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1906 Fire Devastated Chinatown
- After the 1906 earthquake, Chinatown burned completely while nearby elite neighborhoods were prioritized for water and protection.
- The fire department used incorrect dynamite, accelerating Chinatown's destruction to the disadvantage of its residents.
Chinatown's Post-Quake Political Victory
- City leaders sought to permanently remove Chinatown post-disaster for downtown business interests.
- Chinese residents organized politically and financially to successfully resist relocation to hostile areas like Hunter's Point.
Rebuilding Chinatown as Exotic Attraction
- Luq Tin Eli hired white architects unfamiliar with China to rebuild Chinatown with exaggerated 'exotic' features catering to Western tastes.
- The strategy was to embrace foreignness attractively as a protective and economic advantage rather than reject it.