Ketandan Chinatown

Rating :

1.5 ( 2 Voter(s) )

Map Location

Related Video

A. Overview

Similar to other big cities in the world, Yogyakarta also has a Chinatown. In Yogyakarta, the kampong of which residents are mostly Chinese descents occupies an area called Ketandan. There are indeed some natives and those latecomers who have been there for generations. In spite of modernization, there are still many multi-storied houses in the kampong that have Chinese architecture.

Kampong Ketandan, which is bordered by Ahmad Yani Street, Suryatmajan Street, Suryotomo Street, and Beringharjo Market, used to be a settlement for Chinese descents in the time of Dutch colonialism. History has recorded that Kampong Ketandan emerged in the end of 19^th century or early 20^th century. At that time, the Dutch colonial government had just applied inter-racial interaction laws (passenstelsel) and inter-racial neighborhood laws (wijkenstelsel). Upon Sri Sultan Hamengku Buwono II’s permission, Chinese people were to occupy a land in the north of Beringharjo Market in a hope that they would help encourage trading activities in the market.

Old colonial-style dominates the architecture of the buildings in the area. Most houses have long backwards shape and besides as residences, they also function as business places or stores so that they are called rumah toko or ruko (rumah means house, toko means store). Most of the people are merchants and many of them trade gold and jewelry. However, since a long time ago they had run stores selling sundries, traditional medicine, and basic household commodities. But in 1950s, almost 90 percents of the people decided to make a shift to gold and jewelry business.

Yogyakarta-Chinese people have been occupying Malioboro area for 200 years in some kampongs such as Ketandan, Beskalan, and Pajeksan. Kampong Ketandan which was set up at almost the same time with Pakualaman Palace is getting busier with the people’s activities. Nevertheless, despite being an important place which has many Chinese-related historical remnants, the name Ketandan has been rarely mentioned as some other business centers nearby, like Malioboro Street, are developing much further. Some preservative efforts have been taken up. Yogyakarta Municipal Government has settled that Ketandan Chinatown deserves continual development without leaving its history behind. Therefore, buildings to be built here should use Chinese architecture while the existing Chinese-styled ones will be kept as they are.

B. Features

Ketandan is a historical witness of the acculturation of Chinese and Yogyakarta cultures. It is where the Chinese descents live in and make a living so the area is known as the Chinatown of Jogja.

Ketandan has undergone changes in physical, economical, and social aspects. To keep up with the pace of modernization or to renovate their old buildings that looked brittle, some people decided to build modern-styled buildings in the area. It is really sad that they chose not to preserve the buildings’ Chinese architecture.

The buildings in Kampong Ketandan used to have roofs shaped like those of typical Chinese houses. But over the time, those roofs have been renovated to become prismatic. The roof change provides an example of the unique acculturation of Chinese and Javanese cultures in Yogyakarta, which has long been famous for being a cultural town.

Rumah toko (house-store) architecture is often considered the characteristic of houses in a Chinatown because most Chinese people are hardworking merchants that work even at home. Therefore, their houses functions as both home and business place. As a result, the houses in Chinatown usually consist of two or more stories. In general, the first story is used as a business place while the second story is for habitation. On the wall inside, there is an item which can be considered a mark of a Chinese house, i.e. an anchor.

C. Location

Ketandan is a Chinatown located at the center of Yogyakarta, precisely in the southeast of the intersection connecting Malioboro Street, Jend. A. Yani Street, Pajeksan Street, and Suryatmajan Street.

D. Access

It is very easy to get to Ketandan Chinatown for it is situated downtown, where facilities are available. Taking public transportation, you will be taken up to the end of Ketandan Street.

E. Ticket

There is no charge for visiting Kampong Ketandan. You can stop by the place anytime. Here you can shop for some jewelry or observe the old Chinese-styled buildings.

F. Accommodations and Other Facilities

Pedicabs will be available for you to get around by. Communication facility, eating places, and hotels would not be a problem for you as the location is in downtown. Stores can be found nearby at Malioboro Street while in the kampong itself there are plenty of jewelry shops.

Text: Andreas Eko Wahyu S.
Photo(s): Collection of Jogjatrip.com
Translation: Reza Daffi
(Primary data and various sources)

Read : 4347 time(s).

If you are from outside Yogyakarta and want to visit this place by travel agency services,
please contact:

Maharatu Tour and Travel

Jl. Sisingamangaraja No. 27 Yogyakarta.
Telp. +62 274 8373005. Fax. +62 274 379250
Email : maharatu@maharatu.com -maharatu257@yahoo.com
Website : www.maharatu.com

If you had visited this location, rate and leave a commentary to be noticed by its management and surrounding governmental tourism board.

Share