Europe, and many parts of Southeast Asia. In recent years, many have moved to African nations. There are over 1 million Chinese people living in Europe. In Russia, there are about 200,000 people living in the Far East. Many overseas Chinese send money back to their families in China. In 2018, China received over US$67 billion in money sent from abroad. This money helps relatives improve their lives and their homes.

The term overseas Chinese, or the Chinese diaspora, describes people of Chinese origin living outside Greater China. This region includes mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan. As of 2011, this global community numbered over 40.3 million people. In 2023, 10.5 million people living outside mainland China were born there. This group represents about 0.7 percent of China's total population.

Different terms are used to describe these people based on their legal status or ancestry. The word *huáqiáo* refers to people with Chinese citizenship living outside the PRC or ROC. The Chinese government views these people as a bridge for foreign investment and knowledge. *Huáyì* refers to people of Chinese descent regardless of their citizenship. The term *hǎiwài huárén* is also used to describe people of Chinese ethnicity living abroad.

Some groups use specific cultural names to identify themselves. Southerners, such as the Cantonese or Hokkiens, often call themselves *Tángrén*. This means "Tang people," a reference to the ancient Tang dynasty. In the mid-1800s, Chinese emigrants in San Francisco used this name. They called their settlement *Tángrénjie*, which is known today as Chinatown.

Migration has occurred for many centuries. As far back as the 10th century, Chinese people moved to new territories. During the Ming dynasty, an envoy named Zheng He led maritime explorations. He had Iranian ancestry and led Cantonese and Hokkien people. These trips helped develop the Maritime Silk Road in the South China Sea.

In the mid-1800s, migration increased due to European colonialism and economic changes. Many people left the Guangdong province to escape poverty or famine. Some traveled to the United States for the California Gold Rush. Others went to Australia to work in gold mining or railway construction. Between 1853 and the late 19th century, about 18,000 workers went to the British West Indies. These people settled in places like Jamaica and Trinidad.

The 20th century brought more movement due to wars and political shifts. The Kuomintang and the Communist Party both competed for support from overseas communities. Many people fled through ports in Fujian, Guangdong, and Shanghai. These migrations were among the largest in Chinese history. After World War II, many settled in Southeast Asia or North America.

In recent decades, migration patterns have shifted again. In 1984, Britain agreed to transfer sovereignty of Hong Kong to the PRC. This caused a new wave of migration to the United Kingdom and other nations. In the last 20 years, over one million Chinese have moved to African nations. Today, over 1 million Chinese live in Europe. In the Russian Far East, there are about 200,000 Chinese residents.

The overseas Chinese community has a significant economic impact. Emigrants are estimated to control US$2 trillion in liquid assets. In Southeast Asia, the "bamboo network" plays a major role in private sectors. Many people also send remittances to their families in China. In 2018, China received over US$67 billion in these transfers. This money helps improve the lives of relatives back home.