Ocean City draws millions of beach lovers every summer with its iconic boardwalk, seaside amusement parks and endless stretches of sandy shores. But tucked away just a few blocks inland, Philadelphia Avenue offers a taste of something delightfully unexpected – an authentic Chinese cultural experience right in the heart of this classic American beach town.
Chinese Culture in Philadelphia Avenue
As you turn onto the avenue, it’s like being transported to another world. Storefronts adorned with elaborate chinese characters in vibrant reds and golds catch your eye. These generations-old businesses have remained a cornerstone of the Ocean City community, owned and operated by Chinese-American families with deep roots here.
Wander past the hanging roasted ducks and walls of dangling dried mushrooms into one of the cozy neighborhood restaurants. Greeted by the mouthwatering aromas of Szechuan peppercorns and wok-seared garlic, you’ll find a menu extending far beyond the usual Chinese-American fare. Go for the pillowy soup dumplings called xiaolongbao or fiery mapo tofu from the Szechuan region. Or savor the sticky char siu barbecue pork perfected in Cantonese kitchens.
No meal is complete without a stop at one of the neighborhood’s beloved Chinese bakeries. Peer through the glass cases filled with intricately decorated cakes and tarts for a look at the gorgeous handiwork. The bakers wield their piping bags like calligraphers, adorning confections with delicate chinese girl names like Mei, Mulan and Jia expressed in ornate icing characters.
Biting into a coconut-custard stuffed dan tat tart or fluffy pineapple bun, you’ll experience something far more special than a typical bakery treat. These delicacies connect you to culinary traditions brought over from villages across China and preserved for generations right here in Ocean City.
Chinese folk festivals
The avenue really comes alive in the summer evenings during the annual Chinese folk festivals. Cymbal-crashing drums set the rhythm for an elaborate dragon dance snaking between the vendors’ stalls. A team of performers breathes life into the sinuous, scaled body through synchronized movements passed down through the centuries.
Clouds of aromatic smoke billow from sizzling woks frying up crispy sesame balls and you-tiao crullers. Sample sweet and savory skewered hawthorn candies or chewy bunny-shaped huatiah cakes from the street hawkers. Sip a milky bubble tea and savor this delightful convergence of sights, sounds and flavors.
Beneath its classic beach destination exterior, Ocean City shelters a longstanding Chinese-American community that has stubbornly preserved its vibrant culture and cuisine against all odds. By daring to turn off the well-trodden paths of the boardwalk and beaches, visitors can uncover this fascinating enclave packed with flavors, traditions and an unmistakable spirit that have endured for over a century right here at the beach.
So on your next visit, hopefully you’ll take the chance to leave the bustling oceanfront behind for a few hours. Let yourself get delightfully lost in the tucked-away neighborhood surrounding Philadelphia Avenue. Who knows, you may even leave with a shiny new Chinese name inked on your souvenir calligraphy brush.
