East Meets West in San Francisco
San Francisco’s Chinatown
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Chinese immigrants first started arriving in San Francisco around the time of the California Gold Rush in the mid-1800’s. Now over 150 years later, Asian-Americans make up about 30% of the city’s population and its Chinatown is North America’s largest and oldest (reconstructed after the devastating earthquake and fire of 1906). Other Asian enclaves in Japantown and Little Saigon have also developed in the area.
With San Francisco’s past and its present steeped in Asian culture, the city offers many ways to explore the Asian-American experience through food, museums, and more. Here are some of our picks:
- Chinese Historical Society of America: Located right in Chinatown, this museum includes bilingual exhibits examining the contributions of Chinese laborers in the American west, Chinese artists in contemporary art, and more.
- Asian Art Museum: With nearly 15,000 pieces of art spanning 6,000 years of history, the Asian Art Museum is one the largest museums in the west focusing exclusively on Asian art. Current exhibits include an exploration of Japanese fashion from the Kyoto Costume Institute.
- All About Chinatown Walking Tours: This two hour tour explores the cultural, historical, and culinary flavors of Chinatown, taking you inside a Chinese temple, a fortune cookie factory, and more.
- Dim Sum: This Chinese tradition features a series of small light dishes shared around a table and served with tea. Chinatown buzzes with people on Sunday afternoons, when people flock to dim sum restaurants for good food and conversation.
- Evening Chinatown Walking Tour with Dinner: After a multi-course Chinese dinner, enjoy a guided walking tour exploring the fascinating people and places in Chinatown. Then admire the glittering views of the San Francisco/Oakland Bay Bridge.
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