{"id":31965,"date":"2022-08-27T21:57:44","date_gmt":"2022-08-27T21:57:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.exp1.com\/blog\/?p=31965"},"modified":"2022-08-27T22:02:37","modified_gmt":"2022-08-27T22:02:37","slug":"a-neighborhood-guide-to-san-franciscos-chinatown","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.exp1.com\/blog\/a-neighborhood-guide-to-san-franciscos-chinatown\/","title":{"rendered":"A Neighborhood Guide to San Francisco\u2019s Chinatown"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

San Francisco\u2019s Chinatown is one of the city\u2019s most quintessential attractions \u2014 a neighborhood filled with unique architecture, delicious dim sum joints, and shops specializing in everything from herbal remedies to exotic teas, not to mention plenty of history. And it\u2019s all right in the heart of SF.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

From secret alleyways to subterranean jazz shows, there\u2019s a bit of something for everyone in this downtown hub. As a local, I\u2019m here to show you what you can\u2019t miss in this neighborhood guide to SF\u2019s Chinatown.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A brief background of Chinatown<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"San<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Chinese immigrants first came to San Francisco in the mid-19th century, establishing what\u2019s known as North America\u2019s oldest Chinatown in 1848. The neighborhood developed right alongside the Gold Rush. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Initially, San Francisco was the port of entry for those coming to work in the gold mines, but soon Chinese merchants began setting up shop in what\u2019s now known as Chinatown \u2014 one of the few places they were allowed to settle. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As the years progressed, more and more Chinese immigrants (originally from regions in and around the country\u2019s Guangdong Province) continued arriving in search of economic opportunities, finding employment in the local garment factories, as farm laborers, and in constructing the Central Central Pacific and Transcontinental railroads.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n

Although San Francisco\u2019s 1906 earthquake and fire destroyed the bulk of Chinatown\u2019s homes and businesses, its residents rebuilt bigger and better. This is when the architectural style that exists today was born. That\u2019s because Chinese-American businessman Look Tin Eli, who managed the neighborhood\u2019s Sing Chong bazaar, convinced other local Chinese merchants to hire American architects to rebuild Chinatown in an \u201cOriental\u201d style that would attract tourists \u2014 one with pagoda rooftops, curved eaves, and ornamental ironwork, including dragon motifs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Today, San Francisco\u2019s Chinatown is home to tens of thousands of residents, the majority of which are Chinese. They live within 24 city blocks chock-full of herb shops, tea stores, and eateries, where tourism is not only a part of daily living, but one that\u2019s essential to it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What to do in San Francisco\u2019s Chinatown<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

There\u2019s so much to do in Chinatown, but if you want to hit the highlights, here\u2019s what you can\u2019t miss.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Grant Avenue<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"Grant<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Bustling Grant Avenue is the neighborhood\u2019s main hub, one adorned with red lanterns strewn above the street and recognizable by its Dragon Gate, a south-facing gate that\u2019s built in the style of a traditional Chinese pailou<\/em> (a type of architectural arch) and stands at the intersection of Grant and Bush streets at the Union Square entry to Chinatown. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Along with acupuncture clinics and shops like Fong Seng Co, which stocks everything from candied baby scallops to Chinese medicines, Grant Avenue is home to both the Sing Chong and Sing Fat buildings, two multi-tiered pagoda-topped structures that are prime examples of post-1906 Chinatown architecture. They\u2019re also a favorite among photographers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Local tip: <\/strong>Shop for ceramic maneki-nekos,<\/em> lucky\u00a0cats that are meant to bring good luck, along with silk scarves and beaded purses at Grant Avenue\u2019s Canton Bazaar, or wind wheels, airfoils, and box kites at the long-running Chinatown Kite Shop<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One block east of Grant Avenue is Portsmouth Square<\/a>, the heart of Chinatown. It\u2019s easily recognizable by the local residents practicing tai chi and playing mahjong, a tile-based game similar to the card game rummy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chinatown\u2019s alleyways<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"Golden
Photo by K\u0101rlis Dambr\u0101ns \/ <\/em>CC by 2.0<\/em><\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Chinatown is known for its alleyways, out-of-the-way stretches with names like Waverly, Stark, Beckett, and Ross where you find unique treasures such as the Clarion Performing Arts Center<\/a>. This nonprofit venue hosts events ranging from concerts by jazz trios to paper art exhibits, and features a Saturday museum that pays tribute to Chinatown\u2019s 1950s and \u201960s nightclub scene with a collection of headdresses, costumes, and other enchanting artifacts.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another alleyway find is the Tin How Temple. Not only is it the neighborhood’s oldest surviving Taoist temple (this 1850s temple survived the 1906 earthquake), but Tin How is also one of the oldest still-operating Chinese temples in the entire country. It\u2019s dedicated to the Chinese sea goddess Mazu (known as Tin How, \u201cEmpress of the Heavens,\u201d in Cantonese), and while the temple remains active, visitors are welcome to visit the third-story walk-up space, light incense, and purchase praying cards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n

