The primary thesis of the book is that the Chinese immigration to Chicago is transnational.[1]
Charlotte Brooks of Baruch College stated that the book has more emphasis on immigration in the early 20th century and less emphasis on subsequent immigration.[2]
Philip Q. Yang of Texas Woman's University described it as "the most complete history of Chinese in Chicago".[3]
Wing-kai To of Bridgewater State University wrote that the work's synthesis of various topics makes the book "go beyond" the "classic studies" in the field.[4]
In the original English version, there is an introduction, and then seven content chapters, and then an ending chapter.[5] The chapters are in chronological order by time period.[6] According to James Zarsadiaz of Northwestern University, the content about life before 1965 makes up "a hefty portion of the book", and that the portions about periods post-1965 use a "sociological" "narrative tone".[7]
Toisan (Taishan) and immigration from there to Chicago are described in the first chapter. The initial Chinatown in the Chicago Loop and the moving to the current Chinatown, Chicago in Armour Square are the topics of the second chapter.[5] To wrote that, due to the overlap of topics, the first two chapters "could actually be
combined into one".[4] The businesses of the Chinatowns are described in Chapter 3. Family lives are discussed in the fourth chapter. Ethnic organizations are described in the fifth chapter. The academic community of Chinese origins is discussed in Chapter 6. West Argyle Street Historic District (a new Chinatown in Uptown Chicago) is discussed in Chapter 7,[5] and that chapter also compares different generations of Chinese immigrants,[7] as well as the differences between the Armour Square and Uptown Chinatowns.[8] The final chapter describes how new migrants from the Chinese interior came to the coastal Chinese cities that Chinese Americans originated from.[3]
Images of artwork, figures, maps, photographs, and tables are present in Chinese Chicago.[1]
Brooks overall praised the original English version of the book, describing it as "thoroughly researched" and a "comprehensive portrait" reflecting an "attention to detail".[2] According to Brooks, the book could have shown how Chicago's development in the 20th century affected tensions between racial groups and that it does not show how aspects differed among time periods.[2]
Julia María Schiavone Camacho, an independent scholar, stated that the book is "informative and fascinating".[10]
Kathryn E. Wilson of Georgia State University stated that the work "is particularly strong in" showing how Chicago affected Chinese immigrants, and that there were both benefits and drawbacks of the work's expansive scope.[11]
To wrote that the work is "a rich historical portrait".[4]
Yang also praised the book, describing it as "sophisticated and engaging", and stated that its uniqueness is from its exploration of transnationalism.[3]
Zarsadiaz, citing how relatively little sourcing was present regarding ethnic Chinese in the region, described the book as "a scholarly tour de force".[12]
Zhiheng Zhang of the WLCNZ Institute in Auckland, New Zealand wrote that the book "is worth having as a valuable reference."[13]
Chung, S.F. (2013). "Huping Ling, Chinese Chicago: Race, Transnational Migration, and Community since 1870". Journal of American studies. 47 (2): 564–565.
Hoffman, Abraham (2013). "Chinese Chicago: Race, Transnational Migration, and Community Since 1870". The History Teacher. 46 (2): 305–306.
Lew-Williams, Beth (2014). "Chinese Chicago: Race, Transnational Migration, and Community since 1870". Journal of American Ethnic History. 33 (3): 88–89.