Editing Tapachula (section)

==Background==
The city of Tapachula is the capital of the Soconusco region of Chiapas, commonly called the “pearl of the Soconusco”.<ref name="rincones">{{cite book |editor1-first=Victor Manuel |editor1-last=Jiménez González |title= Chiapas: Guía para descubrir los encantos del estado.  |trans-title=Chiapas: Guide to discover the charms of the state |year=2009 |publisher= Editorial Océano de México, SA de CV |location= Mexico City |language=es |isbn=978-607-400-059-7 |pages=111–112}}</ref> The name “Tapachula” comes from [[Nahuatl]] and means “between the waters”, due to the area's frequent flooding.<ref name="rincones"/> It is located on a low-lying coastal plain, fed by various small rivers, about 120 meters (393’) above sea level.<ref name="mexsur">{{cite web |url= http://www.colegiomexsur.edu.mx/cs_tpchl.html |title=Tapachula |publisher=Secretaría de Turismo de Chiapas |location=Mexico |language=es |access-date=February 8, 2012 }}</ref>
[[File:Casadelacultura.jpg|thumb|left|City's Old City Hall building in the main plaza]]
Tapachula is Mexico's main [[border city]] with Guatemala in the Pacific coast region, even though it is located some kilometers away from the border itself. The main commercial border crossing is in [[Ciudad Hidalgo, Chiapas|Ciudad Hidalgo]], about 40 km (24 mi) away.<ref name="jbudd">{{cite news |title= Viajando Ligero / Tapachula redescubierta |first=Jim |last=Budd |newspaper=Reforma |location=Mexico City |date=March 11, 2007 |page=21 |language=es |trans-title=Light Traveler/Tapachula rediscovered }}</ref> Nonetheless, it is the principal port for the shipment of goods and for people traveling between Mexico and the rest of Central America further south, making it economically and socially similar to cities on the US southern border such as [[Laredo, Texas]] or [[San Diego, California]].<ref name="mexsur"/><ref name="jbudd"/> The flow of goods through the area combined with local agricultural output makes Tapachula one of the most important cities in the state, socioeconomically, with one of the highest per capita incomes in the state of Chiapas.<ref name="rincones"/><ref name="jbudd"/> As its wealth is relatively recent, since the late 19th century, Tapachula is mostly a modern-developed city.<ref name="rincones"/> Like border cities of the United States, Tapachula and other communities in the area have experienced their share of problems with illegal immigration, human trafficking, drug smuggling and violence, with most  illegal aliens coming from Central America.<ref name="jbudd"/> This has led to a strong and very visible police presence in the city, along with special security measures for major events (such as the [[Feria Internacional Tapachula]]).<ref name="jbudd"/><ref name="protegera">{{cite news |title= Mexico protegera a comerciantes durante la Feria Internacional de Tapachula |newspaper=Noticias Financieras |location=Miami |date=March 9, 2004 |page=1 |language=es |trans-title=Mexico will protect merchants during the Feria Internacional de Tapachula }}</ref>

[[File:MonumentGourds.JPG|thumb|right|250px|Monument with painted [[gourds]] in Tapachula, Chiapas]]

