Chinese Presence in Cuba

An uncommon brochure celebrating Chinese contributions to Cuban history.

This fascinating brochure presents a wealth of information related to the history of Chinese culture on the island of Cuba, beginning with the importation of forced sugar plantation workers in the first half of the 19th century. Text in three different languages (Chinese, Spanish, and English) offers an engaging chronological overview from the 19th and 20th centuries, highlighting tragedy, resilience, and significant cultural contributions. Several maps are included – a street plan of Barrio Chino (Chinatown) in Havana, a map of China noting major ports of origin, and a large-scale overview of Chinese Societies across Cuba.

The piece was copyrighted in 1999 by the Havana-based Ediciones GEO, with support from the Fundacion Fernando Ortiz and the Grupo Promotor del Barrio Chino. Much of the text was written by Jesus Guanche Perez.