Cirebon is a border area between two great cultures on the island of Java, the Javanese and Sundanese culture. As a border region, Cirebon culture is a “mixture” of these two great cultures. For example, Cirebon people can understand and communicate with Sundanese and Javanese. However, Cirebon apparently also absorbed influences from other cultures, such as China and the Netherlands (Europe), as shown in several historic buildings in this area.
Assimilation of different cultures makes Cirebon become a dynamic area. Moreover, since the days of maritime trade, Cirebon had held the role as a bridge between eastern and western part of Java Island. Merchant ships in the old days often stop at the port of Cirebon. In fact, Cirebon finally became an important producer region that produces a variety of profitable commodities such as shrimp and rebon (small shrimp).
