Best Things To Do In Chinatown, San Francisco

Among the many things to see and do in San Francisco, a visit to Chinatown is certainly one of them. It is home to the second largest Chinese community in the United States, second only to New York's. As you make your way through the quaint streets of San Francisco's Chinatown, you will feel like you are in another city.

As you make your way through the picturesque streets of San Francisco's Chinatown, you will feel like you are in another city. The colourful lanes, temples, restaurants, shops, culture and traditions in the air will transport you straight to China. Here' s what to see and do there so you can get to know the must-see places in the neighbourhood.

In Chinatown you will find dozens of streets with a very particular and characteristic charm of its culture and also a long list of typical foods to taste. That's why you can't miss this tour of Chinatown that includes a tasting of typical products, in which, in addition to touring the neighbourhood for two hours and learning about its history, you'll be able to try some Chinese culinary curiosities.

On this tour, you'll learn about the production process of the famous fortune biscuit at the traditional Golden Gate Fortune Cookies Co and of course you'll get to taste them too.

But that's not all, as the tour will include visits to tea shops and you can also have a typical dim sum lunch, a traditional meal from various regions of China that is usually eaten in the morning and early afternoon.

Portsmouth Square is a park located in the heart of Chinatown. Hence it is often referred to as "the heart of Chinatown".

As well as being a large park, with several historic statues and many interesting sights to see while soaking up the sun and soaking up the local culture, it has great historical significance.

Key moments in the history of the state of California took place here, such as the first raising of the American flag in San Francisco in 1846, the announcement of the discovery of gold, and even the first public school in California was founded on one of its corners.

In addition, the park spans an entire city block, with two playgrounds for the little ones and a convenient multi-level underground parking garage, so you can drive in and park quickly on site.

Chinatown is home to one of San Francisco's most traditional landmarks: The Old Cathedral of St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception. It is a welcoming Roman Catholic mission church, which has been cared for by the Paulist Fathers since 1894.

Practical information

• Price: free admission.
• Where: 660 California St, Chinatown, San Francisco.
• Hours: Tuesday to Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. If you want to attend mass: Tuesday to Friday at 12:05 a.m., Saturday at 5 p.m. or Sunday at 9 a.m. and 11 a.m.

When visiting Chinatown, you can't miss Tin How Temple. It is the oldest Taoist temple in Chinatown and even one of the oldest Chinese temples in the United States.

By visiting it you will learn a little more about the history of the place. It is one of the many buildings that had to be rebuilt after being destroyed in the San Francisco earthquake and subsequent fire of 1906. At that time, only the image of the goddess, the temple bell and part of the altar survived.

Practical information

• Price: free admission.
• Where: 125 Waverly Pl, Chinatown, San Francisco.
• Hours: Any day between 10am and 3pm.

Please note that photography inside the temple is prohibited.

This is an alley that was historically used for rubbish disposal. However, it was later modified to become a very picturesque pedestrian walkway that captures the attention of all visitors to Chinatown. Its main charm is given by the Western and Chinese writing of various writers that is engraved on its walls.

Some of the writers you will come across on your walk through this mythical alley are Maya Angelou, Kerouac and John Steinbeck.

When you walk down this street, you'll definitely feel like you're in China. It's the main shopping street in the neighbourhood, lined with businesses and is the place where the people of the neighbourhood shop, offering fresh, cheap produce and meats and even live seafood.

Everything here is Chinese, the signs, the signs, the language, the people, absolutely everything! As you pass by, you'll see colourful shops and eateries, making it a must-do walk to get an even closer look at their culture.

Walking around the neighbourhood you'll come across a variety of shops and you'll want to buy everything. There are a lot of very typical and traditional Chinese things and also a variety of prices.

Although in many of them you'll probably find the same objects or souvenirs, each one has its own particular things. I am going to recommend you some of the most popular and complete ones.

The Wok Shop

When you enter The Wok Shop, I assure you that you will want to take everything! It's a family-run business located in the heart of Chinatown that has a huge variety of Asian utensils of all kinds that you won't be able to find anywhere else. It's a super exclusive and distinctive shop, with unique products.

An advantage of this shop is that you can go anytime, as it is open every day of the week from 11am to 5pm.

Bargain Bazaar

Bargain Bazaar is one of many shops located on Grant Avenue, the centre of San Francisco's Chinatown. Here you'll find not only the typical tourist-oriented items, but also special and unique items.

The top floor of this shop is filled with a huge amount of collectible items and toys. It's really fun to wander around and find the most diverse and unique items.

Canton Bazaar

Canton Bazaar is also located in the centre of Chinatown and is a one-stop shop for everything. You'll find everything from musical instruments to beautiful tea sets to bring a little bit of China into your home. If you're looking for a place to pick out the best souvenirs, this is it!

Set aside a few hours to wander around the shop as it has three floors full of the most authentic Chinese items you'll find.

Bear in mind that, due to its location and its particular charm, it is a very busy shop and there will be tourists here at all hours. But it's still highly recommended as there are plenty of bargains you won't want to pass up.

