Pacific Crossing: California Gold, Chinese Migration, and the Making of Hong Kong

by Elizabeth Sinn

During the nineteenth century, tens of thousands of Chinese men and women crossed the Pacific to work, trade, and settle in California. Drawn by the gold rush, they brought with them skills and goods and a view of the world that, though still Chinese, was transformed by their long journeys back and forth. They in turn transformed Hong Kong, their main point of embarkation, from a struggling, infant colony into a prosperous, international port and the cultural center of a far-ranging Chinese diaspora.

Making use of extensive research in archives around the world, Pacific Crossing charts the rise of Chinese Gold Mountain firms engaged in all kinds of trans-Pacific trade, especially the lucrative export of prepared opium and other luxury goods. Challenging the traditional view that this migration was primarily a "coolie trade," Elizabeth Sinn uncovers leadership and agency among the many Chinese who made the crossing. In presenting Hong Kong as an "in-between place" of repeated journeys and continuous movement, Sinn also offers a fresh view of the British colony and a new paradigm for migration studies.

Genres: History, China

460 pages, Hardcover

First published December 1, 2012

Reviews

[Cpen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Instead of a book covering the history of Chinese migration, it actually analysed how did Hong Kong benefit from the movement of population and the business opportunities it brought, which eventually transformed a fishing village in the coast of South China Sea into an international hub of trade. The author attempted to propose a new concept on immigration study known as 'in-between place', which provide a new perspective on studying the flow of people. Hong Kong, as she said, is one of the 'in-between places' alongside with Calcutta, Philadelphia etc. They provide a temporary base for immigrant to reside and invest during their journey from 'sending place' to 'receiving place'.

[Brendan Shusterman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow this was such a fascinating read. You could make about thirty movies with the material in this book—or an awesome Netflix binge show.

[John Jung · Rating 5 out of 5]

A unique perspective on Chinese in America... views from the 'other side' of the Pacific. Most books on Chinese in America examine their lives from western perspectives and rarely does an author give the view from the China side.

[Anh Le · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the most thoroughly researched books on the topic. Extremely well-written and highly readable.