By Benicia Ciara
The heart of Midtown pulsed with pride, culture, and celebration this weekend as the Detroit Chinatown Vision Committee hosted the First Annual Chinatown Block Party, a vibrant event honoring the city’s long-overlooked Chinese and pan-Asian heritage on July 26th, 2025.
Held on the heels of the second anniversary of the demolition of the historic Chinatown in 2023, the Block Party serves not only as a memorial but as a hopeful look forward. “This event is really in homage to that key moment in history,” said Jennifer Vuong, a committee member. “It’s a time to showcase to the community what Chinatown could be.”
Many Detroiters are unaware that the city once had not one, but two Chinatown districts. The Detroit Chinatown Vision Committee, founded by a diverse group of volunteers from fields has been working tirelessly to change that. Their goal: revitalize Detroit’s Chinatown in a way that reflects its storied past and reimagines its place in the city’s future.
From 12 to 8 PM, Peterboro Street will be transformed into a cultural corridor featuring everything from mahjong lessons and qigong meditations at Detroit Shipping Company, to live lion and dragon dances, and even a film screening of Big Fight in Little Chinatown at the Masonic Temple.
But the celebration wasn’t just about nostalgia—it was about renewal. “We’re trying to build an inclusive pan-Asian community here,” Vuong explained. “It’s not going to look like the past. It’s time to dream up what a modern Chinatown could be.”
Local vendors filled the block with food, art, and storytelling. Inside the historic Chung’s building, a Detroit Historical Museum exhibit detailed the city’s Chinatown legacy and offered glimpses into a reimagined future.
The community has responded with overwhelming enthusiasm. “People are reaching out on social media, asking how to donate or volunteer,” said Vuong. “They’re ready to be part of something bigger.”
As for what’s next? The committee is welcoming ideas, feedback, and involvement. “We’re open to everybody’s thoughts,” Vuong said. “This is about creating something that reflects all of us.”
To support the effort or learn more, follow them on Instagram at @det313chinatownvision