These buildings were the first to be rebuilt after the 1906 earthquake and are notorious for their typical neo-Chinese architecture.

They are easily distinguishable and will instantly catch your attention because of the particular shape of their pagoda roofs. It will be a must-see photo stop on your tour.

Known as the "Street of the Painted Balconies", Waverly Place is one of the widest alleys in the neighbourhood and one of Chinatown's main attractions.

Strolling down this typical street you'll pass a variety of places, including a religious centre, a laundromat and small food shops. But its main charm, true to its name, is the bright colours of its historic buildings and houses.

It's clear that this neighbourhood is going to dazzle you in the daylight, but let me tell you that at night it also has its charm. That's why I recommend you take this night tour of Chinatown and North Beach, two of San Francisco's iconic neighbourhoods.

This experience will fascinate you from start to finish. You will literally start at the entrance to Chinatown, at the imposing Dragon's Gate, which is the dragon's gate that marks the entrance to Chinatown.

In 4 hours you will get to know these two neighbourhoods to perfection. The mysticism of the Chinese culture, its interesting sculptures and remarkable architecture, has its own particular style when the evening falls and night begins to fall in the city.

In addition, the experience includes tea tasting and a variety of local foods.

This is one of the oldest avenues in San Francisco and runs the length of Chinatown. Walking along it, you'll take a unique historical tour from Sing Fat Company to Dragon's Gates.

A most picturesque and remarkable touch of Grant Avenue is the red street lamps that line it and accompany your stroll.

Like many other places, this famous street underwent reconstruction after the San Francisco earthquake and fire. This restructuring helped to give the neighbourhood an even more traditional feel. The previous buildings looked like the rest of the city despite its predominantly Chinese population, but now Grant Avenue will transport you right back to China.

This street is also home to the most photographed and visited attraction in the neighbourhood, the iconic entrance to Chinatown: Dragon's Gate.

Unlike similar structures found in Chinatowns around the world, this structure meets the standards of traditional Chinese gateways with stone throughout.

This gate was designed by a Chinese-American architect according to feng shui principles in terms of its south-facing layout. At Dragon's Gate you will also appreciate the wooden plaque hanging from its main arch with golden Chinese words that read: "Everything under heaven is for the good of the people".

Buddha 's Universal Church is the largest Buddhist church in the United States and the largest congregational home in San Francisco. The construction of the building is a sight to behold and you have to visit it to learn about its history.

Your tour of this imposing church will begin in the main auditorium where you will find the main altar with a mosaic representation of the Buddha, the only one of its kind in the world and a true work of art. You will also see the unique bamboo chapel, the library, the roof garden and the classroom where various activities take place.

A curious fact: the place where this church is located today was once a nightclub.

Practical information

• Where: 720 Washington St, Chinatown, San Francisco.
• Hours: Tours take place on the second and fourth Sundays of each month at times set by the church.

Chinatown is home to the Chinese Culture Center of San Francisco and is definitely worth a visit.

It was founded in 1973 as the headquarters of the Chinese Culture Foundation, a non-profit organisation.

While the centre has changed its style over the years, today you can enjoy the contemporary art exhibitions and interventions of the CCC Visual Arts Center.

In addition, you can visit the Him Mark Lai Learning Center, which provides education on Chinese-American history and culture, as well as information on the inspirations for the work of prominent artists.

Practical information

• Price: Exhibitions are free and open to the public.
• Where: 750 Kearny St 3rd Floor, San Francisco.
• Hours: Tuesday to Saturday from 10am to 4pm.

I recommend that before you go, check here for information about exhibitions or events that will be available to see on that day.

The culture and tradition of China are accompanied by its typical dishes and of course I recommend you try them on your stroll through this characteristic and emblematic neighbourhood.

When I told you about the culinary tour, I gave you a preview but now, I'm going to make you suffer a little more while I list the main delicacies you have to try.

• Char Siu Bao: These are delicious crispy barbecued pork buns. I can't tell you in words how tasty they are - try them!
• Salt and Pepper Crab: This is quite a popular dish in the neighbourhood and is offered by several restaurants.
• Fortune Cookies: The best place to try them is undoubtedly GoldenGate Fortune Cookies Co As I told you before, in addition to tasting them, you will be able to learn how they are made.
• Chop suey: A classic of Chinese cuisine and of course of Chinatown, you will find it in several restaurants in the area.
• Dim Sum: Depending on its filling, it will have a particular name and you can find different flavours: meat, vegetables, fish or seafood, or a mixture.

I recommend that you don't eat too much before you start your tour of Chinatown, as whatever you do, you will have Chinese delicacies everywhere and the possibility of tasting all these delicacies in every restaurant you pass by.

Another tip I have for you is to wear comfortable clothes and shoes so that you can enjoy the walk through the neighbourhood without discomfort.

All this and more is what you can do in San Francisco's mythical Chinatown. You will learn about its history, culture and traditions and appreciate the architecture of its picturesque streets and emblematic buildings and shops. I have no doubt that you will fall in love with Chinatown.