China is home to one of the oldest continuious civilizations on earth and for much of its history has lived isolated or semi separatedly from the rest of the world .

Home to many exotic goods, it has long been a trading nation  and it was only in the 19th century that it needed to send its citizens abroad to work .

This migration formed the Chinese Diaspora . While some were free settlers seeking wealth abroad others were indentured workers popular with the former European powers  as cheap Labour after the end of slavery .

Chinese diaspora communities formed in Asia where the biggest population is found as well as in North and South America, Britain and Australia . Although the Chinese diaspora  is relatively small compared to the population of the mother country, it remains one of the most distinctive in the world today  with a powerful presence particularly through its cuisine .which had been exported across the globe .