Chinatown
- Address:Grant Avenue at Bush Street
- Admission:Free
Cultural Experience, Good Place to Eat, Good Place to Shop, Neighborhood
11:11 AM Sunday, May 27
Overcast. Cool.
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A city within a city, Chinatown is a historic maze of mysterious sights where an ancient culture from the other side of the world survives and flourishes with remarkable authenticity. You enter the oldest Chinatown in America through Dragon’s Gate, on Grant Avenue at Bush Street. Once you walk through the gate, a 24-block labyrinth of restaurants, markets, temples, and shops unfolds.
Wander through the massive collection of Chinese artifacts at the Chinese Historical Society of America Museum, or ponder Thomas Chang’s monumental photographs at the Chinese Cultural Center. You can glimpse skaters practicing revolutionary moves beneath the stature of Sun Yat-sen in St. Mary’s Square or head to Spofford Alley to hear the clicking mah-jong tiles, a Chinese orchestra warming up, or even beauticians gossiping over blow-dryers.
Shoppers can browse the China Bazaar for novelty items or sift through bath toys and paper lanterns at the Far East Flea Market. Hungry? Try out the dim sum places and noodle joints along Stockton Street or wander along side streets of Grant Avenue to find budget basement eateries.
Before you leave Chinatown, stop by the Golden Gate Fortune Cookie Company, where cookies are stamped out on old-fashioned presses and folded while hot! Get a bag to go.
Latest Reviews All Chinatown Reviews »
Enjoyable and informative experience..
Linda promoted a friendly atmosphere to all the group and a rewarding insight to the culture of Chinatown
This was the last tour of several we took during our stay in San Francisco. We were tired and almost cancelled this tour. I am SO glad we didn't! This turned out to be one of my favorite tours. Linda Lee was fantastic. Her experience in and knowledge of Chinatown made this tour fun and fascinating!
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great tour of Chinatown with Linda Lee. Fortune cookies were delicious. She even had them make one especially for my daughter and I put a personalized note inside.
Continue Reading »Practical Info
Chinatown is bordered by Broadway, Bush, Kearny, and Stockton streets. The area is easily accessible by buses and cable cars. Street parking is difficult, so it’s best to visit the area on foot. The best spots to explore are all along Stockton and Grant streets, Portsmouth Square, and the alleys that lead off them, like Ross and Waverly.
