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Chinatown plan for city
WE'VE got a sister city in China, the Blades own a Chinese football team – now plans are being drawn up for Sheffield to have its very own Chinatown.
Chinese community leaders are working with the council to try to establish a Chinese district in the city, possibly around the London Road area.
If it gets off the ground it could see bars, restaurants, a business tower block and maybe even a hotel.
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China is rapidly becoming one of the world's economic superpowers and city leaders in Sheffield are keen to build on its links and perhaps pull new investment into the city.
Sheffield is twinned with Chengdu, the fifth largest Chinese city with a population of more than 10 million.
And Sheffield United own the city's football team, called the Chengdu Blades, with an almost identical crest to the Bramall Lane team.
Jerry Cheung, leader of Sheffield's Chinese Community Centre and owner of the Simply Chinese restaurant chain, is behind the Chinatown idea.
He said: "Businesses from China which are looking for a European base could base themselves there. It would also help attract Chinese students. It's a big market for the universities and they're fighting for Chinese students.
"It will improve Sheffield's image and develop tourism. It's not just about putting up a gate or creating a small world for the Chinese community. It's about being inclusive.
"It's a Chinatown for Sheffield people."
A three-and-a-half acre site has already been identified and a feasibility study was carried out last year, which found there was huge support for the idea in the city's Chinese and business communities.
A delegation has already visited China to see if investors could be found to back the scheme and they are due to return at the end of this month.
Yunus Ahmed, Sheffield city centre development manager, said: "The idea of a Chinatown first came up several years ago. We already have a very high Chinese student population and Sheffield United own a football team out there.
"China has got the strongest growing economy in the world. If we could tap into that it could be great for the city."
http://www.thestar.co.uk/features/I-want-Sheffield-to-be.3751267.jp
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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