Sino-Réunionnaise

Chinese Réunionese (French: Sino-Réunionnais; zh-cp|c=留尼旺華人|p= Liúlíwàng Huárén) are ethnic Chinese residing in Réunion, a French overseas department in the Indian Ocean. Chinese Réunionese who have French citizenship are also Chinese French (French: Sino-français; zh-c|c=法藉華人). They are mostly of Cantonese origin, with a Hakka and northern Chinese minority. They form the smallestFact|date=February 2007 ethnic group in Réunion, but have had noticeable influences. Chinese cuisine is now consumed by people all over the island, and there are a number of plants and animals introduced by the Chinese. One such plant is a Chinese variety Guava (known locally and in Mauritius and Seychelles as "goyave de Chine")

Origins

Most Chinese arrived in Réunion as skilled laborers, but also as traders and businesspeople. The first group were Buddhist labourers, mostly men, from Mandarin-speaking parts of China. This was followed by a second wave, which consisted of mostly women; and later, by Buddhist Hakkas. Most recently has been predominately Christian Cantonese immigration, soon forming the majority, who were traders with better standards of living than those of earlier immigrants.

Demography

Most Sino-Réunionnaise are Christian, with a large minority Buddhist. The majority speak French and Réunion Creole, but Mandarin, Cantonese and Hakka are also spoken by older generations.