The word Mexicali is the union of Mexico and California. Although the official is mexicalense, it is common the term "cachanilla" plant found in these lands, particularly with irrigation water channels. There is also: Chicali to refer to the city, although its use is infomal and probably a chicanismo, or part of a marginal jargon, however, it is used de facto within the cachanilla culture and had a clear example of use magazine: the Chicali News. The city claims to have the largest per capita concentration of residents of Chinese origin in Mexico, around 5,000. The Chinese immigrants came to the area as laborers for the Colorado River Land Company, an American enterprise which designed and built an extensive irrigation system in the Valley of Mexicali. Some immigrants came from the United States, often fleeing anti-Chinese policies there, while others sailed directly from China. Thousands of Chinese were lured to the area by the promise of high wages, but that never materialized. Since 2000, new migrants from China to Mexicali come from many of the same areas as before 1960, with perhaps 90% from Guangdong or Hong Kong.

In the late nineteenth century a strong Chinese immigration to the United States led in order to work on the construction of railways and irrigation canals. At the conclusion of these, the north country began to reject them until a law prohibiting entry was issued in 1904. This almost coincided with the agricultural development of Mexicali requiring labor and existing Mexicans were not sufficient at that time to provide it. For this reason, from 1910 to 1920 the entry of Asians to work in this region was provided, which settled predominantly in what later became known as The Chinesca, Chinatown still exists within the first section or center city. Because of this, in Mexicali Chinese cuisine is considered as typical of the city, with more than 200 restaurants.

Tourism has become an important income for the city. Restaurants, taco stands, pharmacies, bars and dance clubs are some of the places visited by tourists, mostly Americans. Many shops and stalls selling handicrafts and souvenirs of Mexico are also found along the border. Mexicali also relies on tourism as a medium to generate revenue, and visitors cross by foot or by car from Calexico, United States, every day. Tourists are mainly attracted to local taco stands, restaurants, pharmacies, bars and dance clubs. Near the border, in walking distance, there are many shops and stalls selling Mexican curios and souvenirs. Arizona and Nevada residents look for medical and dental services in Mexicali, since they tend to be less expensive than in the United States. Pharmacies sell some drugs without a prescription and at much lower cost than in the US, but some medications still require a doctor's prescription, although several accessible doctor offices are located near the border as well. Mexico's drinking age is 18 years old (vs. 21 in the United States) which makes it a common weekend destination for many high school and college students from Southern California.

Mexicali hosts four main shopping malls, the most visited being Plaza La Cachanilla, located a mile away from the US border. The mall hosts a variety of shops, which sell a wide array of items, ranging from cheap Mexican curios to expensive imports. The Plaza La Cachanilla also represents a common place for people to socialize, especially during Summer days when the weather reaches high temperatures, many families come and spend the day inside the air-conditioned mall. For recreation, Mexicali has bath halls, bowling alleys, traditional cantinas, car clubs, strip clubs, movie theaters, museums, a zoo, a convention center, supermarkets, and fast food restaurants for every choice of food. Galerias del Valle, holds a WalMart Supercenter, a 12-screen movie theater Cinepolis, two casinos, and a food court, plus a large array of stores that sell many items needed for daily living. It is located on Boulevard Lazaro Cardenas at Calle 11.

The drive from Tijuana to Mexicali is worthwhile for the views alone, as the mountains suddenly drop away to reveal a huge salt lake and hundreds of miles of desert below. Mexicali is hot in summer, and winter nights can drop below freezing it’s a large, wealthy city, the capital of the state of Baja California and an important road and rail junction along the US border. While there may be an exotic ring to the name (a hybrid of Mexico and California; its step-sibling, Calexico, is just across the border), an also to take the two hour thirty-minute bus ride down to the more appealing resort of San Felipe. Mexicali has more Chinese restaurants than any other in Mexico, most located in Chinatown, known locally as Chinesca, in the blocks immediately south of the Calexico West border crossing.

Mexicali has 2 checkpoints within the city limits: the first is located in the downtown area of the city called Garita Center, Garita "Old" or Garita New River with 12 lanes to Calexico and the second call Garita Nuevo Mexicali, it is located 6 km east of the first guardhouse with 10 lanes. The relationship between Mexicali and Calexico is very high, since between both cities, there is a great link both economic and social, cultural and demographic. The watchtowers that bind the two cities recorded an average crossing 60,356 people per day, giving an annual average of just over 21 million people, which is listed by the US Customs and Border Protection as the third crossing busiest the world (just below Ciudad Juarez - El Paso and Tijuana - San Diego).

Mexicali hosts Baja Prog, one of the world's most important events in progressive rock. Since 1997, Baja Prog has been in the eyes of the world for being an event gathering the best bands of the progressive rock scene.