Encyclopedia of India–China Cultural Contacts v2.c13.s4.t4.1

v2.c13.s4.t4.1

The Chinese community in India has its origin in the colonial era maritime trade between China and India. Just as a number of Indian merchants flocked to China’s shores in search of profit, a number of Chinese sailors, traders, artisans and labourers arrived in Calcutta (Kolkata) and Bombay (Mumbai), then the two most flourishing ports on the east and west coast of India, respectively.