New York State Taishan Day is a celebration that recognizes the contributions and heritage of people from Taishan, a county in Guangdong Province, China.
Many Chinese Americans in New York State have ancestral roots in Taishan, and the day is an opportunity to acknowledge and honor their cultural heritage.
The New York State Legislature has officially recognized October 5th as Taishan Day in the state, in recognition of the significant contributions that Taishanese Americans have made to the state's economy, culture, and community.
Every February 12th , various events and celebrations are held across the state, including cultural performances, traditional food festivals, and community gatherings, to promote awareness and appreciation of Taishanese culture and history.
There is a significant celebration of Chinese culture in New York, particularly in Chinatown and other Chinese communities, which includes the Lunar New Year. The Lunar New Year, also known as the Spring Festival, marks the beginning of a new year in the lunar calendar. In 2025, the Year of the Dragon ended on January 27, and the Year of the Snake began on that day. Schools in New York State were closed for the Lunar New Year celebration.
The Chinese population is the fastest-growing nationality in New York State, and there are thriving Chinese communities in Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Queens.
The history of Taishan immigration to Manhattan's Chinatown is a complex and multifaceted one The early settlers of Manhattan's Chinatown were mostly Taishanese speakers from Taishan and Hong Kong of the Guangdong province of China, and also from Shanghai These immigrants arrived in the mid-1800s, with around 25,000 arriving in the 1850s alone, seeking economic opportunity in America They formed most of the Chinese population of the area surrounded by Mott and Canal Streets.
The Taishanese people have a long history of immigration, with many settling in the United States, particularly in Manhattan's Chinatown In fact, it's estimated that about half of the 815,000 Americans of Chinese descent trace their origins to Taishan, either the town or the surrounding county of the same name The Taishanese language was the original lingua franca of Chinatowns, but was later replaced with Cantonese after being overwhelmed by immigration from Guangzhou and its satellite cities when the Chinese Exclusion Act was fully repealed under the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965.
Many of these early immigrants worked in the mines, built railroads, and started Chinese restaurants, with some even concocting a dish of leftovers for unsuspecting Americans that they called chop suey The Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 slowed immigration to a trickle, but the repeal of this act in 1943, and the subsequent Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965, allowed many more immigrants from Asia into the country, leading to a dramatic increase in the population of Chinatown.
Today, the legacy of Taishan immigration can still be seen in Manhattan's Chinatown, with many restaurants and businesses catering to the Chinese community The neighborhood has undergone significant changes over the years, with the influx of new immigrants from different regions of China, but the history and culture of the Taishanese people remain an important part of its identity.
- Taishan: A region in Guangdong province, China, known for its significant contributions to Chinese immigration in the United States.
- Taishanese people: A Yue-speaking Han Chinese group from the Sze Yup region, known for their influential role in Asian-American history and their contributions to the development of Manhattan's Chinatown.
- Manhattan's Chinatown: A neighborhood in New York City with a rich history of Chinese immigration, particularly from the Taishan region.
- Chinese Exclusion Act: A law passed in 1882 that restricted Chinese immigration to the United States, significantly impacting the growth and development of Manhattan's Chinatown.
- Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965: A law that allowed many more immigrants from Asia into the country, leading to a dramatic increase in the population of Chinatown and a shift in the cultural and demographic landscape of the neighborhood.