One of the coolest things to do is pay a visit to Ross Alley\u2019s Golden Gate Fortune Cookie Company<\/a>, where they make these clairvoyant creations right before your eyes. You can even make your own on our guided San Francisco walking tour<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Authentic food in Chinatown<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Authentic<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

From century-old haunts like Hang Ah Dim Sum Tea House<\/a>, the country\u2019s first-ever dim sum eatery, to lively new eateries, there are plenty of places to indulge your belly in Chinatown. Some favorites include the Hing Lung Company, which specializes in Cantonese barbecue (just look for its roast ducks hanging in the window), and the tiny Wong Lee Bakery, where you can load up on egg tarts, green onion buns, and pan-fried shrimp dumplings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For noodles served up in an authentic Chinese restaurant atmosphere, head to Chong Qing Xiao Mian<\/a>, or try Good Mong Kok Bakery for homemade dim sum like chicken shui mai, and baos filled with egg yolk, sesame, and steamed barbecue pork.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Opened in 2017, China Live<\/a> is a modern food emporium with indoor and outdoor dining and multiple venues dishing out everything from Chinese chicken and noodle salads to house famous kung pao “Firecracker” prawns. There\u2019s also a craft cocktail bar and a marketplace stocked with spices, teas, and condiments like ginger-infused vinegar and house hot mustard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SF Chinatown festivals<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"SF
By David Yu \/ <\/em>CC BY-NC 2.0<\/em><\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Whether it\u2019s the annual Autumn Moon Festival<\/a> or the two-week Chinese New Year Festival<\/a>, which includes a Miss Chinatown pageant and flower market fair, and culminates with a huge parade sporting lanterns, drums, and firecrackers to scare away the evil spirits, held each February, San Francisco\u2019s Chinatown is known for its elaborate events. A visit here is always a highlight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the area<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"View
By Franco Folini \/ <\/em>CC BY-NC 2.0<\/em><\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Sandwiched between Nob Hill to the west and North Beach to the northeast, San Francisco\u2019s Chinatown is perfectly positioned for a full-day of exploring. The former is home to Grace Cathedral<\/a>, an Episcopal church that is not only architecturally stunning, but also hosts events ranging from sound baths to yoga on the cathedral\u2019s labyrinth throughout the year.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

North Beach centers along Columbus Avenue. After filling yourself with dim sum, spend some time downtown browsing the shelves at City Lights<\/a>, an independent bookstore and publishing house founded by poet Lawrence Ferlinghetti in 1953. Ferlinghetti published many of the poets of the Beat Generation, including Allen Ginsberg and Jack Kerouac. You can learn more about them at The Beat Museum<\/a> on North Beach\u2019s Broadway Avenue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How to get to San Francisco\u2019s Chinatown<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Chinatown is just north of Union Square, San Francisco\u2019s well-known shopping district. The latter is easily accessible via Bay Area Rapid Transit from SFO and the city\u2019s Mission District (check out my guide on where to eat here<\/a>) as well as a bevy of MUNI buses and trains, including the N\/L\/K\/M and J. To reach Chinatown, just walk north along Stockton Street through Union Square, then turn east one block on Bush Street and you\u2019ll be at the Dragon Gate.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can also take the Number 8 bus from the city\u2019s Financial District toward Fishermen\u2019s Wharf. Or from the Embarcadero Ferry Building<\/a>, take the Number 1 bus toward Geary and 33rd from Clay and Drumm streets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The authentic Chinatown experience<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Paper<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

While there are other Chinese enclaves in SF, including one in the Richmond District and a couple in the city\u2019s Sunset neighborhood, Chinatown remains San Francisco\u2019s largest. This unique neighborhood also tells a story of reinvention and perseverance that\u2019s very much in tune with the city\u2019s larger history and, more importantly, a huge part of it.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Whether you\u2019re simply craving dim sum or want to wander its quiet alleyways, Chinatown is a quintessential San Francisco experience that should be a must on every traveler\u2019s list. Want to discover more cool neighborhoods in SF? Read all about everything to do in the Mission District<\/a>, from burritos to street art.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

San Francisco\u2019s Chinatown is one of the city\u2019s most quintessential attractions \u2014 a neighborhood filled with unique architecture, delicious dim sum joints, and shops specializing in everything from herbal remedies to exotic teas, not to mention plenty of history. And it\u2019s all right in the heart of SF. From secret alleyways to subterranean jazz shows,<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":49,"featured_media":31966,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[20],"tags":[],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.exp1.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/31965"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.exp1.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.exp1.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.exp1.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/49"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.exp1.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=31965"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/www.exp1.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/31965\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":31994,"href":"https:\/\/www.exp1.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/31965\/revisions\/31994"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.exp1.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/31966"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.exp1.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=31965"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.exp1.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=31965"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.exp1.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=31965"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}