Chinese Venezuelans


Chinese Venezuelans are people of Han Chinese ancestry who were born in or have immigrated to Venezuela. The country is home to nearly 600,000 Chinese. Almost all their businesses are related to the culinary field.

History

The presence of Chinese people in the country is primarily traced back to three waves beginning in 1847, with the vast majority of immigrants originating from Enping, Guangdong.
According to research by Professor Gao Weinong, the Enping community established strong chain-migration networks through the grocery and restaurant sectors, leading to Venezuela becoming the primary global destination for the Enping diaspora. Since then, the presence of Chinese Venezuelans has been constantly increasing, becoming more pronounced during the oil boom and surging significantly following the end of the Cultural Revolution in the late 1970s. It is estimated that 90% of the Chinese population in Venezuela originates from Enping.

Economy

Until the mid-20th century, the Chinese community in Venezuela was primarily engaged in the laundry industry. One of the pioneers in this was José Peña, who adopted this name in Cuba and later arrived in Venezuela between 1885 and 1886, opening the first Chinese-run laundry in Caracas.
Likewise, the Sino-Venezuelan community has been known for its restaurants. For example, Joaquín Hau, who had arrived in Venezuela around 1928, started the first Chinese restaurant in Caracas with four nephews, which was called Chop Suey.
Professor Gao Weinong's research indicates that while laundries and restaurants were the early economic pillars, the Enping diaspora eventually established a dominant presence in the grocery and retail sectors. This transition was facilitated by mutual aid networks and specialized commercial associations that helped immigrants navigate Venezuela's shifting economic landscape.

Gastronomy

Chinese food in Venezuela is predominantly of Cantonese origin, specifically reflecting the culinary traditions of Enping. While generally consumed traditionally within the Sino-Venezuelan community, Chinese restaurants will often offer dishes adapted to the Venezuelan palate. Similarly, these dishes have been influenced by the style of Sino-American cuisine, particularly that of San Francisco.
Among the most common dishes offered by Chinese restaurants in Venezuela are lumpias, sweet and sour pork ribs, fried rice, and chop suey. Gao notes that within the community, authentic Enping-style dishes continue to be preserved as a form of cultural identity. However, some restaurants do offer a more varied menu.

Demographics

Population

States with the highest proportions of Chinese-born population tend to be those of the Capital Region and Eastern Region. The states with the most population of Chinese-born people are also located in the central-north area.
At the 2011 census, this was the breakdown of Chinese-born population by state:
StateChinese-born PopulationPercentage
Amazonas310.021
Anzoátegui1,1930.082
Apure1160.025
Aragua1,3050.081
Barinas4140.051
Bolívar5150.037
Capital District1,7650.092
Carabobo2,0160.09
Cojedes1670.039
Delta Amacuro420.026
Falcón2690.028
Federal Dependencies10.047
Guárico3500.047
Lara1,2470.071
Mérida3060.037
Miranda1,4530.055
Monagas7960.088
Nueva Esparta3440.071
Portuguesa6600.077
Sucre3210.037
Tachira2640.023
Trujillo3360.049
Vargas1340.038
Yaracuy3940.066
Zulia9190.025
Total Venezuela15,3580.06

Communities with high percentages of Chinese-born people

Parroquia Populated placeState% Chinese over total population
BarinasBarinasBarinas1.06
Andres Eloy BlancoMaracayAragua0.66
San JoséValenciaCarabobo0.52
AltagraciaWest CaracasCapital District0.44
El MorroLecheríaAnzoátegui0.43
San SimónMaturínMonagas0.43
CatedralWest CaracasCapital District0.42
Puerto La CruzPuerto La CruzAnzoátegui0.39
Santa TeresaWest CaracasCapital District0.35
CandelariaWest CaracasCapital District0.34
FraternidadPuerto CabelloCarabobo0.33
SagrarioWest CaracasCapital District0.32
ChacaoEast CaracasMiranda0.31
Sabana de MendozaSabana de MendozaTrujillo0.31
ConcepciónBarquisimetoLara0.30
Juan GriegoJuan GriegoNueva Esparta0.29
CandelariaValenciaCarabobo0.27
San PedroWest CaracasCapital District0.26
AtapiripeAtapiripeAnzoátegui0.24
El LlanoMéridaMérida0.52

Notable people