Chinese Gold — the book, the translation, and the film
The stories of the Chinese immigrants and communities who helped shape the Monterey Bay region — in print since 1985, now in Mandarin, and coming to the screen.
Chinese Gold: The Chinese in the Monterey Bay Region
Sandy Lydon's 1985 book, Chinese Gold: The Chinese in the Monterey Bay Region, brings together stories of the Chinese immigrants and communities that helped shape the Monterey Bay region. The book explores their experiences in fishing, agriculture, railroad construction, business, and community life, as well as the discrimination and hardships they faced in Gold Rush-era California.
It is the first modern interpretive history of Chinese immigrants in the region, uncovering their pivotal role in the area's development and challenging long-held myths and stereotypes. A Mandarin translation of the book was completed by our founder, Rui Li.
About the author
Sandy Lydon is a historian, educator, and author who has dedicated his career to exploring the cultural, ecological, and social histories of California's Central Coast. A longtime Cabrillo College professor, Lydon is also known for his community tours, columns, and storytelling that bring local history vividly to life.
Chinese Gold (English edition)
By Sandy Lydon. Twenty-year anniversary edition with a new afterword.
中国金：在蒙特里湾区的中国人 (Mandarin edition)
Available in print or as a PDF.
Books are sold through our Santa Cruz Dragons online store. Every purchase supports our work to preserve and share this history.
Chinese Gold: the film
Filmed in July 2025, the upcoming Chinese Gold documentary brings Lydon's book of the same name to the screen, following the history and locations he documented throughout the Monterey Bay region.
The film explores the experiences of Chinese immigrants who worked in fishing, agriculture, and railroad construction, visiting historic sites including the Summit/Wrights Tunnel in the Santa Cruz Mountains, where over 30 Chinese railroad workers lost their lives in explosions during construction in 1879.
- FilmedJuly 2025, on location across the Monterey Bay region
- LaunchedThe film project was unveiled at our Mid-Autumn Festival, September 26, 2025, at The 418 Project
- ReleaseOfficial release date to be announced — join our newsletter for updates
Musicians perform beneath footage from the Chinese Gold documentary at The 418 Project.
Chinese Gold in the community
Book discussions, multimedia presentations, and the film launch — see our Events page for the full list.
Mid-Autumn Festival & film launch
Sandy Lydon, George Ow Jr., Rui Li, and UCSC professor Yiman Wang, with behind-the-scenes material and a promotional trailer.
DetailsThe Hidden History of Chinese in the Bay
A multimedia presentation with ValleyRain featuring Sandy Lydon, George Ow Jr., Rui Li, and UCSC linguist Haoze Li.
DetailsMultimedia book discussion
A community discussion of Chinese Gold and the history of the Chinese in Santa Cruz.
Details
Santa Cruz Dragons
Explore the stories behind Chinese Gold — Santa Cruz's Chinatowns, the railways, the fishing villages, the families — in our related local-history project.