[5] In 1900, Fei Yanggu, a Manchu official of the Qing dynasty (1644–1911), on the orders of Empress Dowager Cixi, led two bodyguards to San Francisco to capture the revolutionaries Sun Wen and Zheng Shiliang.

In order to save his son and prevent the Chinese from suffering large-scale persecution, Bai Xuanling invited Qin Fu, a young reasoning master, to help solve the case and find the real murderer.

[6] Nathan Wang (Composer) Phil Hoad of The Guardian gave Detective Chinatown 1900 3/5 stars, describing it as "tightly paced and snappily directed", with a charming cultural message and effective humor that adequately explores anti-Chinese xenophobia without excessive patriotism, though he believes it ultimately undermines its themes with an "oddly pointed" political coda at the end.

[7] Wen Yen of Guangming Daily praised the film for "skillfully blending realism and romanticism", delivering a compelling narrative rooted in historical truths that resonate with the collective aspirations of the Chinese, while innovatively incorporating traditional elements to create a unique cultural dialogue on justice and identity.

[8] James Marsh of Deadline Hollywood found the film to be visually opulent yet "sometimes preachy", tackling themes of racism and immigration while delivering engaging performances, particularly from Chow Yun-fat, but it ultimately falls short of its potential due to a predictable plot and a lackluster villain.