Lasem is a district located on the Java Northern Coastal Line, Central Java. The northern border is the Java Sea, the southern border is Pancur district, on the east is Sluke and Kagan district and on the western is Rembang city.
Lasem is known as ‘The Little Beijing Old Town” by a European researcher in the colonial period. The old buildings are located in Babagan, Gedong Mulyo, Karang Tri, Sumber Girang, Soditan and Ngemplak. Most buildings are well nurtured though some are abandoned. Since 1986, the local government protected the buildings.
Lasem is also known for is Batik with dragon motif, Javanese and Chinese culture mixture. In the 1950s, batik makes are hundreds, yet since 1998, their number is lessened. Besides known as the biggest Chinatown in Java, it is also known as Islam pilgrimage city. Chinese dominate economic activity, as a trading skill is handed down to generations. As just a district Lasem is more popular than Rembang, the regency city, as it has been a trade city since a long time ago.
In Lasem, there is a gold-plated Buddha statue. In addition, Lasem is also known as a santri city, a student town and one of the producers of cashew and mango beside sea products such as salt and shrimp paste. It is the second-largest city in Rembang regency after the city of Rembang.