A colourful arch decorated with dragons and phoenixes; massive fish covered in ice, galleries, bookmakers, supermarkets emblazoned with pictograms.

This is one side of Manchester Chinatown.

But there’s another, hidden history, of an area that in the 18th century was known as St James’s, in the 19th century became a rough cotton-producing enclave, and in the 20th century was nearly wiped out in the name of urban regeneration.

We lead you past the dim sum into a colourful world that symbolises the international outlook of the historical city.