Chinatown, San Francisco
Chinatown
North America's oldest Chinatown, stretching from the Dragon Gate along Grant Avenue. Temples, teahouses, bakeries, and a century of Chinese American history are packed into a dozen or so blocks.
San Francisco's Chinatown began with the Gold Rush of 1848. It is one of the oldest and largest Chinese communities in North America. Enter from the ornate Dragon Gate at the intersection of Bush Street and Grant Avenue, whose inscription reads "All under Heaven belongs to the public." Grant Avenue is lined with souvenir shops and lanterns, while the parallel Stockton Street is the market street where local Chinese residents do their grocery shopping. Along the way, you can visit Tin How Temple, the Chinese Historical Society of America Museum, Portsmouth Square Park, and the Golden Fortune Cookie Factory on Ross Alley, where photos cost a small fee. Cantonese dim sum and the egg tarts from old-fashioned bakeries are must-tries. Daytime is the best time to visit. It's a 10-minute walk from Union Square.
Opening hours
All day; shops approx. 10:00–20:00
Nearby sights
- San Francisco Cable Cars
- Transamerica Pyramid
- Union Square
- Coit Tower & North Beach
- San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA)
- Exploratorium
- Ferry Building Marketplace
- Lombard Street