 Charlie Chan is a fictional character created by Earl Derr Biggers . Biggers loosely based Chan on Honolulu , Hawaii detective Chang Apana , and conceived of the benevolent and heroic Chan as an alternative to Yellow Peril stereotypes and villains like Fu Manchu . Chan is a detective for the Honolulu police , though many stories feature Chan traveling the world as he investigates mysteries and solves crimes . 
