The holidays are not complete without a visit to Chinatown. Many major cities around the world have a China-town, but New York is home to a number of distinct Chinese communities. These areas provide a support network for Chinese immigrants and also a chance for the local population to experience the culture. CGTN's William Denselow visited several of New York's Chinatowns to get a feel for what makes each of them unique.

There's a saying that the best way to someone's heart is through their stomach. Manhattan's Chinatown boasts roughly 300 places to eat making it a key part of New York's iconic food scene.

WELLINGTON CHEN EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, CHINATOWN PARTNERSHIP "It's much more than just about food, it's about communal sharing experience and no better place than Chinatown and Chinese food because we sit around a circular table and we share. We don't just say, 'you order one plate and that's yours only."

Manhattan's Chinatown began in the 1870s, but a century later grew into America's biggest Chinese community, thanks to relaxed immigration laws. Demographics are ever-changing but there's a large Fujianese community and a Cantonese presence that dates back over 50 years.

WILLIAM DENSELOW NEW YORK "New Shanghai Deluxe has been based in Manhattan's Chinatown for 17 years. The neighborhood continues to evolve but it still has a distinct Cantonese flavor."

15 kilometers east, Flushing in the borough of Queens has seen a steady influx of people arrive from the Chinese mainland. According to the 2010 census, 70% of the area's population is Asian and some now call it the Chinese Manhattan.

PETER KOO COUNCIL MEMBER, DISTRICT 20, NEW YORK CITY COUNCIL "Manhattan's Chinatown keeps decreasing starting from 9/11- after that business was bad, everything got shut off, no power, so a lot of people said, 'oh, we may as well move to Flushing."

20 kilometers to the southwest is Brooklyn's Sunset Park - home to a community that began to grow in the 1980s.

PAUL MAK CEO, BROOKLYN CHINESE-AMERICAN ASSOCIATION "8th avenue was almost totally empty so it offered a lot of affordability for storefronts, for mom and pop stores and for the new immigrants trying to find a new home."

Three Chinatowns, all unique, but with a shared characteristic: providing an escape for those craving a taste of China. William Denselow, CGTN, New York.