The history of Chinatown dates back to the 15th century, just like one of the area's oldest temples, the Dharma Bhakti. The temple burned to the ground in 2015, but it was immediately rebuilt. Many places inside the temple are still under construction but its magnificent history still draws hundreds of visitors every day. It's considered one of the biggest and oldest Chinese temples in Jakarta.

"That's the first building that was built here and it has been here for ages. It shows the history of my grandfather's grandfather coming here and I can relate to that," said Tan. "That's why I like Chinatown so much. When you're here you feel like you're in China – out of China – and to me, that feels like home."