Is Aladdin really Chinese? How Hollywood invented the tale's Middle Eastern identity

The original story was set in China and added to the first European version of the Arabian Nights folk story collection in the 19th century. When Hollywood put the story on the silver screen from the 1920s onwards, it shifted to the Middle East.
First published in 1903, South China Morning Post is Hong Kong’s premier English language newspaper and has the city’s most affluent and influential readership. With a reputation for authoritative, influential and independent reporting on Hong Kong and China. The newspaper is supported with its online publication and its Sunday edition, Sunday Morning Post.
“Aladdin”, the classic tale of the plucky boy and his magic lamp, is known and loved by children and adults across the globe.

A History of Asian, South Asian, and Pacific Islander Characters in Disney Films, by Christian Kim

Is Aladdin really Chinese? How Hollywood invented the tale's Middle Eastern identity

Why did Disney move the setting for the Aladdin story from China to the Middle East? - Quora

Who was the “real” Aladdin? From Chinese to Arab in 300 Years - Ajam Media Collective

Aladdin, Origin Story & The Thousand and One Nights

How author Ling Ma went from Playboy to a zombie novel set in the publishing world

How the new 'Aladdin' stacks up against a century of Hollywood stereotyping

400 Years of India and Britain: The Memoirs of Sir Thomas Roe

400 Years of India and Britain: The Memoirs of Sir Thomas Roe

5 Things to Know about Aladdin - TeachMideast