The city has had a strong [[Chinese people|Chinese]] presence since around 1900, when a number of people from the country came to Mexico to work for the coffee businesses of the area. Most of the descendants of these first immigrants have since dispersed throughout the Soconusco region, but there is still Asian immigration to Tapachula to this day. Most modern immigrants work in commerce rather than in agriculture or hard labor.<ref name="cienaños">{{cite news |url= http://www.oem.com.mx/diariodelsur/notas/n1265341.htm |title= Chinos, una historia de más de cien años en Tapachula |first=Gerardo |last=Flores |newspaper=Diario del Sur |location=Chiapas |date=July 30, 2009 |access-date= February 8, 2012 |language=es |trans-title=The Chinese, a history of over 100 years in Tapachula }}</ref> The most visible evidence of Asian presence is the significant number of Chinese and other Asian restaurants in the city, especially in the downtown.<ref name="mexsur"/><ref name="cienaños"/> A number of businesses selling Chinese food and imported items are concentrated in the San Juan market.<ref name="cienaños"/> The Casa de la Comunidad China (Chinese Community House) is located Cuarta Avenida Sur. The structure is dedicated to education about Chinese culture and was reopened in 2012 after renovations.<ref name="comchina">{{cite news |url= http://www.chiapashoy.com/notashoy/index.php/suplementos/tapachulahoy/3340-remodelaran-casa-de-la-comunidad-china-en-tapachula.html |title= Remodelarán Casa de la Comunidad China en Tapachula |newspaper=Diario del Sur |location=Chiapas |date=January 24, 2012 |access-date= February 8, 2012 |language=es |trans-title=China and Tapachula sign sister cities agreement }}</ref> Tapachula signed a sister city agreement with [[Dongying]], China in 2011.<ref name="convenio">{{cite news |url= http://www.oem.com.mx/diariodelsur/notas/n2068405.htm |title= China y Tapachula pactan convenio de hermandad |newspaper=Diario del Sur |location=Chiapas |date=May 7, 2011 |access-date= February 8, 2012 |language=es |trans-title=China and Tapachula sign sister cities agreement }}</ref>

Most of the city's monumental structures in the historic center were built in the first decades of the 20th century, although there are a number of significant large homes near this same area built in the 1960s in [[Art Deco]] style such as the La Portaviandas building.<ref name="mexsur"/>  Outside the city downtown, the structures just about all date from the latter 20th century on due to recent growth.<ref name="rincones"/> The historic center is marked by a large, tree-lined plaza called Parque Miguel Hidalgo. The center of this plaza contains an octagon [[kiosk]] with [[Baroque architecture|Baroque]] ironwork with some [[Moorish architecture|Moorish]] influence. Parque Miguel Hidalgo is the center of the city surrounded by the old and new municipal palaces, the Perez Porta and the Teatro al Aire Libre (Open Air Theater), which often has [[marimba]] concerts.<ref name="mexsur"/>  The main monumental buildings of the area surround this plaza and include the old and new municipal palaces, the Perez Portal and the Teatro al Aire Libre (Open Air Theater).<ref name="mexsur"/>

The San Agustín parish church dates from the 18th century, established to honor the patron saint of the city, [[Augustine of Hippo|Augustine]]. It is a simple construction with a red Spanish tile roof, supported by wood beams. The facade is a simple Neoclassical with six [[Ionic order]] columns, three on each side of the entrance, joined by false arches. The top of the facade has two bell towers. This design is based on the [[Teopisca]] church.<ref name="mexsur"/>  The church became a cathedral in 1958, shortly after the [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Tapachula|Tapachula]] diocese was established but that status has since been ceded to the San José Cathedral, consecrated in 2009.<ref name="diocese">{{cite web |url= http://www.diocesisdetapachula.com/historia.html |title=Historia |publisher=Diocese of Tapachula |location=Chiapas, Mexico |trans-title=History |language=es |access-date=February 8, 2012 }}</ref>

The Soconusco Archeological Museum faces Parque Hidalgo. This building houses a number of pieces from the various archeological sites of the region, especially [[Izapa]] and several coastal sites. One special piece is a skull covered in gold and incrusted with [[turquoise]]. Another is a stele called Number 25, because of the quality of its engravings.<ref name="rincones"/>

The Casa de Cultura was built in 1929 as the municipal palace when the city was prosperous because of the surrounding coffee plantations. Although the style is Art Deco, the facade is decorated with Oaxacan style [[fretwork]], images of Aztec warriors and stylized serpents along with the Mexican and state coats of arms. Today, the building functions as a cultural center for the city.<ref name="rincones"/><ref name="mexsur"/>

The municipal cemetery is notable as a testament to the immigrant past of the area, with gravestones with German names and Chinese characters.<ref name="rincones"/> The best examples of both date from the late 19th to early 20th century.<ref name="mexsur"/>

One of Tapachula's most famous natives is the actress and singer [[Bibi Gaytan]], who first achieved stardom in the 1990s.